Todar Mal

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Raja Todar Mal was born in Laharpur, in Oudh, and rose to become the Finance Minister in Akbar's Darbar. Todar Mal overhauled the revenue system of Akbar's Mughal empire. He was from the Khatri (or Khattri/Khattree) community of Punjab but some consider him to be belonging to Kayastha community.[1][2] That he was a Khatri and not a Kayastha is also supported by the fact (as found in his many paintings) that he wore a secrate thread (Yagnopavit), which is traditionally worn only by Bhahmins, Kshatriya and Kharis but not Kayasthas. Todar Mal had developed his expertise in Sher Shah's employ.

Todar Mal succeeded Khwaja Malik I'timad Khan in 1560. Raja Todar Mal introduced standard weights and measures, a land survey and settlement system, revenue districts and officers. He can be thought of one of first statisticians in India and perhaps in the the world. Many of the fundamental data collection schemes as practiced over the centuries in the Indian subcontinent and neighboring countries can be attributed to him.


In 1582, Akbar bestowed on Raja Todar Mal the title, Diwan-I-Ashraf. His systematic land reforms of 1582, popularly known as the Bandobast System, provided the framework of subsequent land taxation systems, including that introduced by Thomas Munro.[3]

Todar Mal died in Lahore in 1586, the same year as Akbar's other navaratna Raja Birbal.

Todar Mal is also featured in the video game Sid Meier's Civilization 4: Beyond the Sword as a "great merchant" available in the game.

[edit] References

  1. ^ W. D. Thatte, Ripples on Jamuna, Bombay, Matrix Publishers, (1979)
  2. ^ Henry Miers Elliot, Memoirs on the History, Folk-lore and Distribution of the Races of the North Western Provinces of India: Being an Amplified Edition of the Original Supplemental Glossary of Indian Terms, 2 vols. revised by John Beames. London: Trübner, 1869; New Delhi, Asian Educational Services, 2 vols. (2004) ISBN 8120619056
  3. ^ Romesh Dutt, The Economic History of India Under Early British Rule. From the Rise of the British Power in 1757 to the Accession of Queen Victoria in 1837. Vol. I, pp. 84-5. London, Kegan Paul, Trench Trübner (1902) 2001 edition by Routledge, ISBN 0415244935. On line, McMaster ISBN 8185418012]
  • Abul Fazl 'Allami, ‘’The Ain i Akbari’’ vol. 1, Persian Texts in Translation, The Packard Humanities Institute.

[edit] External links

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