During emergence of new states in 18th century whichever states include in the third group
Answers
- Emergence of New States
Through the 18th century, the Mughal Empire gradually fragmented into a number of independent, regional states.
It can be divided into three overlapping groups:
States that were old Mughal provinces like Awadh, Bengal, and Hyderabad. Although extremely powerful and quite independent, the rulers of these states did not break their formal ties with the Mughal emperor.
States that had enjoyed considerable independence under the Mughals as watan jagirs. These included several Rajput principalities.
States under the control of Marathas, Sikhs and others like the Jats. They all had seized their independence from the Mughals after a long-drawn armed struggle.
Hyderabad
Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah, the founder of Hyderabad state, was appointed by Mughal Emperor Farrukh Siyar.
He was entrusted first with the governorship of Awadh, and later given charge of the Deccan.
He ruled quite independently without seeking any direction from Delhi or facing any interference.
The state of Hyderabad was constantly engaged in a struggle against the Marathas to the west and with independent Telugu warrior chiefs (nayakas)
Awadh
Burhan-ul-Mulk Sa‘adat Khan was appointed subadar of Awadh in 1722.
Awadh was a prosperous region, controlling the rich alluvial Ganga plain and the main trade route between north India and Bengal.
Burhan-ul-Mulk held the combined offices of subadari, diwani and faujdari.
Burhan-ul-Mulk tried to decrease Mughal influence in the Awadh region by reducing the number of office holders (jagirdars) appointed by the Mughals.
The state depended on local bankers and mahajans for loans.
It sold the right to collect the tax to the highest bidders. These “revenue farmers” (ijaradars) agreed to pay the state a fixed sum of money. So they were also given considerable freedom in the assessment and collection of taxes.
These developments allowed new social groups, like moneylenders and bankers, to influence the management of the state’s revenue system, something which had not occurred in the past.
Bengal
Bengal gradually broke away from Mughal control under Murshid Quli Khan who was appointed as the naib, deputy to the governor of the province and he was neither a formal subadar .
Like the rulers of Hyderabad and Awadh, he also commanded the revenue administration of the state.
In an effort to reduce Mughal influence in Bengal he transferred all Mughal jagirdars to Orissa and ordered a major reassessment of the revenues of Bengal.
Revenue was collected in cash with great strictness from all zamindars.
This shows that all 3 States Hyderabad, Awadh, Bengal richest merchants, and bankers were gaining a stake in the new political order.
The Watan Jagirs of the Rajputs
Many Rajput kings, particularly those belonging to Amber and Jodhpur, were permitted to enjoy considerable autonomy in their watan jagirs.
In the 18th century, these rulers now attempted to extend their control over adjacent regions.
So Raja Ajit Singh of Jodhpur held the governorship of Gujarat and Sawai Raja Jai Singh of Amber was governor of Malwa.
They also tried to extend their territories by seizing portions of imperial territories neighbouring their watans.
Seizing Independence
The Sikhs
The organisation of the Sikhs into a political community during the seventeenth century helped in regional state-building in the Punjab.
Guru Gobind Singh fought against the Rajaput and Mughal rulers, after this death, it was under Banda Bahadur’s the fight continued.
The entire body used to meet at Amritsar at the time of Baisakhi and Diwali to take collective decisions known as “resolutions of the Guru (gurmatas)”.
A system called rakhi was introduced, offering protection to cultivators on the payment of a tax of 20 per cent of the produce.
Their well-knit organization enabled them to put up a successful resistance to the Mughal governors first and then to Ahmad Shah Abdali who had seized the rich province of the Punjab and the Sarkar of Sirhind from the Mughals.
The Khalsa declared their sovereign rule by striking their own coin in 1765. The coin was same as that of Band Bahadur’s time.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh reunited the groups and established his capital at Lahore in 1799.
The Marathas
Another powerful regional kingdom to arise out of a sustained opposition to the Mughal rule.
Shivaji (1627-1680) carved out a stable kingdom with the support of powerful warrior families (deshmukhs). Groups of highly mobile, peasant- pastoralists (kunbis) provided the backbone of the Maratha army.
Poona became the capital of the Maratha kingdom.
After Shivaji, Peshwas[principal minister s] developed a very successful military organisation by raiding cities and by engaging Mughal armies in areas where their supply lines and reinforcements could be easi .