֍ The market reforms of Alauddin Khalji were oriented towards administrative and military necessities.
֍ Medieval rulers believed that necessities of life, especially food grains, should be available to the city folk at reasonable prices. But few rulers had been able to control the prices for any length of time.
֍ Khalji was more or less the first ruler who looked at the problem of price control, in a systematic manner and was able to maintain stable prices for a considerable period.
֍ It has been pointed out that Alauddin Khalji instituted the market control because after the mongol seige of Delhi, he wanted to recruit a large army.
֍ All his treasures would have soon exhausted if he was to spend huge resources on army. With low prices the sultan could recruit a large army with low expenses.
֍ Whatever may be the reason for the market reforms, elaborate administrative arrangements were made to ensure that the market control was followed strictly.
֍ Alauddin fixed the prices of all commodities from grain to cloth, slaves, cattles etc.
֍ He also set up three markets at Delhi, the first for food grains, the second for cloth of all kinds and for expensive items such as sugar, ghee, oil, dry fruits etc. and the third for the horses, slaves and cattle.
Sahana-i-Mandi (grain market)
֍ For controlling the food prices, Alauddin tried to control not only the supply of food grains from the villages, and its transportation to the city by the grain merchants, but also its proper distribution to the citizens.
֍ A number of measures were taken to see that prices laid down by the Sultan were strictly observed.
֍ An officer (Shehna) was in charge of the market to see that no one violates the royal orders.
֍ Barids (intelligence officers ) and munhiyan (secret spies) were also appointed.
֍ Alauddin also tried to ensure that there were sufficient stocks of food-grains with the government
so that the traders did not hike up prices by creating an artificial scarcity, or indulge in profiterring.
֍ Granaries were set up in Delhi and Chhain (Rajasthan).
֍ The Banjaras or Karwaniyan who transported the food grains from the country side to the city were asked to form themselves in a body. They were to settle on the banks of Yamuna with their families. An official (Shehna) was appointed to oversee them.
֍ To ensure the regular supply of food grains to the Banjaras, a number of regulations were made.
֍ All the food grains were to be brought to the market (mandis) and sold only at official prices.
Sera-i Adl
֍ The second market for cloth, dry fruits, ghee etc. was called Sera-i Adl.
֍ All the clothes brought from different parts of the country and also from outside were to be stored and sold only in this market at government rates.
֍ To ensure an adequate supply of all the commodities, all the merchants were registered and a deed taken from them that they would bring the specified quantities of commodities to the Sarai-i-adl every year.
֍ The Merchants who, brought commodities from long distances including foreign countries were given advance money on the condition that they would not sell to any intermediaries.
֍ In cases of costly commodities an officer was to issue permits to amirs, maliks etc. for the purchase of these expensive commodities in accordance with their income. This was done to prevent any black marketing of these expensive products.
Slave and animal market
֍ The third market dealt with horses, cattle and slaves. The supply of horses of good quality at fair prices was important for the army.
֍ Alauddin did away with the middleman or dallal who had become very powerful.
֍ It was decided that the government fixed the quality and prices of the horses.
֍ Similarly, the prices of slave boys and girls and of cattle were also fixed.
֍ But these reforms didn’t last long and after the death of Alauddin these reforms got lost.
Must read: IQTA SYSTEM DURING SULTANATE PERIOD
Architecture of the Delhi Sultanate
Land Revenue Reforms of Sher Shah Suri
External link: http://magadhmahilacollege.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Market-policy-of-Allauddin-Khilji.pdf
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
QUES . Banjaras during the medieval period of Indian history were generally: UPSC PRELIMS 2016
(a) agriculturists
(b) warriors
(c) weavers
(d) traders
Ans (d) EXPLANATION: There were many kinds of traders in medieval period these included the Banjaras.They were the most important trader nomads. Their caravan was called tanda. Sultan Alauddin Khalji used the Banjaras to transport grain to the city markets. Emperor Jahangir wrote in his memoirs that the Banjaras carried grain on their bullocks from different areas and sold it in towns.
Ans (d)
EXPLANATION:
There were many kinds of traders in medieval period these included the Banjaras. They were the most
important trader nomads. Their caravan was called tanda. Sultan Alauddin Khalji used the Banjaras to transport grain to the city markets. Emperor Jahangir wrote in his memoirs that the Banjaras carried grain on their bullocks from different areas and sold it in towns.
