Firuz shah was a weak ruler but spent money on welfare activities. Discuss
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Domestic Policies of Firuz Shah | Tughluq Dynasty | India
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The following points highlight the various domestic policies laid down by Firuz Shah of the Tughluq Dynasty. They are: 1. Finance 2. Irrigation 3. Public Works 4. Humanitarian Measures 5. Justice 6. Education 7. Slaves 8. Army Organization 9. Religious Policy.
Domestic Policy # 1. Finance:
Firuz imposed only four taxes sanctioned by Islamic laws viz., kharaj (land tax), khams (1/5 of the looted property during wars), Jizya (religious tax on the Hindus), and Zakat (2 ½ per cent of the income of the Muslims which was spent for the welfare of Muslim subjects and their religion). Besides, he imposed irrigation-tax after getting sanction of the Ulema.
All those peasants who used the water of the canals constructed by the state had to pay 1/10 of their produce to the state as irrigation-tax. Rest of the taxes were abolished. Firuz abolished nearly twenty-four taxes which were, certainly, burdensome to the people. The state officials were ordered to collect only those taxes which were accepted rightful by the state.
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Probably, the state-demand was 1/5th to 1/3rd of the produce as land revenue. A rough estimate was made of the produce and revenue was fixed accordingly. Khwaja Hisam-ud-din Junaid was assigned the task of fixing the revenue from the khalisah (state) land. The assessment which he made was not based on measurement of the land or on the basis of actual produce.
Rather, it was the result of guess which was, of course, supported by previous revenue records. The revenue which was fixed up, remained unchanged during the reign of Firuz. Its advantage was that the income of the state was fixed and was known beforehand. But, the system was illogical as it was not based on measurement of land and actual produce. Further, the state could draw no advantage even if there was increase in production.
Yet, the state was benefited as the expenditure of the state could be adjusted according to its income which was known beforehand. Firuz laid out 1,200 fruit gardens which enhanced the income of the state. He also arranged for increased means of irrigation which resulted in enlargement of area under cultivation and larger produce. He also adopted measures for improvement of quality of cultivation and better crops.
Firuz increased the salaries of his officers, gave them jagirs, abolished the practice of extorting truth by torture and also the practice of offering presents to the Sultan so that they might not pressurize the peasants. The peasants were freed from return of Taqavi loans given to them by the state.
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Firuz abolished a number of internal trade taxes which resulted in reduction of prices of goods and enhancement of trade.
The measures of Firuz were successful. They resulted in increased prosperity both for the subjects and the state. The prices of articles were reduced. There was all round prosperity among the people and there was no famine during the reign of Firuz.
All contemporary historians praised the prosperity of his reign. Shams-i-Shiraj Afif wrote- “The necessaries of life were abundant and grain continued to be cheap throughout the reign of Firuz as in that of Ala-ud-din Khalji, but without any effort.”
However, the arrangement of Firuz suffered from two serious defects viz., Jagir system and the farming of the land. Neither jagirdars nor the professional contractors who were assigned land periodically for the collection of the revenue were kept under control of the state or expected to look after the welfare of the peasants. Yet, it is creditable that both the peasants and the state enjoyed prosperity during the reign of Firuz.
Domestic Policy # 2. Irrigation:
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Firuz constructed five canals for the purpose of irrigation. The one was 150 miles long and carried the waters of the river Yamuna to Hissar. The second was 96 miles long and ran from the Satluj to the Ghaghara. The third started from the neighbourhood of Sirmaur hills and ran up to Hansi. The fourth ran from the Ghaghara to Firozabad and the fifth from the Yamuna to Firozabad. He also got 150 wells bored for the purpose of irrigation and also for the use of travellers.
According to Firishta, Firuz also constructed fifty dams and thirty tanks or lakes to store water. All these were meant for the purpose of irrigation. All these efforts resulted in the extension of area under cultivation, enhancement of trade and also income of the state in the form of irrigation- tax.