Question

How were the Mansabdars ranked in the Mughal services? Explain.

Answer 1

Instructions: The answer to this question can be broken down into two parts:

• Briefly describe what comprised the Mansabdars.
• Explain about ‘Zat’ and ‘Sawar’.

Solution: Mansabdar referred to an individual in the Mughal times who used to hold a ‘mansab’. Mansab meant a ‘position’ or a ‘rank’.

Mansabdars were graded as per ‘Zat’ and ‘Sawar.’ ‘Zat’ was a numeric value which determined the rank and salary of the Mansabdar. The higher the ‘Zat’, the more the prestige and salary. The number of ‘Sawar’ or cavalrymen was to be maintained by the Mansabdar as part of the military responsibilities. The horses were registered and branded too.