Mansabdari system

Mansabdari or mansab system was the basis of Mughal administrative structure and a very
effective mechanism to organise and control culturally diverse and religiously
heterogeneous nobility. Despite some distant similarities with the military system under the
Pre-Mughal Islamic state in India and that of the Mongols and Timurids, there is no
reference to ‘mansab’ in India prior to coming of the Mughals. Therefore, we can safely
conclude that the Mansab system was introduced in India by the Mughal rulers the origin of
which can be attributed to Akbar. While the basic feature of this system that developed
under Akbar remained same throughout the time period of the Mughal Empire some
important changes were introduced in the Mansabdari system by the subsequent Mughal
rulers ostensibly to deal with some contradictions in its working. Jagirdari system was
closely linked with the functioning of the mansabdari system as majority of the mansab rank
holders were paid their salary through a grant of land called jagir. But beyond disbursing
salary through a grant of land, another important objective of the Mughal state was to
ensure collection of land revenue from large parts of the empire. Naturally therefore, any
crisis in the working of these institutions was bound to adversely impact the empire
administratively, politically, socially as well as economically.
Broadly,the term ‘mansab’ denoted office, position and rank of its holder (mansabdar) in the
Mughal administrative hierarchy even though it did not constitute any office in itself.
Mansab rank was largely used to determine position of its holder in the official hierarchy as
well as to fix his military obligations towards the state. Few scholars have traced origin of
the Mughal mansab system from decimal system of the Mongols and the military system
followed by the Turks in India which was modeled on the Turko-Mongol practices. Firstly,
the mansab system included civil officers and no distinction was made between military and
civil service. Secondly, the mansab system had a dual rank represented by numerals i.e. zat
(personal rank) and sawar (military rank) and thirdly, and perhaps more important was the
fact that each Mansab holder (mansabdar) was directly subordinated to the king unlike the
decimal system of subordination to the immediate superior. Thus, each noble holding a
mansab rank became dependent on the ruler for his existence as it was the ruler who
granted his appointment, promotion as well as demotion. All mansabdars were appointed
by the emperor on the recommendations of the Mir Bakshi (Head 116 of the Military unit)
who used to present nobles from the heterogeneous racial group comprising Turani, Irani,
Pathan, Indian Muslim (Shaikhzada), Rajput and other Hindus.
The dual rank i.e. zat and sawar, introduced in the 41st year of Akbar’s reign, was the
fundamental feature of the mansab system. The basic objective of Akbar behind introducing
the dual rank was to ensure that his officers maintain the troops as specified. In Fact,
mansabdars were classified into three categories on the basis of their respective zat and
sawar ranks. A man sabdar having equal zat and sawar ranks was placed in category I; those
having sawar rank equal to half or more of the zat rank in category II and those having their
sawar rank less than half of the zat rank was placed in category III. Although diverse
interpretations have been forwarded regarding the nature of zat and sawar ranks, it has
been conclusively established now that zat represented the personal rank of the
mansabdar, fixed his salary and indicated his status in the administrative as well as social
hierarchy. Whereas sawar rank represented the number of cavalry men a mansabdar was
required to maintain along with horses, elephants and other beasts of burden.
The Mughals favoured mixed contingents, with men drawn in fixed proportions from Irani
and Turani Mughals, Indian Afghans and Rajputs. This was to break the spirit of tribal or
ethic exclusiveness. However, in special circumstances, a Mughal or a Rajput mansabdar
was allowed to have a contingent drawn exclusively from Mughals or Rajputs, as we have
noted. During the reign of Akbar, measures were taken to ensure that mansabdars actually
maintained the number of sawars as mentioned in their respective ranks. To ensure this as
much as possible, Akbar introduced the dagh (branding of horses) with the imperial seal and
chehra (descriptive rolls) of the sawars and mansabdars were mandatorily expected to
present their contingents for muster. Payment of full salary to a mansabdar was also linked
to him presenting his contingent for muster. Failure or delay resulted in monetary
punishment. Payment to the mansabdars was based on the principle of a clear distinction
between zat and sawar ranks. The pay for the zat rank (khasa) to the mansabdar was
separated from payments due to him for his sawar rank (tabinan). For the zat rank a
mansabdar was paid salary either in cash or through land assignment known as Jagir. Also,
control over land was a mark of social prestige. By devising a careful scale of gradations and
laying down meticulous rules of business, the Mughals bureaucratized the nobility.
Mansabdars getting salary in cash were known as naqdi mansabdars whereas those getting
land grants were known as jagirdar. Since the salary for the zat rank was meant for
maintenance of the mansabdar and his family along with his household establishment, For
maintenance of the troops or the sawar rank, mansabdars were paid separately on the basis
of pay fixed per unit of sawar rank. For purposes of assigning jagirs, the revenue department
had to maintain a register indicating the assessed income (jama) of various areas. The
account, however, was not indicated in rupees but in dams which was calculated at the rate
of 40 dams to a rupee. This document was called the jama-dami or assessed income based
on dams.
A number of other modifications were also carried out during the period. There was a
tendency to reduce zat salaries. Jahangir introduced a system whereby selected nobles
could be allowed to maintain a large quota of troopers, without raising their zar rank This
was the du-aspah sih-aspah system (literally, trooper with 2 or 3 horses) which implied that
a mansabdar holding this rank had to maintain and was paid for double the quota of
troopers indicated by his sawar rank. Thus, a mansabdar holding a zat rank of 3000, and
3000 sawars du-aspah sih-aspah would be required to maintain 6000 troopers. Normally, no
mansabdar was given a sawar rank which was higher than his zat rank.
During the reign of Aurangzeb, an attempt was made to bring about uniformity in the
system of escheat although even this was not devoid of deviations from the existing rule.
Through a farman issued in 1666 Aurangzeb set guidelines for application of the system of
escheat.
The mansabdari system of the Mughals was a complex system. Its efficient functioning
depended upon a number of factors, including the proper functioning of the dagh
(branding) system and of the jagirdari system If the dagh system worked badly, the state
would be cheated. If the jama-dami was inflated, or the jagirdar was not able to get the
salary due to him, he would be disaffected and he would not maintain his due contingent.
On balance, the mansabdari system worked properly under Shah Jahan, on account of his
meticulous attention to administration and selection of men including the appointment of
highly competent persons as wazirs. Careful attention to the choice of right persons for the
service, strict discipline and a definite system of promotion and rewards made the Mughal
nobility a loyal and, on the whole, a highly dependable body which was able to discharge
the duties of administration and to defend and expand the empire.