Bakhshi (Mughal Empire)
The word bakhshi means giver, derived from the verb bakhshidan. Historian William Irvine viewed this term as referring to the official's function of offering recruitment into the army. The office traces its roots at latest to the Delhi Sultanate during the 13th-century reign of Balban. Balban created the office of diwan-i-arz to establish a separated military administration. This new role acted as a check against the vizier. The Mughal emperor Akbar later constituted an office with a similar goal. He ensured that this official would not actually command the military. That power remained reserved for the emperor himself. Instead, the mir bakhshi managed the mansabdari system which formed the bulk of the military. The Ain-i-Akbari contains references to an office termed mir-arz. William Irvine considered this to be the immediate prototype for the position of mir bakhshi.
As the chief military administrator of the Mughal Empire, the mir bakhshi was one of the empire's four top ministers. This official ranked second-highest in the empire after the wazir. Scholars have translated the office in English as paymaster general or army minister. The title also appeared as bakhshi-ul-mamalik or bakhshi-i-mamalik. The chief responsibilities involved managing mansabdars and recruiting them. The official recommended suitable ranks to assign these men. They regularly inspected military units and determined payments. Payments came either in cash or jagirs. Candidates for appointment or promotion were presented by the mir bakhshi to the emperor in open court. The mir bakhshi's seal endorsed the candidate's new position. Occasionally the official participated in the field as commanders. The mir bakhshi occupied a close position to the emperor throughout their tenure.
Every noble of the Mughal empire was a mansabdar. This fact meant the mir bakhshi's influence extended beyond pure military matters. The system constituted the bulk of the armed forces under imperial control. The official managed recruitment and assigned ranks to nobles. Regular inspections ensured units remained ready for service. Determining payment required careful calculation between cash and land grants called jagirs. Candidates for appointment or promotion were presented by the mir bakhshi to the emperor. These presentations occurred in open court before the entire assembly. The mir bakhshi's seal officially endorsed each candidate's new position. Second and third bakhshis assisted the main official in central administration. These lesser officials performed similar tasks but dealt with lower-ranking mansabdars. They handled troops belonging specifically to the royal household. Their work supported the broader management of the entire military structure.
The mir bakhshi stood by the emperor in court during sessions. They accompanied him on all royal expeditions across the realm. Another important function involved the centralisation of intelligence gathering. Officials collated information reported by waqia-navis posted in every province. News writers served as eyes and ears throughout the provinces. The collected data was then presented directly to the emperor. The mir bakhshi frequently bore the title of Amir al-umara. This honorific reflected their high standing within the hierarchy. They presented officials of the state to the emperor regularly. Visiting ambassadors also received introductions through this channel. The roles acted as checks and support for the wazir. Both men served together as leading officials of the empire. Their proximity to the ruler allowed them to influence policy decisions significantly.
Each subah or province had its own bakhshi under Akbar's reforms. This practice ensured administrative positions mirrored those at the central government level. Provincial bakhshis reported to the mir bakhshi at the capital instead of the subahdar governor. Similar to imperial counterparts, they managed and paid provincial military forces. The role often combined with that of the province's waqia-navis news writer. These officials reported on all provincial mansabdars including senior officers like the subahdar. Tension arose between the bakhshi and the subahdar or diwan over authority. The bakhshi's activities kept these governors accountable to the imperial centre. In practice, the role sometimes merged with that of the subahdar or diwan. Significant nobles of the empire maintained their own personal bakhshis. These private officials performed functions similar to those operating at the imperial level.
Shaikh Farid Bukhari held the title during the reign of Akbar from 1556 to 1605. He served approximately from the 1590s until 1605. Zulfiqar Khan Nusrat Jung served as Mir Bakshi under Aurangzeb who reigned from 1658 to 1707. His tenure lasted roughly from the 1690s until 1707. Khan Dowran VII held office during Muhammad Shah's rule spanning 1719 to 1748. This specific appointment occurred around 1713 through 1719. A farman bearing the seal of a bakhshi documented reductions in mansab ranks. Such documents appeared during the reign of Aurangzeb regarding officer misbehavior. These records show how the system functioned in actual administrative practice over time.
Common questions
What does the word bakhshi mean in the Mughal Empire?
The word bakhshi means giver and derives from the verb bakhshidan. Historian William Irvine viewed this term as referring to the official's function of offering recruitment into the army.
When did the office of mir bakhshi originate in Indian history?
The office traces its roots at latest to the Delhi Sultanate during the 13th-century reign of Balban. Balban created the office of diwan-i-arz to establish a separated military administration that acted as a check against the vizier.
Who held the title of mir bakhshi under Akbar between 1590s and 1605?
Shaikh Farid Bukhari held the title during the reign of Akbar from 1556 to 1605. He served approximately from the 1590s until 1605 while managing the mansabdari system.
How did the mir bakhshi manage payments for military units in the Mughal Empire?
Payments came either in cash or jagirs which were land grants given to nobles. The official determined these payments through careful calculation after regular inspections ensured units remained ready for service.
What intelligence gathering role did the mir bakhshi perform for the emperor?
Another important function involved the centralisation of intelligence gathering where officials collated information reported by waqia-navis posted in every province. News writers served as eyes and ears throughout the provinces before presenting collected data directly to the emperor.