Understanding Delhi Sultanate's Influence on Bahmani and Vijayanagar Kingdoms

The Delhi Sultanate established various administrative and military systems that were crucial for managing their vast empire. Over time, as the Sultanate declined and new independent kingdoms like the Bahmani kingdom in the Deccan and the Vijayanagar kingdom in the South emerged, they often adopted or adapted elements of the Sultanate's governance structures.

Analysing the Key Systems

Let's look at the systems mentioned in the options and their relevance:

• Walis: Walis were governors or provincial heads appointed by the Sultan. They administered large territories. This was a common feature in many empires, but not the specific system highlighted for its unique influence in the context of the options provided.
• Cahalgani: Also known as "Turkan-i-Chahalgani," this was a group of forty Turkish slaves who were powerful nobles during the reign of Iltutmish in the Delhi Sultanate. This was a specific political faction or group of individuals, not a system of governance that would be directly adopted by later kingdoms in the same form.
• Bitikchi: Bitikchi was a specific official, typically a scribe or accountant, part of the central or provincial administration responsible for keeping records, especially revenue accounts. While crucial for administration, this was a specific role within a larger system, not the overall system itself that had a widespread influence.
• Iqtadari: The Iqtadari system was a land distribution and administrative system introduced by the Delhi Sultans, particularly consolidated by Iltutmish. Under this system, the land of the empire was divided into tracts called 'iqtas', which were assigned to nobles, officers, and soldiers instead of giving them salaries in cash. The holders of iqtas, called 'iqtadars' or 'muqtis', were responsible for collecting revenue from their iqtas, maintaining law and order, and providing troops to the Sultan when required.

Iqtadari System and its Influence

The Iqtadari system was fundamental to the Delhi Sultanate's administration, particularly concerning revenue collection and military organization. This system provided a framework for governing distant territories, ensuring loyalty, and mobilizing military resources.

The Bahmani and Vijayanagar kingdoms, while developing their own unique administrative features, were significantly influenced by the models prevalent during the Delhi Sultanate rule, especially in the Deccan region. The concept of dividing the kingdom into provinces or military-administrative units and assigning them to officers for revenue collection and military service was similar to the Iqtadari system.

• In the Bahmani kingdom, a similar system existed where territories were assigned to nobles (known as 'tarfdars' or 'amir-i-tarf') who had administrative and military responsibilities, including maintaining troops for the king. These 'tarfs' were akin to the 'iqtas'.
• The Vijayanagar Empire also had a system known as the 'Nayak' or 'Nayankara' system. Under this system, military chiefs or 'Nayaks' were granted land (amaram) by the king in exchange for military service and tribute. They were responsible for administering their areas, collecting revenue, and maintaining a contingent of soldiers for the state. While having distinct features, the underlying principle of assigning territory for military and administrative duties in exchange for service shared similarities with the Iqtadari system.

Thus, the fundamental structure of territorial assignments for administrative and military purposes, central to the Iqtadari system, was adapted and implemented in various forms in the successor states like the Bahmani and Vijayanagar kingdoms.

Conclusion

Among the options provided, the Iqtadari system represents the broad administrative and military framework of the Delhi Sultanate that had a discernible influence on the structure of governance, particularly land administration, revenue collection, and military organization, in the Bahmani and Vijayanagar kingdoms.

Revision Table: Delhi Sultanate Systems

Additional Information: Medieval Indian Administration

The administrative practices of the Delhi Sultanate were a blend of traditional Indian practices and practices introduced from the Islamic world (Persian and Arabic models). Systems like Iqtadari helped consolidate power and extract resources from diverse regions.

• The Bahmani kingdom, emerging from the decline of the Delhi Sultanate's hold over the Deccan, naturally adopted many of its administrative terminologies and structures, including provincial divisions and military service obligations tied to land/revenue.
• The Vijayanagar Empire, while rooted in South Indian traditions, also incorporated elements observed from the Sultanate's administration, particularly in military organization and land grants for service, adapting them to their specific needs and social structure (the Nayankara system).
• Studying these systems helps understand the continuity and change in administrative ideas during the medieval period in India.