Understanding Medieval Indian Administrative Divisions

The question asks about the correct sequence of administrative units in medieval India in ascending order of size. Specifically, it refers to the common administrative divisions used during the Mughal period.

Key Administrative Units in Medieval India

During the Mughal Empire, the vast territories were divided into several hierarchical administrative units to ensure effective governance, revenue collection, and law and order. The main levels were:

• Suba: This was the largest unit, essentially a province. The head of a suba was known as the Subadar or Nazim. The empire was divided into several subas.
• Sarkar: Each suba was subdivided into a number of sarkars, which can be compared to districts. The chief official of a sarkar was called the Faujdar (responsible for law and order) and Amalguzar (responsible for revenue collection).
• Paragana: A sarkar was further divided into several paraganas (sometimes called mahal). A paragana consisted of a group of villages. The main officials in a paragana were the Shiqdar (executive head) and the Amil (revenue collector).

Establishing the Size Hierarchy

Based on their definitions and how they were structured within the administrative system, we can determine their relative sizes:

• The Suba was composed of multiple Sarkars.
• Each Sarkar was composed of multiple Paraganas.

Therefore, in terms of size, the smallest unit was the Paragana, followed by the Sarkar, and the largest unit was the Suba.

The hierarchy from smallest to largest is:

Paragana < Sarkar < Suba

Determining the Ascending Order

The question asks for the ascending order in terms of size, which means listing the units from the smallest to the largest. Following the hierarchy we established, the correct ascending order is:

Paragana - Sarkar - Suba

Comparing with the Options

Let's compare this order with the given options:

1. Paragana - Sarkar - suba (Smallest to Largest)
2. Sarkar - Paragana - Suba (Incorrect order)
3. Suba - Sarkar - Paragana (Descending order, largest to smallest)
4. Paragana - Suba - Sarkar (Incorrect order)

Option 1 matches the correct ascending order of size for these medieval Indian administrative divisions.

Revision Table: Medieval Indian Administrative Hierarchy

Additional Information on Mughal Administration

Understanding the administrative structure is crucial for studying medieval Indian history, especially the Mughal period. The system was well-organized and helped the emperors manage the vast empire effectively. Besides the three main divisions (Suba, Sarkar, Paragana), there were also smaller units like the village (Gram or Deh), which was the basic unit of administration.

Officials at each level had specific responsibilities:

• The Subadar was responsible for the overall administration, including law and order and military matters, in the suba.
• The Diwan in the suba was responsible for revenue and financial administration.
• The Faujdar in the sarkar maintained law and order and commanded the local military force.
• The Amalguzar or Amil in the sarkar was responsible for assessing and collecting land revenue.
• The Shiqdar was the executive officer in a pargana, overseeing general administration and law and order.
• The Amil or Amin in the pargana was responsible for revenue assessment and collection.
• At the village level, the Muqaddam (headman) and Patwari (accountant) were key figures.

This hierarchical system with clear responsibilities at each level ensured efficient governance and resource management across the Mughal Empire.