RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES AND MILITARY FEUDALISMHenceforth, ‘everybody was busy with earning a living so that nobody
could even think of rebellion’. The sale and consumption of alcohol was
strictly prohibited and the courtiers were no longer permitted to hold
private meetings or feasts. Spies were posted everywhere in order to report
on any transgression of these orders. Furthermore, Ala-ud-din asked the
‘wise men of his realm’ to ‘supply some rules and regulations for grinding
down the Hindus, and for depriving them of that wealth and property
which fosters rebellion. 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.’
He also ordered a new revenue survey of all land and decreed a uniform
rate of assessment for all rural classes, namely half of the standing crop.
There was also a special revenue imposed on pastures. But Ala-ud-din also
ordered that no other taxes should be imposed on the poor people. The
Hindu middlemen were treated mercilessly by Ala-ud-din’s officers:
The people were brought to such a state of obedience that one
revenue officer would string twenty khuts, mukkadims, or
chaudharis [who were responsible for the tax collection]
together by the neck, and enforce payment by blows. No
Hindu could hold up his head and in their houses no sign of
gold or silver or any superfluity was to be seen. These things
which nourish insubordination and rebellion were no longer to
be found.This is mentioned in the chronicle Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi.
The constant fight against the Mongols required the maintenance of a
large standing army. In order to be able to hire more soldiers for the same
amount of money, Ala-ud-din lowered the men’s pay. At the same time he
also decreed low fixed prices so that the soldiers could make ends meet.
For this purpose Ala-ud-din promulgated the following ordinances:
1 All prices for specific foodstuffs were to be fixed.
2 A high officer with a staff of spies was appointed who had to oversee
the markets of Delhi so as to guarantee the fixed prices.
3 Large storages for grain were established in Delhi which were filled with
the produce of the directly assessed land (khalsa) of the Doab (Land of the
Two Rivers, Yamuna and Ganges) where the revenue was paid in kind.
4 Grain trade and transport were controlled by the government. Transport
workers were forced to settle with their families at specified distances
along the Yamuna in order to guarantee a swift transport of grain to
Delhi.
5 Peasants and traders were prohibited from storing grain themselves so
as to prevent the rise of a black market.