Sur Dynasty or Sur Interregnum (1540-1555)

Sher Shah Suri [Medieval History Of India]

SUR DYNASTY or SUR Interregnum (1540-1555)

Sher Shah’s Administration

• Sher Shah was the founder of Sur Dynasty.
• His original name was Farid.
• He was the son of Hasan Khan, a jagirdar of Sasaram in Bihar.
• He was given the title Sher Khan for his bravery under the Afghan Rule of Bihar.

Sher Shah Sur (1486-1545)

• Sher Shah Sur’s conquests include Bundelkhand, Malwa, Multan, Punjab, and Sind.
• His empire occupied the whole of North India except Assam, Gujarat, Kashmir, and Nepal.
• Though his rule lasted for only 5 years, he has organized an excellent administrative system.
• The king was aided by four important ministers.
  1. Diwan –i- Wizarat or Wazir – in charge of Revenue and Finance
  2. Diwan-i-Ariz – in charge of Army
  3. Diwan-i-Rasalat – Foreign Minister
  4. Diwan-i-Insha – Minister for Communications
• Sher Shah’s empire was divided into forty-seven Sarkars
• Each sarkar was further divided into various Parganas and in charge of various officers.
  • Shiqdar – Military Officer
  • Amin – Land Revenue
  • Fotedar – Treasurer
  • Karkuns – Accountants
• Iqtas – various administrative units
• Under Sher Shah, the land revenue administration was well organized.
• The land survey was sensibly done.
• All cultivable lands were classified into three classes – good, middle and bad.
• The state’s share was one-third of the average production and it was paid in cash or crop.
• Sher Shah introduced new silver coins called “Dam” and they were in circulation till 1835.
• Police were competently restructured and crime was less during his regime.
• Shah borrowed many ideas like the branding of horses from Alauddin Khalji
• Sher Shah had also developed the communications by laying four important highways.
  • Sonargaon to Sind
  • Agra to Berhampur
  • Jodhpur to Chittor
  • Lahore to Multan

Estimate of Sher Shah

• Sher Shah remained a pious Muslim and generally tolerant towards other religions.
• He also employed Hindus in important offices.
• The old fort called Purana Qila and its mosque was built during his period.
• He also built a Mausoleum at Sasaram, which is considered as one of the masterpieces of Indian architecture.
• The famous Hindi work Padmavat by Malik Muhammad Jayasi was written during his reign.
• In 1545, Sher Shah died and his successors ruled till 1555 later which Humayun reconquered India.