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Difficulty: HardMedieval Indian Dynasties, Administration, and Regional Kingdoms

With reference to the administrative structure and reforms of the Bahmani Kingdom under Prime Minister Mahmud Gawan, consider the following statements:

1. Mahmud Gawan reorganized the administration by subdividing the four traditional provinces (Tarafs) into eight administrative units to curb the regional power of provincial governors (Tarafdars).
2. He introduced systematic land measurement and brought a significant portion of provincial lands directly under the central government as crown land (Khalsa).
3. In the Bahmani administrative hierarchy, the term 'Taraf' denoted the smallest village unit, whereas 'Pargana' represented the highest provincial division presided over by a Tarafdar.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 and 2 onlyAnswer
  2. B
    2 and 3 only
  3. C
    1 only
  4. D
    1, 2 and 3

Answer

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is incorrect because a Taraf was a major province, not a village unit.
The correct response includes statements 1 and 2 only. Mahmud Gawan served as the Grand Vizier of the Bahmani Sultanate under Muhammad Shah III. To strengthen central royal authority, he reorganized the four large Tarafs into eight manageable administrative provinces and brought large tracts of land under direct crown control (Khalsa). Statement 3 is wrong because Taraf was the highest provincial unit, not a village unit.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze Statement 1 regarding provincial reorganization
Statement 1 is correct. Mahmud Gawan divided the original four large provinces (Tarafs—Gulbarga, Daulatabad, Berar, and Bidar) into eight smaller units to limit the military and political leverage of Tarafdars.
Provincial governors previously commanded huge armies and revenue bases, posing a threat to central royal authority.
2
Analyze Statement 2 regarding agrarian and revenue reforms
Statement 2 is correct. Gawan initiated the systematic survey and measurement of agricultural lands and expanded Khalsa (royal) land to ensure direct revenue collection into the royal treasury.
This reduced the financial dependence of the central state on provincial nobles.
3
Analyze Statement 3 regarding administrative terminology
Statement 3 is incorrect. Taraf referred to the province (governed by a Tarafdar), while Parganas were sub-districts comprising groups of villages.
Confusing Taraf with a village unit misrepresents the Bahmani administrative structure.

Key Concept

Bahmani Provincial Administration and Administrative Reforms of Mahmud Gawan
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Topics

Medieval Indian Dynasties, Administration, and Regional Kingdoms

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