Alla ud Din Khilji’s Price Control Policy
 

AoA, the other day i got answer to question of price control policy of Allaudin Khilji. it was written/amended/modified jointly by a guy and me in 2003. His name was muhammad kaleem and i hav'nt got contact with him after 2004. may ALLAH pak bless him out always, amin... i have tried to type it out for the help of aspirants, who should check for some mistakes either typographically or else...

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[U][B]Alla ud Din Khilji’s Price Control Policy
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Allaudin was the second monarch of the Khilji Dynasty. He was a prominent as a great conqueror amongst the Turk Afghan Sultans. He was an able administrator, who thought of consolidating Muslim supremacy in India. He surpassed his predecessors and many of his successors as regards his achievement and reputation. He was the first to conquer Hindu States of Deccan and it was he who fought against onslaughts of Mongols and under whom power the Mongols were suppressed and crushed. He can be attributed as the fore-runner of Sher Shah and Akbar. He laid the foundation of an empire based upon a policy of imperialism, secularization of state and comprehensive administrative system.

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Economic Reforms of Allaudin:[/B]

“What made Allaudin distinguished from other monarchs of Delhi is his price control policy’ Lanepool

Besides the administrative, social and public reforms, the economic reforms of Allaudin are considered as the miracles of history. Allaudin was the first person to give concept of ‘planned economy’ in the medieval period, which was later on adopted by his following kings like Sher Shah Suri and Akbar, the great.

As per S.M Ikram, his price policy was ‘the marvel of age.’


[B]CAUSES OF PRICE CONTROL POLICY:
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The different historians have different views about causes of Allauddin’s policy, Lanepool has given tribute to him saying ‘he is the greatest political economist.”

Allauddin needed to maintain a large army not only to resist Mongols but also to carry on campaigns of conquest. Besides expense of army, he needed money for administrative purposes. He wanted provision of necessities of life to his soldiers and subjects on fixed prices in order to keep state intact.

Dr. K. S. Lal gives the reason for his price control by saying “he had to maintain a large army due to the permanent mongol threat, due to which he had to make an effective price control policy.” Whereas Ziauddin Barni in his book ‘Tareekhe Feroze Shahi’ says that Allauddin had made such a policy because of the following reasons:

[B]1.[/B] Allauddin had to maintain a large army due to two reasons: i). threat of Mongols; and ii) to increase his royal grandeur.
[B]2.[/B] to achieve the economic stability.
[B]3.[/B] to get rid of social injustice.


[B]PRICE POLICY:
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The price control policy of Allauddin is remarked as one of the wonders of that time. This policy comprised of different steps which are as under:

[B]1.[/B] Fixation of price of commodities: The other rulers of Delhi used to fix the prices of only the most important commodities of life to the maximum but neglected the other items. But Allaudin, though illiterate, had made such a thoughtful policy that he fixed prices of all the commodities of life to maximum. He fixed the prices between 1.5 to 7.5 jitals. Wheat was to be sold at the rate of 7.5 jitals per maund, barley 4 jitals per maund, grams 5 jitals per maund, mash 5 jitals per maund, sugar 1.5 jitals a seer, butter 1 jital per 2.5 seer, salt 2.5 per 5 jitals. Similarly prices of all other articles such as vegetables, fruits, clothes were fixed. Even prices of horses, cattle, goats and slaves were fixed as per their categories. A first grade horse was to be sold at 120 tankas, milch cow for 4 tankas, milch buffalo for 6 tankas and so on.

[B]2.[/B] Royal Granaries: he had made large royal godowns in which the grains where stored and from there were distributed to the dealers in the market, thus making sure that that everything was available to common man and there was no black marketing. No merchant, farmer or dealer was allowed to hoard grain or to sell it at a higher rate. All traders and merchants had to register their sales in a state register and they would bring all the good for sale to the market called Sara-i-Adl situation inside the Badaun gate.

[B]3.[/B] Strict action on hoarders: The hoarders were dealt with iron hand and were punished severely. Sultan not only controlled the price and hoarding but also supply/transport of various articles. Traders, who carried goods from one place to other, were registered and every type of facility was provided to them in transportation of goods. He also instituted rationing system. Grain of lower quality was not allowed to be sold. The principle dealers, who were supplied grains from government granaries, were not allowed to sell more than half a maund to any individual.

[B]4.[/B] Strong espionage system: Allauddin had a very strong espionage system, which kept him aware of the all the conditions of the market. He took special interest in this espionage system.

[B]5.[/B] Strict action on complaints: A strict and quick action was taken on complaints of the general public.

[B]6.[/B] Establishment of ‘Diwan-e-Riayasat’: Allauddin had established a price control department named ‘Diwane Riyasat’ whose head was Malik Ulugh Khan and the head of markets was Yaqoob Khan. Thus, a new government market was established under the Badaun gate and was named ‘Sarae Adl’, which was under control of Diwanr Riayasat. The purpose of the market was to ensure that the goods market by the traders were sold on the prices fixed by the Diwan-i-Riayasat.

[B]7.[/B] Elimination of dalal/middle man: He had eliminated dalali system to ensure the smooth flow of commodities in the market.

[B]8.[/B] Fixed Prices of Commodities: The prices fixed for once where never altered during his rule of 14 years.


[B]SUCCESS IN IMPLEMENTATION:
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Success of every plan and policy is hidden in the implemtentaiton of that plan. Allauddin was lucky enough to have five loyal persons were the heads of different departments. These persons or the pillars of his state were: Yaqoob Khan, Nazir Khan, Zafar Khan, Ulug Khan and Atta-ul-Mulk. As per I.H. Qureshi, the price control policy was successful in its implementation.


[B]Other reasons for its success are:
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[B]1.[/B] king took personal interest in planning, demonstration and implementation of his policy.[B]
2.[/B] the planning was realistic and not at all idealistic
[B]3.[/B] the policy was based on the principle of mass welfare.