Mansabdari System – Explained in Layman’s Terms
IAS Officer of the Modern Era vs Mansabdar of the Mughal Era
.
You know about the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers in independent India. One of
their postings is as collectors. They are in charge of revenue administration at the district
level.
You can compare the collectors of the modern era with the Mansabdars of the Mughal era.
Both IAS officers and Mansabdars are government officials – part of the administrative
(bureaucratic) framework.
However, the functions of Mansabdars not only include civil work but also military work.
Who was Mansabdars?
● Mansabdars were officers in the Mughal administration.
● Those nobles who joined Mughal service were enrolled as mansabdars.
● The term mansabdar refers to an individual who holds a mansab (rank).
● The Mansabdars were appointed to all civil and military posts.
● They were liable to be transferred from one branch of the administration (civil) to
another (military).
How were Mansabdars recruited?
The Mughals enrolled people of all races and religions into government jobs.
A person wishing to join the royal service had to petition through a noble, who presented a
tajwiz to the emperor.
Tajwiz was a petition presented by a nobleman to the emperor, recommending that an
applicant be recruited as mansabdar.
If the applicant was found suitable a mansab (rank) was granted to him.
, Higher mansabs were given to princes and Rajput rulers who accepted the suzerainty of the
emperor.
What does the term ‘Mansab’ denote?
The term ‘Mansab’ denotes the rank (position) of a Mughal military officer.
Higher the Mansab, higher the salary, status, and position of the officer.
Though in administrative records there were 66 grades of mansabdars, in practice there were
only around 33 mansabs.
Mansab: Understand the Zat and Sawar
Initially, a single number represented the rank, salary, and the size of the contingent of the
mansabdar.
However later, the rank of mansabdar came to be denoted by two numbers – Zat and Sawar.
Example: A mansabdar with 5000 Zat and 2000 Sawar.
Sub-divisions of each Mansab (Rank)
The ‘Zat’ fixed the rank in the army. The salary of a Mansabdar was based on his Zat.
The ‘Sawar’ refered to cavalary men Mansabdar had to maintain. Mansabdar also had to keep
horses ready.
Zat vs Sawar
● Zat — Denote the rank in the administration
● Zat — Denote the Salary of the Mansabdar
● Sawar — Denote the number of cavalry men Mansabdar had to maintain.
Note: Even if the Sawar rank was higher, the mansabdar’s position in the official hierarchy
would not be affected. It will be decided only by the Zat rank.
For example, a mansabdar with 5000 Zat and 2000 Sawar was higher in rank than a
Mansabdar of 4000 Zat and 3000 Sawar.
IAS Officer of the Modern Era vs Mansabdar of the Mughal Era
.
You know about the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers in independent India. One of
their postings is as collectors. They are in charge of revenue administration at the district
level.
You can compare the collectors of the modern era with the Mansabdars of the Mughal era.
Both IAS officers and Mansabdars are government officials – part of the administrative
(bureaucratic) framework.
However, the functions of Mansabdars not only include civil work but also military work.
Who was Mansabdars?
● Mansabdars were officers in the Mughal administration.
● Those nobles who joined Mughal service were enrolled as mansabdars.
● The term mansabdar refers to an individual who holds a mansab (rank).
● The Mansabdars were appointed to all civil and military posts.
● They were liable to be transferred from one branch of the administration (civil) to
another (military).
How were Mansabdars recruited?
The Mughals enrolled people of all races and religions into government jobs.
A person wishing to join the royal service had to petition through a noble, who presented a
tajwiz to the emperor.
Tajwiz was a petition presented by a nobleman to the emperor, recommending that an
applicant be recruited as mansabdar.
If the applicant was found suitable a mansab (rank) was granted to him.
, Higher mansabs were given to princes and Rajput rulers who accepted the suzerainty of the
emperor.
What does the term ‘Mansab’ denote?
The term ‘Mansab’ denotes the rank (position) of a Mughal military officer.
Higher the Mansab, higher the salary, status, and position of the officer.
Though in administrative records there were 66 grades of mansabdars, in practice there were
only around 33 mansabs.
Mansab: Understand the Zat and Sawar
Initially, a single number represented the rank, salary, and the size of the contingent of the
mansabdar.
However later, the rank of mansabdar came to be denoted by two numbers – Zat and Sawar.
Example: A mansabdar with 5000 Zat and 2000 Sawar.
Sub-divisions of each Mansab (Rank)
The ‘Zat’ fixed the rank in the army. The salary of a Mansabdar was based on his Zat.
The ‘Sawar’ refered to cavalary men Mansabdar had to maintain. Mansabdar also had to keep
horses ready.
Zat vs Sawar
● Zat — Denote the rank in the administration
● Zat — Denote the Salary of the Mansabdar
● Sawar — Denote the number of cavalry men Mansabdar had to maintain.
Note: Even if the Sawar rank was higher, the mansabdar’s position in the official hierarchy
would not be affected. It will be decided only by the Zat rank.
For example, a mansabdar with 5000 Zat and 2000 Sawar was higher in rank than a
Mansabdar of 4000 Zat and 3000 Sawar.
