DDK HistoryF.p65 - CSIR

374 ALAUDDIN’S MEASURES [10.4
lived together in the villages, outside which there dwelt eight menial
casteless guilds, and still lower untouchables (Alb. 1.99-104). Inasmuch as
the blacksmith, carpenter, potter are not in his eight guilds, it is difficult
to tally this with reality, or with the Amarakosa scheme unless these
higher artisans were caste sudras. Alb. 2.X49 describes Indian kings as
collecting ground rent above the l/6th share of grain as tribute, without
details.
10.4. The crucial metamorphosis of the feudal period was
completed, after several false starts, in the region of Firuz Tughlaq (1351-
1388). Feudalism from above had its last powerful upsurge during
the rule of Ala’uddin Khalji (1296-1316). The details may be quoted
from contemporary historians, who themselves favoured the later
feudalism.
“(Ala’uddin) ordered that, wherever there was a village held by proprietary right
(milk), in free gift (in*am), or as a religious endowment (wakf), it should by one stroke
of the pen be brought back under the exchequer. The people were pressed and amerced,
money was exacted from them on every kind of pretence. Many were left without any
money, till at length it came to pass that, excepting maliks, and amirs, officials, Multams
(merchants), and bankers, no one possessed even a trifle in cash. So rigorous were the
confiscations that, beyond a few thousand tankas, all the pensions, grants of land (inam
wa mafruz) and endowments in the country were appropriated. The people were all so
absorbed in obtaining the means of living, that the name of rebellion was never mentioned.
Secondly, he provided carefully for the acquisition of intelligence, that no action of good
or bad men was concealed from him. No one could stir without his knowledge and
whatever was said in the houses of nobels, great men, and officials, was communicated
to the Sultan by his reporters. Nor were the reports neglected, for explanations of them
were demanded. The system of reporting went to such a length that nobles dared not
speak aloud even in the largest palaces... The sultan gave commands that noblemen and
great men should not visit each other’s houses or give feasts, or hold meetings. They
were forbidden to form alliances without consent from the throne... .The sultan requested
the wise men to supply some rules and regulations for grinding down the Hindus, and
for depriving them of that wealth and property which fosters disaffection and rebellion.
There was to be one rule for the payment of tribute, applicable to all, from the khut to
the balahar (scavenger), and the heaviest tribute was not to fall upon the poorest. The
Hindu was to be so reduced as to be left unable to keep a horse to ride on, to carry arms,
to wear fine clothes, or to enjoy any of the luxuries of life... All cultivation was to be
carried on by measurement at a certain rate for every biswa* Half (the produce) was to
be paid without any diminution, and this rule was to apply.. .without the slightest
distinction.