Who said, regarding Sher Shah’s village administration, “Even if a frail old woman, on the verge of death, were to travel with a basket full of gold ornaments on her head, no thief or robber would dare to approach her, because they know how severe a punishment Sher Shah would inflict for such a crime”?
Abbas Khan Sarwani, a contemporary Afghan historian, made this famous statement. This quote, found in his ‘Tarikh-i-Sher Shahi’, highlights the legendary severity and effectiveness of Sher Shah’s village administration, particularly his commitment to ensuring public safety and order by severely punishing local officials for any failure. The correct answer is (A) Abbas Khan Sarwani.
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The quote, which emphasizes the legendary security of Sher Shah’s rule, was written by the Afghan historian Abbas Khan Sarwani. Sarwani’s chronicle, the ‘Tarikh-i-Sher Shahi’, is the primary source for Sher Shah’s reign. The statement was used to illustrate how Sher Shah held local officials, the Muqaddams (village headmen) and Chowkidars, personally responsible for all crimes committed within their jurisdiction. This strict system of accountability created an unprecedented sense of order and safety for travelers and villagers alike.