The administration of Harsha is one inname only. Whatever information
we have on it does not speak well of it. And the only relieving feature
of this picture is the striking personality of Harsha.
Harsha's interest indirect supervision of administration is one plus
point. Hiuen-tsang writes that "If there was any irregularity in the
manners of the people in the cities, he went amidst them." Inscriptions
reveal that Harsha had stayed in two places during his travels. Harsha
traveled ingreat state and his camps looked very impressive because he
was surrounded by a number of guests. Hieum-Tsand writes: "The king's
day was divided into three periods of which one was given to the affairs
of government, and two were devoted to religious work. He was
indefatigable, and the day was too short for him." The way in which
Harsha worked was recorded by Bana also.
The emperor appointed provincial governors known as Lokapalas who were
posted at chosen centers in different quarters. The provinces were known
as Bhuktia, districats as Vishayas, sub-divisions of districts as
Patakas and Villages as gramas.
Next to the sovereign was the chief minister and the mantriparishad.
According to Bhandi, a cousin of Rajayavardhana, Harsha's accession to
throne was approved by the parishad. This account is corroborated by the
Chinese pilgrim. Avanti was the supreme minister of war and peace,
according to Bana. For maintaining law and order, a great number of
military and executive officers were employed. At times, some of the
high officers were combined in one and the same persons. A few other
names also are known: Simhanada was Harsha's senapati. Harsha treated
him with great respect as he was a scholarly man. Also, we hear of a
handful of officials who themselves were chiefs indicating that in all
probability Harsha's sovereignty was of a confederate nature. According
to Hiuen-Tsang, both ministers and officials received land grants
instead of salaries. One-fourth of eth crown land was set apart for the
endowment of great public servants and another one-fourth for the
expenses of government and State worship.
The army of Harsha was organized into four traditional divisions.
Probably 60,000 elephants and 100,000 horses. However, some of the
regions were not free from brigands as is known from the experience of
Hiuen-Tsand who was way laid.
Lawlessness was not the order of the day but there were plots against
kings including one against Harsha. The offender was punished by
imprisonment for life. for offance against social morality the
punishment was either mutilation of limbs or deportation. Trial by or
deal was common. Justice was harsh, but as the Chinese pilgrim
maintains, the government was very generous and did not make any large
demands either on the liberties or pockets of the people.
In general, the country was not entirely free from brigands who made
traveling very risky. Hiuen-Tsand himself twice had narrow escapes from
the clutches of bandits, Villagers haunted by the fear plunder often
questioned the right of the King to rule according to Bana. However, as
Hiuen-Tsand states that since the government was honestly administered,
the people lived on good terms and the criminal class was very small.
Regarding administration of provinces and villages very meager
information is available. The territory of the empire was called rajya
or desa, which was divided into bhuktis, visayas and gramas. The
governor of the provinces was, at times, a member of the royal family.
The governor appointed his suordinate officials. Probably, the officials
mentioned in the Gupta period continued to work in the time of Harsha.
Besides the officials of states non-official element was also associated
with the local administration. The Madhuban plate of Harsha (grant of
an agrahara to some persons) states that the grant was made in the
presence of all his chief officers and the resident people who were
summoned as witnesses to this transaction. Such orders of the king were,
at times, signed by Harsha himself. The Banskhera plate was signed by
Harsha and described as one given under his own hand and seal. Often the
king's orders were delivered through messagers to local officers, who
in turn, grew up necessary charters and handed over the grant to the
grantees.
Finally, regarding fiscal administration we get some information from
inscriptions. In all probability, land was surveyed measured and divided
into holdings with well-defined boundaries. The holdings were of
different sizes. At times these were served by common land which in
certain cases, had irrigation wells. The names of owners of land were
entered in the village records. It appears that record of village census
was also kept. It is certain that land revenue was only a modest
percentage of total yield. Taxation was light-revenue from crown lands
amounted to only one -sixth of the crop, according to traditional
standard. The other sources of revenue were trade, and duties at ferries
and barrier stations.
The enlightened character of Harsha's administration is shown by the
creation of a department of records and archieves. Both good and bad
were faithfully recorded in officials annals and state papers while
instance of public calamities of good furtuns are set forth indetails.
Taxation was light. The land tax was one-sixth of the crop. According to
tradition, standard revenue was also derived from trade. Ligth, duties
were levied on ferries and barriar stations.
In this manner, we have a very shetchy knowledge of Harsha's
administration. Ineed the administration was not well integaretd as
Harsha domain itself was so shaky. However, the fat that the knig
devoted himself to the welfare of the people by traveling in the country
and the generosity with which he gave grants, shows that he was one of
the illustrious rulers of Inda the manner of Ashoka and Shaivaji.
