Mansabdar

The Mansabdar, or Mansubdar is a Military title used by the Kolis of Maharashtra during the reign of Maratha Empire, Mughal Empire and Deccan Sultanates.[1] the Koli chiefs of Maharashtra held the good position of Sardar and Mansabdar in Bahamani Sultanate and Ahmednagar Sultanate's military.[2] the most prominent Koli Mansabdar in Maratha Empire was Javji Bamble who was Mansabdar of Rajur and was close aide to Tukoji Holkar of Indore State.[3]

Mansabdari system
  • The king himself appointed the Mansabdars. He could enhance the mansab, lower it or remove it.
  • A Mansabdar could be asked to perform any civil or military service.
  • Sometimes a Mansabdar was paid his salary in cash also. Other source of income of Mansabdar was grant of jagirs.
  • The salary due to the soldiers was added to the personal salary of the Mansabdar. At times, for paying salaries to soldiers, a jagir was given to him. But the revenue was realised by officers and necessary adjustments made.
  • The Mansabdari system was not hereditary.
  • In addition to meeting his personal expenses, the Mansabdar had to maintain out of his salary a stipulated quota of horses, elephants, camels, mules and carts. A mansabdar holding a rank of 5,000 had to maintain 340 horses, 100 elephants, 400 camels, 100 mules and 160 carts.
  • High salaries were paid to a Mansabdar. A Mansabdar with a rank of 5,000 got a salary of 30,000 rupees per month, one of 3,000 could get 17,000 rupees, while a mansabdar of 1,000 got 8,200 rupees.
  • The horses were classified into six categories and the elephants into five.
  • For every ten cavalry men, the Mansabdar had to maintain twenty horses for horses that had to be provided rest while on a march and replacements were necessary in times of war.
  • A record was kept of the description (‘huliya’) of each horseman under a mansabdar and branding (‘dag’) of horses to prevent corruption.
  • The troops raised by the emperor but not paid directly by the state and placed under the charge of mansabadars were known as Dakhil

Changes introduced by Jahangir and Shah Jahan
  • Difference in the highest mansab: After Akbar, higher mansabs were introduced. During Jahangir and Shah Jahan’s reigns, the mansab of a prince was raised to 40,000 and 60,000 respectively as against of 12,000 during Akbar’s reign.
  • Reduction in the number of soldiers: Shah Jahan reduced the number of soldiers kept by a mansabdar. Now each mansabdar was required to keep one-third of the original number. Sometimes, it was even reduced to one-fourth or one-fifth.
  • Difference in the categories of mansabdars: During the time of Jahangir and Shah Jahan, the number of categories"of mansabdars was reduced to 11 as against 33 mentioned by Abul Fazl in his book Akbarnama.
  • Relaxation in control: With Akbar’s death, the control exercised over mansabdars became a bit slack.

Notable

See also

References
  1. Robinson, Frederick Bruce (1978). Adaptation to Colonial Rule by the "wild Tribes" of the Bombay Deccan, 1818-1880: From Political Competition to Social Banditry. New Delhi, India: University of Minnesota. pp. 283: Once in the Rajur jail of Maratha Empire, the prisoner was confined under the guard of Javji Naik Mansabdar's men. Javji Naik Bambale, the Koli Mansabdar of the Naikwari Police, was the son of Devji Naik by his wife.
  2. Hassan, Syed Siraj ul (1989). The Castes and Tribes of H.E.H. the Nizam's Dominions. New Delhi, India: Asian Educational Services. p. 332. ISBN 978-81-206-0488-9.
  3. Yang, Anand A. (1985). Crime and Criminality in British India. Association for Asian Studies. pp. 174: The best example is the career of a Koli named Javji Bamble, who was appointed Mansabdar after playing Nana Fadnavis off against Tukoji Holkar in the 1770s. ISBN 978-0-8165-0951-5.
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