Evaluate Firuz Shah Tughluq’s economic policies.

Answer:

Firuz Shah Tughluq’s economic policies were shaped by his desire to stabilise the Delhi Sultanate after the harsh and experimental rule of Muhammad bin Tughluq. His approach was more conservative, conciliatory and welfare-oriented, but it also strengthened certain feudal and orthodox tendencies.

Positive Aspects of Economic Policy

Revenue moderation:

• Firuz reduced harsh taxation and tried to restore confidence among peasants.
• He abolished several taxes which he considered un-Islamic and retained mainly Quranic taxes such as kharaj, zakat, jizya and khams.
• This helped reduce immediate rural distress.

Irrigation and agriculture:

• He paid special attention to irrigation works.
• Canals were built or repaired, including canals from the Yamuna and Sutlej systems.
• These works helped extend cultivation and improve agricultural production.

Urban and public works:

• Firuz founded towns such as Firozabad, Jaunpur, Hissar and Fatehabad.
• He built gardens, serais, hospitals and public buildings.
• Such works encouraged settlement and economic activity.

Limitations of Economic Policy

Growth of hereditary privileges:

• Firuz made many offices and iqta assignments hereditary.
• This weakened central control over nobles and officials.
• It created long-term administrative decentralisation.

Conservative fiscal outlook:

• His abolition of many taxes reduced state income.
• Heavy dependence on orthodox taxation limited financial flexibility.
• Jizya was imposed more strictly, including on Brahmanas.

Slave and karkhana system:

• Firuz maintained a large slave establishment and royal workshops.
• These showed state activity but also added financial burden.

Thus, Firuz Shah’s economic policies brought short-term relief, agrarian recovery and public works. However, by strengthening hereditary rights and weakening central authority, they contributed to the long-term decline of the Tughluq state.