Question

What was Sardeshmukhi?

Answer 1

Hint: King Shivaji organized two plundering raids on Surat, in 1664 and 1670, which was part of the Mughal territory. These plunders led to the source of revenue collection called “ Mulkgiri “ for Marathas. Shivaji thus introduced two taxes, as this tax collection of Mulkgiri was not suitable for his statecraft.

Complete answer: Under the Maratha Empire during the medieval times, “Chauth” and “Sardeshmukhi” were two types of taxes collected in India. These taxes were found by Shivaji, a great Maratha leader who ruled from 1627-1680 and these emerged as the most important taxes. He divided his empire into two parts one was “swarajya” which belonged to Marathas and other was the outside area kingdoms.

Small kingdoms had to pay the Chauth tax which was the annual tax collected on the basis of products to Marathas, in order to protect their kingdoms and territories from being acquired or conquered by the kings. Whereas Sardeshmukhi was an additional 10% tax on Chauth in the eighteenth century, it was paid to the head revenue collector in the Deccan, which was collected only to maintain the hereditary right of the king on tax collection processes. These two taxes were the important sources of revenue for Maratha Administration and were assessed as per Deccan kingdoms revenue.

Note: Shivaji, followed a system of Ryotwari for revenue collection in which the state had direct contact with peasants. His tax collection system was very efficient and he ignored the system of jagirs to his officers, and whenever he did, the right of revenue collection was allotted to officials.