Q. Consider the following statements with respect to the Vijayanagara Empire:
- Afaqi/Gharib nobles were the new comers from outside of Deccan, who were deeply resented by the Dakhni nobles.
- Nayaks were the military chiefs in the Vijayanagara Empire that were granted territory with fixed revenue by the king.
Which of the above is / are correct?
Answer:
Only 2
Notes: One of the most difficult problem facing the Bahamani kingdom was the strife among the nobles. The nobles were divided into the long established Deccani (Dakhni) group and the new comers from Central Asia, Persia etc. These foreigners were called Afaqis or Gharibs. As a newcomer, Mahmud Gawan was hard put to win the confidence of Deccanis. But, he was sacrificed in this factional politics. So, statement 1 is incorrect. In the centrally controlled territory of the Vijayanagara Empire, the king granted Amaram or ‘territory with a fixed revenue’ to military chiefs. These chiefs, who were also called Palaiyagar (Palegar) or Nayaks had to maintain a fixed number of soldiers, horses and elephants for the service of the state. The Nayaks also had to pay a sum of money to the central exchequer. They formed a very powerful section and some-times it was difficult to control them. So, statement 2 is correct.