With regard to nature of Mughal State, who among the following scholar

With regard to nature of Mughal State, who among the following scholars argued that “the peculiar feature of the State in Mughal India was that it served not merely as the protective arm of the exploiting classes, but was itself the principal instrument of exploitation”?

Irfan Habib

Satish Chandra

Athar Ali

J. F. Richards

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This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-2 – 2017

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The statement describes the Mughal State as not just a protector of exploiting classes but an instrument of exploitation itself. This perspective emphasizes the role of the state machinery, particularly the Jagirdari system, in appropriating surplus from the peasantry.

– This view is most strongly associated with the Marxist school of Indian history, and particularly with the work of historian Irfan Habib.
– Irfan Habib’s seminal work, “The Agrarian System of Mughal India,” details the system of land revenue and jagirs, arguing that the state’s structure led to intense exploitation of the peasantry and contributed to the decline of the empire.

Other scholars listed also contributed significantly to Mughal history. Satish Chandra wrote on parties and politics at the Mughal court and medieval Indian history. Athar Ali’s work focused on the Mughal nobility and administration. J. F. Richards studied the Mughal Empire, particularly focusing on political and administrative aspects. However, the specific characterization of the state as the principal instrument of exploitation is a hallmark of Irfan Habib’s analysis.

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