Revenue Reforms of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq

Revenue Reforms of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq

First of all, the Sultan intended to make some reforms in revenue system and made several declarations and issued ordinances. He also ordered the royal officials to prepare the accounts of the provinces and to send them immediately to the centre. Most of the governors obeyed the orders of the Sultan and dispatched their accounts forthwith. In fact, the Sultan wanted to introduce a uniform policy of revenue in the entire kingdom.

Increase of Tax on Doab ( A.D. 1326-27)

Among the schemes of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq the increase of tax in the Doab is considered as one of the significant ones. The following factors contributed to its implementation. :

Cause of Increase in Tax

(1)  In the distribution of rewards, titles and charity, the sultan had given away a lot of money at the time of his coronation which affected the royal treasury otherwise, but the Sultan needed a lot of wealth for administering the affairs of the State, for the upkeep of the army and for executing his ambitious plans. Dr. Ishawari Prasad affirms, “The chief motive seems to have been to obtain revenue in order to be able to increase his military resources and to organize the administration on an efficient basis.”

(2)  The region of Doab was quite fertile and the people led a prosperous life. The Sultan had an idea that people of the Doab would be in a position to pay the increase tax easily. Alauddin Khalji had already realized 50 per cent Khiraj from the people of this area.

(3)  Mostly, the Hindus lived in this area of the Doab, who often revolted and conspired against the authority of Delhi Sultanate because of their riches, so he increased the tax in order to curb the rebellious tendency of the Hindus and to reduce them to poverty.

(4)  IN those days it was presumed that since the Sultan had established his influence over the people of the Doab region, he not only succeeded in getting wealth but also established his control over the entire Northern India.

Controversy regarding the Rate of Tax

Being motivated by the reasons referred to above, Muhammad-bin-Tughluq took a decision to increase taxes in the Doab region. But to what level were the taxes raised, is not clear from various sources, and scholars hold different opinions about the rate of increase. Gardner Brown mentions that the rise of tax was quite normal. Barani remarks, “Taxes were increased by ten to twenty times.” Ferista, a contemporary historian, mentions that the increase was three-fold or four-fold. Haziuddin writes, “After the victory of Islam the land which earned one Tanks now began to pay ten to twenty Tankas.” Most of the scholars believe that the Sultan began to realize Khiraj at the rate of 50 per cent of the total product. The Sultan made some special arrangement before introducing this scheme. He appointed a revenue officer in each village to keep a close watch over the activities of Khuts, Muqaddams and Chaudharis. Besides increase in taxes, Barani remarks that house tax and pasture tax were also imposed on the people of the Doab. But it is a fact that taxes were increased during his reign. Lanepoole writes, “The revenues were collected so rigorously that the peasants were reduced to beggary. The rich became rebels and the land fell out of cultivation.”

 The Result of Increase

(1)  The increase in taxes harmed the peasantry very much and they opposed it vehemently.

(2)  The corrupt officers realized the taxes beyond the limit of increase. It generated rebellious feelings among the people.

(3)  The revenue officers ignored the circumstances of the Doab and tried to realize the increased tax by ‘blood and iron’ policy which enraged the people.

(4)  Under normal circumstances the increase would not have been opposed but the area of the Doab was hit by famine, hence the enhanced taxes were opposed. The royal officials failed to send correct information to the Sultan; rather they oppressed the famine-striken people and realized the taxes.

Measure of Relief

The Sultan was a great well-wisher of his people.  He was ignorant of the condition of the people of the Doab but as soon as he was acquainted with the famine and drought, he withdrew the ordinance and adopted relief measures for the good of peasantry.  

Critical Estimate of the Scheme

Barani is the first and the foremost historian who has vehemently criticized this scheme but there is much exaggeration in his condemnation due to two chief reasons. First, he was himself an inhabitant of Doab region and secondly, he belonged to the Ulema class, who opposed the Sultan due to his liberal religious policy but as an impartial reader we must admit that there must be some truth in his condemnation. But at the same time, the relief measures of the Sultan proved that he did not want to oppress the people. He tried to help the people of Doab as soon as he came to know of their actual condition. His scheme was fine and there was not slackness  init but the natural famine and drought proved to be the greatest hindrance which was none of the faults of the Sultan but really, it is a matter of surprise that the sultan live so near to Doab and he did not know about the condition of his subjects. It shows his negligence. Hence, if not wholly, he was partly responsible for the suffering of the people of the Doab and destruction of agriculture.

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Milan Tomic

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