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UNIT 3 POLITY AND ECONOMY IN DECCAN AND SOUTH INDIA Structure Objectives Introduction Geographical Setting Political Formations in the Deccan Political Formations in South India 3.4.1 Rise of the Nayak Kingdoms 3.4.2 States in Malabar Nature of Polity : Different Approaches The Ruling Elite Economy Let Us Sum Up Key Words Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises 3.0 OBJECTIVES After reading this Unit you will'be able to know about 'the: a geographical influences on polity and economy of Deccan and South India; politi&l formation and its qature in Deccan and South India; a role of the ruling elite (nayak and poligan) in polity and economy, and a emerging economic trends i.e. the impact of the advent of the Portuguese in the region. - 3.1 INTRODUCTION This Unit provides a link between the developments of the 8-15th centuries and what followed after the decline of the two big empires-the Bahrnani and the Vijaynagar in Deccan and South India. It also gives the background for the developments witnessed in the region with the entry of the Mughals. The study of this unit would help in understanding the change and continuity during the 16th century in respect of polity and economy of the Deccan and South Indian states. 3.2 GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING Geography plays a ,c+l role in the politico~conomicdevelopments. Certain salient geographical features of South India and Deccan influenced the developments in the region (see Block 3 of EHI43). Broadly, the whole tract lying south of the river Narmada is known as South India. However, technically speaking, this tract consists of two broad divisions, Deccan and south India. Dean In Unit 12 of EHI43 w touched upon the gecgaphy of Deccan. Deccan is bounded in the north and northcast by Nannada and 'Mahanadi riven, while Nilgiri hills and Content Digitized by eGyanKosh, IGNOU Pennar river form its southern boundary. To the west and east lie the Western and Eastern Ghats along with long coastal strip on both the sides. The area between the pOb adEeonoW h vast vestern seacoast and the Sahyadri ranges is known as Konkan, a sub-region of ~~.nd~outb~ Deccan. The whole strip is full of dense forest, and the soil.& pot adequately fertile. The area boasts of great strategic importance. Therefore, a nmhr of strong forts were built there. The famous ports of Chaul and Dabhol also come under this region. On account of its difficult access. local chieftains (deshmukhs) often manifested shifting loyalties and at times defied the Central authority. You would find that it was this geographical location that played crucial role in the rise of the Marathas. On account of its hilly and forest tracts, the Deccan states were difficult to penetrate, but, from the side of southern Gujarat it had an easy access through the fertile Baglana tract. For this reason it repeatedly fell under the sway of the Gujarat rulers. Finally in the 16th century, the Partuguese altered the balance in that region. With minor variations, Goa marked the boundary between the Bahmani and the Vijaynagar states. The central Deccan (from the Ajanta ranges to the Nilgiri hills and Palaghat gap) possesses black soil which is good for cotton cultivation. The Khandesh and Berar tracts of Maharashtm lying along the banks of the Tapti and the Wardha and Painganga rivers were known for fertility. This led to frequent encounters between the ~alvkand Bahmani rulers for the occupation of Kherla and Mahur. (for details see Units 11, 12 and 28 in course EHI-03). Between the Krishna and Godavari lies the flat plain whicb &'also famous for its rich 'cotton' soil. Then comes the Telangana region: its soil is sandy and does not retain moisture. The rivers, too, are not perennial; as a result, tank irrigation became important. Along the Krishna valley lies the Kurnool rocks where the famous Golkonda mines were located. The southern Deccan plateau (parts lying in modem Karnataka) is also richin mineral resources (copper. lead, zinc, iron, gold, manganese etc.). South Indt The region south of the Krishna Tungabhadra doab formed South India. The coastal belt in the east is known as Coromandel while the western tract from south of Kanara (from the river Netravati down to Cape Comorin) is known as Malabar which is bounded by the Western Ghats in the east. We have already discussed (See Units 12 and 27 of course .EHI03) how during the Chola period the focus of activity was confined mainly around the Kaveri tract which, during the Vijaynagar period, shifted further northzast towards Tungabhadra-Krishna doab (the Rayalseema tract) where the capital of Vijapgar was situated. Throughout the 13-16th century, this tract remained the centre of struggle: first, between Vijaynagar and Bahmani, and later between Vijaynagar and its successor Nayak states and the Bijapur rulers. The Qutb Shahi rulers also joined the conflict frequently. Another feature that influenced the 16th century South Indian polity, economy and society was the migration of the Telugu population from the northern tracts (of South India) which started from the mid-15th century and continued during the 16th century. Interestingly, this movement was from the coastal and deltaic wet land areas, which were greatly fertile, wellcultivated and well-irrigated. There might have been numerous reasons for these migrations like, the Bahmani pressure; deliberate attempts on the part of the Vijaynagar rulers to extend their dominion further south; natural process, that is, movement from more densely populated areas; the soil was well suited to the migrants since it was excellent for dry farming, etc. At any rate, it had deep socioeconomic impact. For example, the development of dry farming led to the rise of tank irrigation which became the crucial part of the 16th century South Indian economy. Secondly, its compamtively low productivity yielded low surplus which helped in the rise of what the modem scholars call 'portfolio capitalists" in this tract. 3.3 POLITICAL FORMATIONS IN THE DECCAN The decline of the Bahmani power gave way to the rise of five kingdoms in the Deccan (see Unit 28 of EH103). The death of Mahmud Gawan, an Afaqi noble, virtmlly sealed the fate of the tlahmani power in the Deccan and, finally, the death Content Digitized by eGyanKosh, IGNOU of Mahmud Shah ( 14kl-I qlKb of the Bahmani rule. The crucial factor in the decline 'I IIIW in the 16th Century was the longdrawn conflict between the Afaqis and the Deccanis. Both of these factions were dissatisfied. For example, the Deccanis blamed the Sultan for showing extra favour to the Afaqis while the Afaqis felt their position was no more secure and stable. The factors which contributed towards the establishment of the Deccah kingdoms had starled emerging during the Bahmani rule itself. The Bahmani rule was on the decline. It is important to note that the founders of all the Deccani kingdoms were at we point of time Bahmani nobles who had served one or the other Bahmani ruler. Yusuf Adil Sh'ah, the founder of the Adil Shahi dynasty at Bijapur (1489) was the tanfd-r of Bijapur; Nizam Shah Bahri, the founder of the Nizam Shah kingdom at Ahmednagar (14%) was incharge of a number of forts in the Sahyadri ranges; Qasim Band ul Mamalik, founder of Band Shahi dynasty at Bidar (1504) sewed as kotml of Bidar as well as wakil during Mahmud Shah's reign; Fathullah Imad Shah, the founder of the Imad Shahi dynasty of Berar (1510) served as tanfdar of Berar; and Quli Qutbulmulk, the founder of the Qutb Shahi dynasty at Golkonda (1543) held the governorship of Telangana. Out of the five states that emerged after the decline of the Bahmani kingdoms, the founders of the three-Bijapur, Bidar and Golkonda-were Afaqi nobles. Ahmednagar and Bemr were under the Deccani nobles. But the Afaqi-Deccani factor hardly dominated their relationships. Instead, it was based more on what suited their interest, circumstances and exigencies of the time. Accordingly, even an Afaqi state could join hands with a Deccani power against another Afaqi and vice-versa. The history of the 16th century Deccani states cannot be studied in isolation. Each wanted to extend its dominion at the cost of the other. As a result, alliances and counter-alliances were a ngular feature. As repeatedly pointed out geography played a crucial role in the Deccan politics. The geographic location of Ahmednagar (in the north), Golkonda (in the east) and Bijapur (in the south) was such that it provided them enough room for extension towards further north and south. Thus, these kingdoms had the natural advantage to 'gain stnngth. Bidar and Berar (situated in the central Deccan) sandwiched as they wen baween the power blocks, remained as men pawns in the hands of one or the ather Deccani power. Perhaps, shifting loyalties was the only strategy for their existence. Bijapur (surrounded by Ahrnednagar in the nokh, Bidar in the east and Vijaynagar and its successor Nayak states in the south) coveted the fertile plains of the Krishna- ~u&bhadra dorb. This clashed with the interests of the South Indian states and also with those of Bidar and Golkonda. Again, its interests in Sholapur and Naldurg were the chief factor behind the conflict with Ahmednagar. For Golkonda (surrounded by Berar in the north, Bidar in the west and the Vijaynagar and successor Nayak kingdoms in the south), the existence of Bidar and Berar was very important to serve as a buffer between Golkonda and Bijapur and Ahmednagar and Golkonda. The latter preferred the help of Ahmednagar for its ambitious plans in the Mudgal and Raichur doab.

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