Existence of Middle class in Medieval India. Existence of a Middle Class. Traders and Shopkeepers. Middle State. Income Sources. Rural Gentry. Class Composition.
Middle Class in Mughal India
The existence of a middle class in Medieval India has been a subject of historical debate. Scholars discuss whether a middle state existed during the Mughal period, highlighting the role of traders, shopkeepers, professionals, and petty officials. Understanding this period is important for students studying economic and social history of India, as it reveals diverse occupations, income sources, and social structures that shaped Mughal society.
Existence of a Middle Class in Medieval India: Economic and Social Structure under the Mughals
The presence of a middle class in Mughal India was debated, reflecting social diversity and economic roles.
Historians have argued over the existence and composition of a middle class, with differing opinions on its size and influence.
(i) The FrenchmanBernier argued that India had no ‘middle state’, with people being either extremely rich or poor.
(ii) Some scholars disagree, noting significant sections with moderate wealth and social influence.
Traders and Shopkeepers in Mughal India: Key Economic Group
If the term ‘middle class’ is interpreted as traders and shopkeepers, India had a substantial middle economic group.
Wealthy Traders and Their Rights
(i) Many merchants were among the richest in the world at the time.
(ii) These merchants had traditional rights, such as protection of life and property.
(iii) They did not have the right to administer towns, unlike their European counterparts.
(iv) Such rights in Europe were often curtailed by strong territorial states like France and Britain.
Middle State in Mughal India: Diverse Occupations and Living Standards
The ‘middle state’ included a variety of occupations and moderate living standards, bridging the rich and poor.
Composition of the Middle Strata
(i) Small mansabdars, petty shopkeepers, and master craftsmen formed part of this group.
(ii) Professionals such as hakims, leading musicians and artists, historians, scholars, qazis, and theologians were included.
(iii) Petty officials or pen-pushers operated the large Mughal administrative apparatus.
Income Sources for the Middle Strata in Mughal Society
The middle strata earned income through official pay, land grants, and other provisions.
Official Pay and Land Grants
(i) Petty officials were paid in cash and supplemented their income through corruption.
(ii) Scholars and religious divines received small land grants for maintenance, called madad-i-maash or sasan in Rajasthan.
(iii) These grants came from the Mughal emperor, local rulers, zamindars, and nobles, often becoming hereditary.
Rural Gentry and Their Role in Mughal Society
The middle strata often formed the rural gentry, linking villages and towns.
Professionals as Rural Connectors
(i) Writers, historians, and theologians often belonged to this group, bridging administration and local society.
Class Composition and Diversity of the Middle Strata in Mughal India
The middle strata was diverse, including multiple religious groups and castes, without forming a single uniform class.
Diverse Interests and Sections
(i) Different sections had distinct interests, reflecting the complexity of social and economic roles in Mughal India.
Summary: Existence of a Middle Class in Mughal India
The middle class in Mughal India comprised traders, shopkeepers, professionals, and petty officials, representing a bridge between the rich and poor. Their income sources, social roles, and diversity across religions and castes make this topic vital for students studying the economic and social history of India.
