ALAUDDIN KHILJI AS AN ADMINISTRATOR

INTRODUCTION
Alauddin khilji was the second king of the khilji dynasty and one of the ablest ruler of the
delhi sultanante. Many of his reforms and innovations became the basis for his successors
to work on. He reigned from 1296-1326 suring a time when Mongolian raids were
wrecking havoc in central asia and internally there was instability and disunity among the
independent kingdoms of indo-pakistan. He introduced new administrative, social,
economic and military reform which not only benefited him as a king but the masses in
general. His was an era of awe and prosperity.

ALAUDDIN KHILJI AS AN ADMINISTRATOR

ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY AND REFORMS:
Alauddin khilji was a brilliant administrator. He was a trend setter. Prof. K.S.Lal says “ it
is as an administrator than anything else that alauddin khilji was head and shoulders
above his predecessors. His accomplishments as a warrior were dwarfed by his
achievements as an organisor.” No Muslim ruler before the mughals could reach such a
level in the administrative measures taken by them.
The main policy and reforms of alaudin khilji can be summarized as:

1. HIS CONCEPTION OF KINGSHIP AND SOVEREIGNTY:

His concept of kingship and sovereignty differed from his predecessors in that he
separated the govt. from religion. In his opinion a king should be the absolute and
undisputed authority. Before him the ruler was greatly influenced by the ulemas and
nobles. He openly disregarded this concept and carried out his own form of monarchy.

2. STUDY OF CAUSES OF REBELLION:

He studied and consulted a lot on the causes of the regular rebellions and revolts as he
had to face himself by his own relatives like omar khan and nobles like akat khan. Four
causes were given to him: a) the disregard of state by the sultan b) use of wine c)
intimacy, alliances and meetings of the nobles where they hatched plots against the govt.
d) excessive wealth which created hunger for power and caused revolts.

3. MEASURES TO STAMP OUT REBELLIONS:

He took a number of measures to stamp out these causes.
the confiscation of land, property and villages by the elite class and nobles; end of private
ownership and pension. Land either personal, as a gift or religious endowment was taken
back and the half of the land produce was to be paid to the govt. the people were reduced
to abject poverty and had no time to think of revolts.
The development of efficient spy system which informed the sultan of various activities
of general public and nobles.
The prohibition of wine and intoxicating drugs, starting from the sultan himself.
All social gatherings and alliance were forbidden except by the permission of the sultan.
As a result, the life of the nobles became dull and dreary. These measures were so strict
and carried out so efficiently that the rebellions were compeletly crushed. These
restrictions were however, only for the Muslims.

HINDUS UNDER ALAUDDIN KHILJI

The main measure taken against the hindus to eliminate any cause for their rise to power
were to reduce them to poverty. The chaudries, khuts and muqaddams were the main
landlords who had wealth and power. Their lands were taken from them and they had to
pay half of their lands produce. According to Barani “ the chaudhries, khuts and
muqqadams could not buy a good horse, wear fine clothes and indulge in the battles”.
Although Barani latter is also of the view that the law abiding Hindus rubbed shoulders
with the Muslim aristocracy. Ibn Batuta supports the second view as well , so does Dr.
Hussain and other historians.

REVENUE REFORMS
Alauddin khilji wanted to establish a system by eliminating corruption and introducing
economic welfare. He took major revenue reforms.
new taxes were introduced to increase the treasury to support military conquests. Grazing
tax, housing tax etc were introduced. The hindu faced the economic weight as they were
the main landlords.
for the first time land survey and settlement system was introduced by Alauddin. It was
later developed by Sher Shah and Akbar.

MILITARY REFORMS
Many military reforms were the need of the time to crush the mongol invasions and to
conquer the far territories of the south.
he introduced the system of branding horses, so that unfit horses may not be brought to
the field.
He also introduced the Hullah syatem or the practice of allocating descriptive rolls to the
soldiers so that substitutes could not be sent for parades.
These practices kept the nobles from cheating the Sultan.

ECONOMIC REFORMS
Alauddin Khilji will always be remembered in the history of indo-pak as the greatest
economic reformer who was way ahead of is time. According to Lanepool he was a
brilliant Political economist.
His famous “ PRICE CONTROL SYSTEM” eased the sufferings of the poorer classes.
He implemented it with severity and gave strict punishments to those who didn’t follow
it.

REASONS FOR PRICE CONTROL:

The main resons for price control were the maintenance of a large army and to allow the
soldiers to live a life with meager means. Also the revolts of the rajputana, the low value
of currency due to wealth influx from the south and prevention from Mongol invasion
were other reasons.

PRICE CONTROL
The prices of various articles of daily use were fixed. Wheat 7 jitals per maund, gram ,
dhan and mash at 5 jitals per maund , barely at 4 jitals per maund. Sugar 1.5 jitals per
seer, gur ¼ jital per seer, butter 1 jital per 2 ½ seer and salt 2 ½ maund for 5 jitals.
Similarly the prices of vegetables, fruits, clothes, arms and animals were also fixed. A
brand horse at 140 tankas, a milch cow and buffalo at 4 and 6 tanka respectively.

SUPPLY CONTROL
The supply was also controlled by forbidding hoarding by dealers and farmers;
registration of suppliers; royal granaries known as the ‘ sarai-adal’ near Baduangate for
selling wheat; efficient control by magistrates and officers. Anyone having more than 10
maunds were to sell grain on fixed rates.

TRANSPORT CONTROL
The means for transportation were vastly improved and every facility was provided to
them. The transporters were registered in the daftars.

RATIONING SYSTEM
during draught and famine people were not freely provided with grains. No one was
allowed to buy more than half a maund. Due to this rationing system the general masses
did not feel the pinch of the high prices.

vi. EFFICIENT ORGANIZATION AND APPOINTMENT OF MARKET

OFFICERS.
This price control system was made efficient and applicable by the Sultan and concerned
officers themselves. Two officers ‘ shahana-i-mandi’ was Malik Qabul who was the
supervior of the granaries and had many subordinates under him to check efficient sale
and prevention of black marketing. The ‘diwan-e-riyasat’ was Yaqub who registered all
the suppliers and was in charge of the cloth and general market. He also noted the amout
of wheat brought in by the sellers.

RESULTS AND SUCCESS OF THE PRICE COTROL SYSTEM

The price control system tackled the food problem efficiently. It relieved the poor masses
who became to regard the Sultan with deep devotion and loyalty. It was a ‘wonder of that
time’ and people looked at it with awe. The success of this system was made possible due
to the keen interest of the Sultan himself, the efficient spy system, efficient planning and
execution by officers and their zeal and honesty. Those who disregarded the rules and
regulations were severely punished and dealt with. Therefore, even being ahead of its
time this system was the reason of evolution of a sound economy in Indo-pakistan.

CONCLUSION
Alauddin khilji was not only a brave general and an able statesman , he was also a
remarkable and innovative administrator. His deep study of the prevalent vices and
measure to reduce them, his efficient land reform and price control system and above all
his desire for the welfare of people were his prominent achievements as an administrator.