Calling Todarmal Fan Club: A gem overlooked ?

Well almost, but not quite! 😊

I had told a few folks ... That once Jalal was resurrected in this track, I will go back to my duties as President-e-khaas of the Todarmal Fan Club. So, here it is.

While it is true, that Todarmal did not end up having a role in Jalal's plans ... He did have one beautiful little scene on last Monday ... That upon watching again, felt more meaningful then I had ever thought before.

Jalal enters the DEK. He calls upon Todarmal Sahab that he wants to distribute wealth to his awaam on Eid. Maham Anga objects, saying it would hurt funds. Instead of responding to Maham Anga's objection himself, Jalal turns to Todarmal whom he trusts to provide a strong rationale.

And what a beautiful response Todarmal gave:

- He built on Shehenshah's idea and felt that grains and seeds should be distributed instead

- Grains and seeds as they would feed the needy , as hunger was a great source or revolt

- This in turn would reduce the costs of the sena

- Seeds would be a gift that would keep giving ... As it would keep growing as food and grains, which in turn would not only help the people but also the Sultanate as a source of taxes

At the end of his beautiful argument, Jalal had a smile on his face as he exclaimed "Subanallah ... Isi soch ke hum ghayal hein"

Hats off to Jalal/Akbar was discerning the right talent 👏

(1) The strong identity and presence of Todarmal. You have to hand it to him for not only being strong and composed but also proposing an alternative to the Shehenshah's order ... When Jalal was looking unstable and temperamental.

And hats off to Shaurya Singh for making his presence in felt even in a few minutes!

(2) Hints on the outcome of this track ...

One it was a dead giveaway that Jalal was acting in his plan ... As his appreciation for Todarmal's plan showed how much he cared for the future of his awaam ... He could not possibly be willing to give up his throne for Atifa nor have cannons ready to hurt this awaam.

Second, it was also another signal of the major shift in Akbar's court from Maham Anga to folks like Todarmal and the rising frustration of Adham Khan.

The way Jalal seemed annoyed by Maham Anga's objections ... It looks like he already knew her truth.

(3) Its relevance today. Hunger is still such a widespread problem ... Yet many relief and welfare funds focus on giving money and food ... But it does not empower the people to generate food in the future. Hence, it is not self-sustainable.

We should look for ways to invest in things that will repay itself ... Such as education, training, and vocational skills. As the famous saying goes, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

"Every man of sense and understanding knows that the best way of worshipping God, consists in allaying the distress of the times, and in improving the condition of man. This depends, however, on the advancement of agriculture, on the order kept in the king's household, on the readiness of the champions of the empire, and the discipline of the army. All this again is connected with the exercise of proper care on the part of the monarch, his love for the people, and with an intelligent management of the revenues and the public expenditure."

"The Collector of the Revenue Should be a friend of the agriculturist. Zeal and truthfulness should be his rule of conduct. He should consider himself the representative of the lord paramount and establish himself where every one may have easy access to him without the intervention of a mediator. He should deal with the contumacious and the dishonest by admonition and if this avail not, proceed to chastisement, nor should he be in apprehension of the land falling waste. He should not cease from punishing highway robbers, murderers and evildoers, nor from heavily mulcting them, and so administer that the cry of complaint shall be stilled. He should assist the needy husbandman with advances of money and recover them gradually. "

"Rajah Todar Mal said, every day, charities should be distributed at the palace, and that it should be an order that the officers also should every week, month, or year have a care of the empty-handed."

"In the beginning* of this auspicious year the world's Khedive gave some attention to the arrangements of the affairs of the empire, and bestowed new lustre on administrative and financial regulations. Before* this, the duties of the viziership had been entrusted to Rajah Todar Mal, but on account of the perils of the great enterprise, and the activity of double-faced, ten-tongued persons, he had not applied himself heartily to it. This far-sighted and incorruptible man, who understood the secrets of administration, was appointed to the lofty office of Head of the Dwn (ashraf-i-diwn), and virtually the position of Vakl (Prime Minister) was conferred on him. Everything was referred to him, and a choice ordering of administrative and financial matters was the result. By the blessing of a happy fate he sullied not the skirt of wish, but regarded what was good for the State, and acquired an everlasting good name. With a stout heart he maintained the laws of the Caliphate, and had no fear of the powerful and crafty. From far-sightedness and knowledge of the world, he proposed several regulations (fale) so that the holy orders might be promulgated anew, and have fresh vigour."

"H.M. examined these proposals with a profound eye, and accepted them."

"3rd. It appeared that in the crown-parganas the cultivated lands diminished year by year. If the cultivable land were measured once for all, the peasantry would cultivate more and more land in proportion to their ability and the arrangement of progressive payments should be made. They should give one another as securities and should execute documents. Consideration should be shown in the exaction of dues. In the case of land which had lain2* fallow for four years, only half of the stipulated rent should be taken for the first year, three-fourths in the second, and in the third the peasants should be responsible for the* full rent. For land which had been uncultivated for two years, one-fourth of the rent should be deducted for the first year. In the case of uncultivated lands they were to be allowed to keep back a small amount of grain so that their lands might become capable of yielding rent. If destitute cultivators were assisted (by advances), documents should be taken from known men, and recoveries made, partly at the spring-harvest, and partly at the autumn harvest so that the country might soon be cultivated, the peasantry satisfied, and the treasury replenished. When the collectors increased the (total) rental, demands should not be made (from them) about* deficiencies in some items. Every year reports about the collectors should be submitted to H.M. in order that good servants might be rewarded, and promoted, and those who were of another sort, punished."

Thank you for the info. Appreciate it.

The thing to note about Todar Mal was, that not only was he a superb administrator, he was also a great general, calm and ingenuous under pressure.

In addition, he was a philanthropist, donating generously to various charities. A number of Temples in India owe their existence to Todar Mal. The world famous TTK Balaji temple even has a statue of him at the entrance.

thanks for all the facts

he has knowledge compassion and spirituality

he can serve as an all purpose person to jalal

My mother is a huge fan of screen TM...she cant stop praising him.

hats off to Shaurya for living the legend perfectly on screen.❤️

Our Toddy was the first statistician of India, and perhaps of the world. He surveyed and recorded crop production, yields, prices over different areas of the country. Akbar and he put their brains together, and formulated the revenue system and taxation system. None of this can be expected to be shown in the show, except for 40 seconds dialogues as the one you quoted, firstly as there is nothing dramatic about it and secondly as there would be none of Jodha's hunars to be highlighted in this.

But I would love it if Toddy and Jallu were shown to have a trip in disguise to evaluate and get first hand info. (But if they are going to show Jodha to be the idea giver, they better not show anything.)