Critically analyse whether the success of the Mughals is to be credited to their robust Jagirdari and Mansabdari system.

Understanding the Jagirdari and Mansabdari Systems

The Jagirdari system was a revenue assignment system. Instead of paying salaries, Mughal officials (Jagirdars) were granted the right to collect land revenue from a specific territory (Jagir). This system aimed to reduce the financial burden on the central treasury and incentivize efficient administration. However, the Jagir was not hereditary and was periodically transferred.

The Mansabdari system, introduced by Akbar, was a hierarchical ranking system that determined an official’s status and responsibilities. Each Mansabdar (official) was assigned a rank (Mansab) which dictated the number of troops they were required to maintain and the revenue they could control. The system was based on a decimal organization – units of 10, 100, 1000, and 10,000 – facilitating military mobilization and administration.

Contributions to Mughal Success

• Efficient Revenue Collection: The Jagirdari system, when functioning effectively, ensured a steady flow of revenue to the central government, funding military campaigns, infrastructure projects, and the imperial court.
• Military Strength: The Mansabdari system created a large, well-organized, and readily available army. The obligation to maintain troops ensured a constant military presence throughout the empire.
• Decentralized Administration: The systems allowed for a degree of decentralized administration, enabling the Mughals to govern a vast and diverse empire effectively. Local Jagirdars were responsible for maintaining law and order and collecting revenue in their assigned territories.
• Integration of Nobility: The Mansabdari system integrated diverse groups – including Rajputs, Persians, and Turks – into the Mughal nobility, fostering loyalty and reducing the risk of rebellion. Akbar’s policy of *Sulh-i-Kul* was facilitated by this inclusive system.
• Reduced Central Expenditure: By assigning revenue rights instead of cash salaries, the Mughals significantly reduced the strain on the central treasury.

Limitations and Drawbacks

• Corruption and Exploitation: The Jagirdari system was prone to corruption and exploitation. Jagirdars often abused their power, extracting excessive revenue from peasants and neglecting their administrative duties.
• Frequent Transfers & Instability: The frequent transfers of Jagirs, intended to prevent the accumulation of power, often led to instability and disruption in local administration. Jagirdars had little incentive to invest in long-term improvements in their Jagirs.
• Decline in Agricultural Productivity: Excessive revenue demands and the exploitative practices of Jagirdars led to a decline in agricultural productivity, impacting the overall economic health of the empire.
• Factionalism & Rivalry: The Mansabdari system fostered factionalism and rivalry among nobles, vying for higher ranks and more lucrative Jagirs. This internal conflict weakened the empire, particularly during the later Mughal period.
• Military Inefficiency: While the Mansabdari system created a large army, the quality of troops varied significantly. Many Mansabdars were more concerned with maintaining their status and revenue than with military effectiveness.

Other Factors Contributing to Mughal Success

While the Jagirdari and Mansabdari systems were crucial, attributing Mughal success solely to them ignores other significant factors:

• Strong Leadership: The early Mughal emperors – Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan – provided strong and effective leadership, establishing the foundations of the empire and implementing key administrative reforms.
• Religious Policy: Akbar’s policy of religious tolerance (*Sulh-i-Kul*) fostered social harmony and reduced religious conflicts, contributing to the empire’s stability.
• Economic Policies: Mughal economic policies, including land revenue reforms (Zabt system) and promotion of trade and commerce, stimulated economic growth and prosperity.
• Military Technology: The Mughals effectively utilized gunpowder technology, particularly artillery, giving them a significant military advantage over their rivals.
• Strategic Alliances: The Mughals forged strategic alliances with powerful Rajput rulers, strengthening their military and political position.

The decline of the Mughal empire in the 18th century saw a breakdown in the functioning of both the Jagirdari and Mansabdari systems, exacerbated by weak leadership, economic stagnation, and external invasions. This demonstrates that these systems, while effective in their prime, were not self-sustaining and required constant maintenance and strong central control.