Alauddin Bahman Shah established the Bahmani Kingdom in 1347 AD. It was the Deccan's first autonomous Muslim kingdom, and it was noted for its endless conflicts with Vijayanagara. The Bahmanis adopted the Delhi Sultanate's administrative structure, with the king being followed by wakil, wazir, bakshi, and qazi. The kingdom was divided into four provinces and during Mahmud I's reign, these were Gulbarga, Daulatabad, Bidar, and Berar, each with its own tarafdar, which were later increased to eight as the kingdom expanded. In this article, we will discuss the Administration of Bahmani Kingdom which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Bahmani Kingdom - Background

• The Bahmani Kingdom came to power in August 1347 AD, led by Turkish Governor Ala-ud-din Hassan Bahman Shah.
• He rebelled against the Sultan of Delhi Sultanate, Muhammad Bin Tughlaq, and was supported by Nazir uddin Ismail Shah.
• The revolt's success resulted in the formation of an independent Deccan state, which included sections of modern-day Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh that had previously been part of the Delhi Sultanate's dominion.
• Between 1347 to 1425 AD, the capital was established in Ahsanabad (Gulbarga) and was afterwards shifted to Muhammadabad (Bidar).
• They were in constant conflict with the Hindu Vijayanagar Empire in the south.
• The sultanate was at its peak under Mahmud Gawan (served as prime minister and general under multiple sultans) between 1461 and 1481.
• He expanded his dominion by conquering Goa, which had previously been ruled by the Vijayanagar Empire.
• He also instituted administrative reforms and had direct control over numerous districts.

Administration of Bahmani Kingdom

• The Sultans followed a Feudal type of administration.
• Bahman Shah, the kingdom's first ruler, could not devote much time to the administration since he was preoccupied with fighting.
• Muhammad Tughluq divided his Deccan lands into four provinces.
• Except for the fact that Bahman Shah appointed his own officers everywhere, the situation remained unchanged.
• Daultabad, Berar, Bidar, and Gulbarga were the capitals of the four Atrafs (provinces) established by Muhammad Shah I.
• In each of these provinces, Tarafdars were appointed as governors with substantial administrative and military authority.
• Tarfdar gathered income in his province, organized the provincial army, and appointed all of his province's civil and military authorities.
• Tarafdars were also sometimes appointed as the king's ministers.
• The number of provinces was increased from four to eight as the kingdom expanded and Mahmud Gawan served as Prime Minister.
• Mahmud Gawan attempted to limit the powers of provincial governors by designating certain territory in each province as Sultan's land, which was administered by central government personnel.
• For administrative purposes, provinces or Atrafs were divided into Sarkars, and Sarkars were divided into Parganas.
• The village was the lowest level of government. The Sultan was the ruler of the state, with complete administrative, legislative, and judicial powers.
• His powers were unrestricted by law, and some of them claimed to be God's earthly representatives.
• However, the Sultan's powers were constrained by the influence and advice of powerful ministers and nobles. Ministers in the administration assisted the Sultan.
• Vakil-us-Sultanat was the prime minister, Amir-i-Jumla was the finance minister, and Vazir-i-Asraf was the foreign minister.
• The Vazir-i-kul and the Peshwa were two further ministers, but their tasks were not defined.
• Provincial Tarafdars were occasionally appointed as ministers.
• After the Sultan, the chief judicial officer was known as the Sadr-i-Jahar.
• In addition to being a judge, he was in charge of the state's religious affairs and philanthropic efforts.
• The Bahmani monarchy had to have a big standing army since it was always fighting against Hindu nations.
• After the Sultan, the army's commander was known as the Amir-ul-umra.
• The Sultan had his own bodyguards, known as the Khas-i-Khel.
• In addition to cavalry, infantry, and war-elephants, the bahmani kingdom had artillery.
• In the army, Shihabuddin Ahmad instituted the Mansabdari system, in which military leaders were assigned jagirs based on their mansabs or ranks in order to pay for the armies they raised.
• Mansabs were frequently assigned to civilian officials in order to raise their pay.
• Jagirdars, on the other hand, were compelled to present a revenue and expenditure statement to the central government.
• Kiledars, the commanders in control of forts, were directly accountable to the central authority.
• Muslim scholars and religious preachers were favoured by various kings. In south India, the Bahmani kingdom aided the development of Muslim culture.
• The Bahmani kingdom's kings were forced to provide political and cultural leadership to Islam in the south due to their struggle with Hindu rulers.

Conclusion

The Bahmanis followed the administrative structure of the Delhi Sultanate. Bahman Shah, the kingdom's first ruler, could not devote much time to administration because he was too busy fighting. The Bahmani kingdom contributed to the development of Muslim culture in south India. Muslims from north India and other countries established themselves in the Bahmani kingdom. Muslim scholars and religious preachers were patronised by various rulers. Conflict with Hindu rulers in south India compelled the rulers of the Bahmani kingdom to provide political and cultural leadership to Islam in the south.

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the administrative structure of the Bahmani Kingdom.

Answer: The Bahmani kingdom had a centralized administrative system led by the Sultan. The central administration included officials like the Wazir, Amir-i-Jumla, and Qazi-ul-Quzat, who managed finance, military, and judiciary, respectively. The kingdom was divided into provinces called Tarafs, each governed by a Tarafdar. This division ensured effective local governance. The administration also integrated both local recruits and foreign mercenaries into its military.

Q2: Analyze the role of religious officials in the Bahmani administration.

Answer: Religious officials, such as the Qazi-ul-Quzat, played a dual role in the Bahmani administration by managing judicial affairs and advising on state policies. They implemented Islamic laws and resolved disputes, ensuring adherence to religious principles. Their influence extended to the political sphere, where they guided the Sultan on governance, contributing to the fusion of religious and political authority.

Q3: Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the Bahmani administrative system.

Answer: The Bahmani administration was strong due to its division into Tarafs, which allowed decentralized governance. The Sultan’s reliance on capable officials ensured efficient management. However, the system had its flaws. The provincial governors often sought autonomy, leading to internal conflicts. The heavy reliance on foreign mercenaries in the military created instability, as they were loyal primarily to their wages rather than the state.

Previous Year Questions on Administration of Bahmani Kingdom

1. UPSC CSE 2019

Question: "Examine the administrative challenges faced by the Bahmani Kingdom." 

Answer: The Bahmani kingdom, despite its efficient administrative setup, faced several challenges. Provincial governors, or Tarafdars, often sought greater autonomy, weakening central control. The dependence on foreign mercenaries led to instability within the army. Additionally, the integration of diverse ethnic and religious groups created internal strife, further complicating governance. The frequent succession struggles among Sultans also destabilized the administration. Thus, while the administrative framework was robust in theory, its practical execution faced several hurdles.

2. UPSC CSE 2020

Questioin: "What role did military organization play in the administration of the Bahmani Kingdom?" 

Answer: Military organization was a cornerstone of the Bahmani administration, with the Amir-i-Jumla overseeing the army. The use of cavalry, infantry, and war elephants provided the kingdom with a formidable force. The Bahmani Sultans also employed foreign mercenaries, which boosted the kingdom’s military capacity but created loyalty issues. The military was essential not just for defense but also for maintaining internal order. However, over-reliance on foreign troops and occasional mutinies posed significant challenges to the administration’s stability.