RISE AND REIGN OF SHER SHAH (1534-45)
Previous Life:
Sher Shah's real name is Farid. He was probably born in 1472. His father Hasan was the Jagidar of Sasaram. Farid's childhood life was not happy. Angered at his mother-in-law, he was forced to leave Sasaram. After the death of his father, he established his rights as the Jagidar of Sasaram. In 1522 he took charge under the ruler of Bihar. This time he killed a tiger and got the title of Sher Khan. But his enemies forced him to leave Sasaram. He then worked under Babar. Babar returned him to Sasaram.
Increase in Power and Expansion of the State:
Then Sher Khan started accumulating energy at a fast pace. The ruler of Bihar was Jalal Khan, the ruler of Bihar. The real power was in the hands of his guardian Sher Khan. Jalal Khan became anxious when Sher Khan increased his power by occupying the fort of Chunar. He formed an alliance with Sultan Mahmud Shah of Bengal and tried to stop Sher Khan. But Sher Khan defeated them at the battle of Suraj Garh and established his power in Bihar (1534). From then on Sher Khan's progress was continued. When Humayun was engaged in battle with Bahadur Shah in Gujarat, he attacked the Bengali capital Gaur. Humayun, however, returned from Gujarat and Malay, and instead of obstructing him, he spent unnecessary time in Agra. On that occasion, Sher Khan attacked Gaur again. Then Humayun realized the importance of the situation and proceeded to stop him. But on the way he attacked the fort of Chunar (1537) and wasted his time, allowing Sher Khan to gain complete dominance over Bengal. Sher Khan then captured the Rotas fort. Humayun then advanced towards Bengal and took possession of Gaur. Sher Khan did not go to war with Humayun but captured Bihar and Jaunpur and advanced to Kanauj. When Humayun left Bengal and set out for Agra, Sher Khan defeated him at the Battle of Chaucer (1539). As a result, Sher Khan became the de facto ruler of a vast area from Kanauj to Assam and from the Himalayas to Jharkhand and the Bay of Bengal. He then took the title of Sher Shah. Humayun again fought with Sher Shah in the battle of Kanauj in 1540. But he was defeated again in this battle and fled, forcing him to live a nomadic life for the next 15 years. Thus the empire of Babar came to an end (1540). Then Sher Shah occupied Punjab and Malay. Defeating the Rajputs, he also captured the Raisin fort. Meanwhile, the rulers of Punjab conquered Sindhu and Multan. The Rajput king Maldev of Marwar was defeated by him. Then the whole area from Ajmer to Abu came under his control. He was eventually killed in an explosion while attacking Kalinga Castle. (1545).
Sher Shah's Administrative System and Land-Revenue Policy:
Sher Shah's reign lasted only 5 years, but as a ruler, he left an indelible mark of achievement. According to many, Sher Shah's reign was more important as an efficient ruler than a conqueror. According to the historian Qin, no government, not even the British government, has been able to show wisdom in governing like Sher Shah. Historians such as Vincent Smith, Dr. Kanungo, and Ishwari Prasad have also praised Sher Shah's regime. In some cases, he has shown the power of innovation, as can be seen in the features of traditional Indian rule - whether Hindu or Muslim - in Sher Shah's regime.
Characteristics of the Regime:
In the reign of Sher Shah, the king was supreme. But even though all power was concentrated in his hands, he was not arbitrary. He had a keen eye on the advantages and disadvantages of the people. To facilitate his rule, all the states were divided into 48 governments, and each government into several Parganas. The village was at the lowest level of governance. The government was ruled by Sikdar-i-Sikdaran. Each Pargana had an amin, a shikdar, a treasurer and an accountant, a Hindu, and a Persian employee. A Munsif-i-Munsifan supervised the work of the employees of the Pargana. There were arrangements for the transfer of government employees.
Land-Revenue Policy:
The most notable reform of Sher Shah was the land revenue system. He was aware of the importance of the farmer in the land revenue system. In his own words, "If I oppress the peasants, they will leave the villages and the whole country will be depopulated and destroyed." After a proper survey of each land, rent was fixed and it was collected directly from the farmers in cash or in grains. The rate of revenue was one-third or one-fourth of the crop produced. Amin, Muqaddam, Patwari Kanungo, and other employees were used to collect the revenue. There were restrictions on revenue collection. But there was also a system of tax exemption if the crop was damaged for any reason. Probably there was also an arrangement for agricultural loans. In recognition of the rights of the peasants to the land, there was a system of acceptance or lease. The main objective of Sher Shah's revenue system was to protect the interests of the people along with the provision of the financial well-being of the government.
Economic Reforms:
Sher Shah also focused on the economic development of the state and the expansion of trade and commerce. He reformed the monetary system and adopted a strong tariff policy. He built several major roads, including the GT Road, to improve transportation. For the convenience of the passengers, trees are planted along the roadsides, and inns are built. These inns also served as post offices and news exchanges.
Police, Justice and Military Division:
The police system is reformed to maintain peace and order throughout the state. The responsibility of maintaining peace in the village was in the hands of the village head. There was no distinction between rich and poor in the judiciary. Amin, Qazi, and Mir-i-Adal were the judges of the Pargana. In the capital, the chief judge performed judicial duties. The highest power of judgment was in the hands of the emperor himself. He followed in the footsteps of Alauddin to strengthen the military. He built a regular large army. Every soldier was loyal to him and strict discipline was maintained in the army. No corruption was tolerated.
Sher Shah's Achievements:
Sher Shah is undoubtedly a very significant ruler in the history of the Middle Ages. Although he was the son of a small feudal lord, how he, in his genius, brought about the abolition of the nascent Mughal Empire and gave the Pathans a chance to re-emerge, certainly deserves praise. Although his military prowess is significant, we may be able to name a more skilled and powerful hero than him in the history of India. But no medieval sultan before Akbar was equal to him as ruler. In particular, there is no precedent for how he coordinated the tenancy of the tenants with the dictatorship. In the later period, only Akbar was able to surpass his achievements. But in this case, also it should not be forgotten that the reign of Sher Shah lasted only 5 years and much of the policy of Sher Shah's rule was adopted by Akbar. Sher Shah's politics have historically been compelled to be praised. His tomb, built-in Sasaram as a builder and patron of industrial culture, still exists today. After all, Sher Shah treated everyone equally, Hindus and Muslims alike. His general Brahmajit Gaur was a Hindu. The example of secularism he set is unparalleled in medieval history.
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