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.
- Diwan –i- Wizarat or Wazir – in charge of Revenue and Finance
- Diwan-i-Ariz – in charge of Army
- Diwan-i-Rasalat – Foreign Minister
- 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.
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