Farmans and Sanads of the Deccan Sultans (1408-1687 A.D.)

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It was in 1963 that the first edition of this Volume-Farmans and Sanads of the Deccan Sultans edited and compiled by (Late) Dr. Yusuf Husain Khan was brought out by the Andhra Pradesh State Archives. The volume became very popular. During the course of time and all copies were sold out and still there is great demand for this volume. Hence, the Archives undertook the re-printing of the volume with some revision and addition of few more farmans which were subsequently acquired by the Archives.

The original edition contained farmans of the Bhamanis, Adil Shahis, Barid Shahis and the Qutb Shahis of the Deccan, besides 10 other types of documents. This revised and enlarged edition provides 14 additional, farmans and 2 hukums, unpublished so far. Of these there are two farmans and two hukums. Of the Bahmani Sultans, one farman of Muhammad Adil Shah of Bijapur and 11 farmans of the Qutb Shahs of Golconda.

The farmans and hukums now included are valuable from various points of view. They throw fresh light on the socio-economic conditions prevailing in the Deccan, the relations of the Deccans Sultans with the sufi sanits, and the keen interest the Sultans showed towards the maintenance of the khanqah. They also throw light on the administrative aspects and prove that the Sultan showed keen interest for the welfare of the people, as even for a minor incidence in the far flunged villages, the Sultan issued a farman deputing the kotwal to investigate the matter. Another important administrative feature brought out is that the Sultans issued farmans to any one on one's representation. But when found, on another persons' representation, that the orders were contrary to the facts, they withdrew the orders and issued another farman, stating that if any one produced any other farman contrary to the one now issued should not be considered as valid. Eight farmans are reproduced to give an idea of these documents. Another interesting feature from administrative point of view noted is that farmans, issued to the village officials were generally bilingual. Facimilies of three bilingual farmans having Persian and Marathi Modi script are reproduced in the revised edition.

The extant documents of the Sultans of the Deccan are extremely rare. Most of them seem to have either succumbed to the ravages of time or are lying unnoticed in private collections. It was Dr. Balkrishna who first discovered and utilized the Mudhel farmans of the Sultans of the Deccan in the first volume of his Shivaji The Great (Bombay 1932). He was followed by Mr. Dattatreya Vishnu Apte, who made use of the same farmans in his Marathi book named Mudhel Samsthabca Ghorpade Gharanyaca Itihasa (Poona 1943). Dr. B. A. Saletore has, however, doubted the authenticity of the Mudhel Farmans in an article published in the New Indian Antiquary (Vol. II, April 1939).

In this volume are presented 35 genuine farmans etc., pertaining to the Sultans of the Bahmani, Adil Shahi, Barid Shahi and Qutb Shahi dynasties of the Deccan. The original farmans of this collection belong to the Central Record Office (now State Archives), Hyderabad while some photographic copies have been borrowed from Mr. Ali Asghar Bilgrami, ex-Subedar of Aurangabad, and a few from one of the members of the family of Hazrat Miskin Shah Sahib, and for this co-operation they deserve our gratitude.

These farmans are valuable from various points of view. Some Adil Shahi and Qutb Shahi farmans are, no doubt, available but the Bahmani and Barid Shahi documents are extremely rare. The collection and publication of these documents will, therefore go a long way in filling a gap in the history of archival development in the Deccan. Authentic and reliable specimens of farmans and other documents, royal seals, Arabic versions appearing on the top of the farmans, endorsements made by different authorities of nomenclature of different posts, details about the titles, special features of the script used and, above all, references to events of historical and political significance will be witnessed in this collection. These documents conclusively prove that a genuine spirit of tolerance permeated the administration of the Deccan sovereigns.