The broad concept of state in India in both the ancient and medieval periods was more or less pivoted around the widely prevalent institution of monarchy but no sovereign, however efficient, could govern his empire single-handedly. In the administrative setup, which developed after the establishment of the Turkish rule in India, the office of the Wazir occupied a central place. As the Chief Counsellor and an instrument of the Monarch’s policies, he exercised a considerable influence on the administrative decisions of the time. However, the senior most official in the Mughal administrative hierarchy was not known by a common nomenclature –He has been known by different titles like Wazir, Vakil-us-Sultanat and in later years as Diwan. The title ‘Prime Minister’ appears to be the nearest equivalent in English to all these titles. This book is a modest attempt to study the status enjoyed by the emperor’s right hand, who at times was more close to him than the heir apparent. An analysis of the valuable contribution made by him in the expansion and consolidation of the empire forms a significant part of the text. His role in assisting the Emperor in initiating the process of economic reorganization through sound financial policies has also been discussed. The book further highlights the role played by those who occupied the exalted office in enriching the cultural and literary life in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth centuries.
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