[Solved] Chaudhary in Delhi Sultanate | Revenue Administration

Supreme rural officials of land revenue in Sultanate period

[UPSC CSE Prelims 2004]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

While the Sultanate introduced Persian administrative layers, the village level remained under the control of local traditional elites who were incorporated into the state machinery.

Authentic Source Evidence

Satish Chandra notes that at the village level, the 'Chaudhary' or 'Muqaddam' were the primary intermediaries responsible for tax collection.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: A 'Chaudhary' was generally a Hindu local chief or head of a group of villages (Pargana level) who assisted the state in revenue collection.

Logic 2: 'Patwari' was the village accountant, 'Rawat' was a local military title, and 'Malik' was a high-ranking noble title at the court.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"Why did the Sultans allow local 'Chaudharys' to remain in power?"

The central government lacked the manpower to manage millions of villages directly and relied on these traditional elites for stable tax collection.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"The rural elite (Khuts, Muqaddams, Chaudharys) formed the 'pivot' of the Sultanate's financial survival."

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