Madad-i-maash

History glossary

Also called: Suyurghal · Topic: Mughal Agrarian Society and Economy · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 4 "Peasants, Zamindars and the State"

Meaning

Madad-i-maash, also called suyurghal, was a Mughal grant of land revenue given as charity. It went to scholars, religious men and holy persons. The holder kept the revenue of the land for his own support, instead of the state collecting it. It shows how the Mughal state used revenue to support learning and religion.

Example

The Ain-i Akbari, completed in 1598, has a section on the empire's twelve provinces with eight-column tables. One column records suyurghal (charity grants) for each pargana or mahal, the local revenue units. It sits next to the column for naqdi, the revenue assessed in cash.

Don't confuse with

  • Jagir: A jagir was given to a mansabdar as pay for state service and was transferred from time to time. Madad-i-maash was a charity grant to learned and religious people.
  • Naqdi: In the Ain's tables, naqdi is the cash revenue column. For mansabdars, it meant officers paid in cash instead of through jagirs.

Related concepts

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