The Administrative System of Sher Shah

Summary

This essay describes the administrative machinery developed by Sher Shah Sur, who ruled north India in the mid‑sixteenth century. The author notes that even Mughal chroniclers praised Sher Shah’s abilities, calling him the equal of famous ancient rulersfile:///home/oai/share/563012_compressed-589-806.pdf#:~:text=The%20Administrative%20System%20of%20Sher,10%20make%20such%20an%20attempt. Sher Shah reorganised revenue collection by conducting a comprehensive land survey and fixing standard rates based on soil fertility; revenue officers were made personally responsible for honest assessment and collection. He introduced the system of ‘dahsala’ in which land revenue was fixed for ten years and then averaged to protect cultivators from sharp fluctuations. The article emphasises the emperor’s care for justice: he set up efficient courts, personally heard appeals and ensured that officials were punished for misdeeds. Sher Shah’s network of roads – including the Grand Trunk Road from Bengal to the Indus – facilitated trade and communication and were lined with serais and wells for travellers. He improved postal arrangements by placing relay posts along major routes and employing horsemen to carry messages rapidly across the empire. The author also describes Sher Shah’s military administration, noting his reliance on hired soldiers, his practice of grading officers by merit and his insistence on accurate records of troops and horses. These reforms created an efficient, disciplined army that could respond quickly to threats. The essay argues that Sher Shah’s administrative innovations laid the foundations for Akbar’s later reforms and demonstrate how a capable ruler could improve governance by combining personal supervision with practical measures.