Influential Administrators of India

India is known to the world as a land of scholars. Since antiquity, foreign cultures have been captivated by Indian art, knowledge, science, society, and traditions. The Harappan Civilisation, one of the four great ancient civilisations of the world, stands even today as a prime example of India's sophisticated societal structure. From ancient to modern times, Indian society has undergone numerous transformations. Many great thinkers have walked this land, guiding the nation and its people. While the biographies of many who made significant contributions to India's history are readily available, and their stories have often been told through films and plays, there remain countless figures whose legacies have not been discussed as widely as they deserve. Whatever the reason, the justice that time ought to have rendered them was never truly served. On this occasion, we will endeavour to introduce some of these pivotal individuals who left an indelible mark on Indian society and history.

Mahatma Basaveshwara

Mahatma Basaveshwara is renowned as a progenitor of the Lingayat community, which holds significant influence in southern India, particularly in Karnataka. With direct sway over nearly 100 of the 244 assembly seats, the Lingayats often determine who becomes the Chief Minister of the state. While the name Mahatma Basaveshwara is profoundly influential in Karnataka's political and social spheres, his recognition, unfortunately, does not extend as far beyond the state's borders as it should. Born in 1105 in Bagevadi, located in the present-day Bijapur district of Karnataka, Basaveshwara belonged to a high-caste family. From a young age, he possessed a sharp intellect and an inquisitive nature, constantly questioning the social discrimination, customs, and traditions that surrounded him. His high-caste birth gave him a close-up view of the caste system and the injustices faced by his own friends and companions. When he was about eight years old, during his

(sacred thread ceremony), he posed a question to his father: “You are performing this ceremony for me, but why not for my elder sister, Nagamma?” His father replied, “Nagamma cannot undergo it because she is a woman.” It was in that moment that the first spark against gender discrimination was lit in Basaveshwara's mind. He firmly believed that men and women were created equal by God and, therefore, deserved equal rights—a revolutionary thought for the orthodox society of the 12th century. After his early education at the religious centre of Kudalasangama, Basaveshwara began his career as a clerk in the court of the local king at Mangalwedha. His maternal uncle, a minister in the court of King Bijjala of the Kalachuri dynasty, recognised his nephew’s brilliance and introduced him to the royal court. On the strength of his intellect and wisdom, Basaveshwara rose from a mere clerk to the rank of Mahamantri (Prime Minister). With both power and authority in his hands, Mahatma Basaveshwara became a shining example of how to wield influence for the betterment of society. He often said, “Instead of shaping society through law, create a society that does not need the law.” Beyond being a saint, he was a philosopher, a skilled administrator, and a gifted poet. His famous tenet,

‘Kayakave Kailasa’

(Work is Worship), sought to bridge the social divide by proclaiming that no work is inherently superior or inferior; one’s work itself is divine. This concept predates Jawaharlal Nehru’s famous declaration, ‘Aram Haram Hai’ (Rest is forbidden/To live on another's labour is a sin). While Western nations pride themselves on being champions of democracy, the credit for establishing the world's first parliament goes to Mahatma Basaveshwara. He created the

‘Anubhava Mantapa’

(Hall of Experience), a spiritual and social parliament open to all, irrespective of caste, creed, wealth, or gender. It was a platform for open discourse where societal problems were discussed and resolved. The Anubhava Mantapa had 770 Sharanas (saints), of whom 70 were women. Basaveshwara rejected blind ritualism and animal sacrifice. He taught that God is omnipresent—within you and within me. He distilled his philosophy into seven core values for a virtuous life:

1. Do not steal.

2. Do not kill.

3. Do not be angry.

4. Do not lie.

5. Do not despise others.

6. Do not praise yourself.

7. Do not engage in flattery.

He professed that one need not perform severe penance or fasts to reach God; adhering to these seven principles was enough. Mahatma Basaveshwara passed away in 1167 at the age of 62, but his thoughts remain a guiding light for the world. He was a thinker, a social reformer, a philosopher, a poet, and, above all, an administrator so effective that during his entire tenure as Prime Minister, King Bijjala did not have to fight a single war.

Razia Sultan

India has long been a patriarchal society. While the ancient Harappan civilisation shows no evidence of gender discrimination, the subsequent Vedic period saw its gradual emergence. Although early Vedic literature mentions learned women like Lopamudra, Gargi, and Maitreyi, societal inequality grew over time, confining women to the roles of hearth and home—a constraint that persists to this day. The history of medieval India is often said to begin with the Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526). During this period, five dynasties ruled from Delhi, all representing a patriarchal order. The sole exception was

Razia Sultan

. The daughter of the second Sultan, Iltutmish, Razia was a formidable and independent woman. Skilled with weapons, she would often ride an elephant through the streets of Delhi, always dressed in a warrior’s attire. For a Muslim woman in the 13th century to defy societal norms, engage in politics, and move freely in public was an act of extraordinary courage. To put this in perspective, even in the 21st century, in 2021, a 23-year-old woman in Iran named Mahsa Amini was beaten into a coma and later died because a few strands of her hair were visible from under her hijab. If such incidents occur in the modern world, one can only imagine the rigidity of 13th-century society. Razia ruled as the Sultan of Delhi for about three and a half years (1236-1240) and is recognised as the first female Muslim ruler of the Indian subcontinent. While other women had ruled as regents for their minor sons, Razia was the first to ascend the throne in her own right, chosen by her father, Sultan Iltutmish, as his successor. Iltutmish had created a powerful council of 40 nobles known as the

‘Chahalgani’

or ‘The Forty’ to assist him. This group, however, was split between nobles of Turkic and Indian origin, with the former considering themselves superior. They supported Razia’s ascension, assuming she would be their puppet. The opposite happened. As Sultan, Razia began to curtail their undue influence, replacing Turkic nobles with Indian Muslims and making her own decisions. In response, the Chahalgani began to conspire against her, undermining her authority both socially and politically. Her reign was consumed by battling these internal plots. Ultimately, on October 15, 1240, Razia Sultan was assassinated by mercenaries hired by the Chahalgani. Her death marked the end of a ruler who possessed the potential to bring political stability to Delhi, which instead plunged into years of chaos.

Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq

Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq, who ascended the throne of Delhi in 1325, was unlike any other sultan. He was highly educated, with a deep knowledge of mathematics and astronomy, and was known for his sense of justice. He commanded a vast army and immense wealth. Despite all this, he is remembered in Indian history as the

‘Mad Sultan’

or the ‘Wise Fool’. His name has become synonymous with arbitrary and disastrous governance, giving rise to the term ‘Tughlaqi rule’. His reign (1325-1351) was marked by a series of ambitious but ill-fated decisions that earned him notoriety.

1. Taxation in the Doab: He abruptly increased the land tax in the fertile Ganga-Yamuna Doab region. The sudden, exorbitant tax burden was impossible for the populace to bear, leading to widespread peasant revolts, the rise of banditry, and a shattered economy.

2. Agricultural Experiments: A man of science, he launched ambitious projects to improve agriculture. He created a new department, Diwan-i-Kohi, and spent a fortune—around 7 million rupees—trying to make barren land cultivable. The scheme failed due to poor planning and corruption, severely depleting the royal treasury.

3. Transfer of the Capital: To protect his capital from Mongol invasions and perhaps escape his growing infamy in Delhi, he ordered the entire population to relocate 1500 km south to Daulatabad in 1327. The forced march caused immense suffering and death. After realising he could not control the north from the south, he reversed his decision in 1335, ordering everyone back to Delhi.

4. The Khurasan Expedition: He planned a massive invasion of Khurasan (in modern-day Iran), raised a huge army of over 300,000 soldiers, and paid them a full year's salary in advance. However, due to shifting alliances and logistical challenges, the expedition was abruptly cancelled, again wasting colossal sums of money.

5. Token Currency: To counter a shortage of silver, he introduced brass and copper coins with the same face value as silver coins. He failed to secure the mint, leading to mass counterfeiting by ordinary citizens. The market was flooded with fake coins, causing hyperinflation and the complete collapse of trade.

Muhammad bin Tughlaq died in 1351. A historian famously wrote of his death: “And so the Sultan was freed from his people, and they from their Sultan.” His life serves as a timeless lesson in governance: knowledge and good intentions are futile without patience, prudence, and proper planning.

Emperor Krishnadevaraya

History has shown that whenever a central power weakens, regional forces rise. Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s erratic rule destabilised the vast Delhi Sultanate, creating a power vacuum. Taking advantage of this, two brothers, Harihara and Bukka, declared their independence in the south and founded the powerful Hindu kingdom of

Vijayanagara

. For three centuries, while most of the subcontinent was under Islamic rule, the Vijayanagara Empire not only survived but flourished as a celebrated center of art, architecture, and grand temples. Just as five dynasties ruled the Delhi Sultanate, four dynasties ruled Vijayanagara. The greatest of all its emperors was

Krishnadevaraya

of the Tuluva dynasty, who reigned from 1509 to 1529. His era is considered the golden age of the empire, much like Akbar's reign was for the Mughals. Krishnadevaraya was a multifaceted ruler: a scholar, a skilled administrator, a military genius, and a poet. He authored the epic poem

, a classic of Telugu literature. He decisively defeated his primary adversaries—the Gajapatis of Odisha and the five Deccan Sultanates—earning the title of the most powerful Hindu king in the subcontinent. Even the Mughal founder, Babur, mentioned Krishnadevaraya in his memoir, the

, as one of the great Hindu rulers of India. Facing threats from the Deccan Sultanates to the north and the arrival of European powers like the Portuguese on the coast, Krishnadevaraya demonstrated immense diplomatic and strategic foresight. Instead of confronting the Portuguese, he established trade relations with them, using their expertise to build a modern navy. Simultaneously, he launched aggressive military campaigns against his northern enemies, securing his borders. His administrative control was masterful. He structured his empire into smaller provinces under local leadership, a system akin to modern federalism, which prevented anarchy and ensured stability. The emperors of Vijayanagara, devotees of Lord Vishnu, adopted the title

‘Raya,’

meaning ‘one who cares for the people.’ Krishnadevaraya was a true Raya. Though a devout Hindu, he practiced religious tolerance, and under his rule, all faiths flourished. He was a great patron of literature, and his court, which included the legendary wit Tenali Raman, was home to scholars of Sanskrit, Telugu, and Tamil. The death of this multifaceted emperor in 1529 marked the end of a glorious era.

- Swapnil Shrotri

(This article is the translated version of the original article

प्रभावशाली प्रशासक

 written by

Swapnil Shrotri

published in the Sahitya Chaprak Diwali Ank 2025 ) https://youtu.be/0SwkuJzEEDk