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.