What were the major objectives behind market reforms introduced by Alauddin Khalji ?
Answers
Market reform of Ala-ud-din Khilji was his most remarkable experiment in political economy area.
The basic intention behind this was to made the government stable and appeling to the people mainly nearby Delhi because delhi was the centre of his empire.
In this system, He fixed the prices of all the essential commodities like grain, pulses, cloth, slaves, cattles, colours, meat, fish, dry fruits etc.
Rules and regulations were made regarding the functioning of the market. Punishment for the violation of regulations were severe and barbarous.
Revenue was increased by this reform. The revenue was realised in kind and the grain thus secured was stored in state granaries to provide against years of scarcity.
By doing so, he gained the support of people and established a stable empire. This system was a novel and successful experiment. But in the long run, it was neither in the interest of the people nor in the permanent interest of the state.
Alauddin's courtier Amir Khusrau, in his Khazainul Futuh (1311), states that Alauddin reduced and fixed prices because of his "great regard for general prosperity and abundance, and for the happiness and comfort of the select as well as the commons”.
Some historians think that Ala-ud-din wanted to do something for the benefit of the common people, because the God had made him the leader of these people.
K.S Lal states that the exigencies of the state required him to take such steps under which the interests commerce and cultivation were sacrificed to those of the army.
Barani states that Alauddin introduced these reforms to be able to maintain an unprecedentedly large army, and to subjugate his Hindu subjects. Army was very large at that time. such a large army would be a drain on the state treasury, unless the soldiers' salaries could be lowered substantially. According to Barani, Ala-ud-din's ministers told him that such low salaries would be acceptable to the soldiers, if the prices of necessary commodities were reduced. Ala-ud-din then asked his counsellors for ways to reduce the prices without resorting to tyranny, and on their advice, decided to regulate the market prices.
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