Q. The term ‘ahadi’ refers to which of the following?
Answer:
Elite troopers
Notes: Mughal army was a gigantic war machine. The cavalry was the principal arm of the Mughal army. The mansabdars provided the overwhelming proportion of it. In addition to the mansabdars, the Mughal emperors used to entertain individual troopers, called ‘ahadis’. These were gentlemen- troopers and received much higher salaries than other troopers. They were a highly trusted corps of soldiers and they were directly recruited by the emperors. ‘Ahadis’ had their own muster-master. An ahadi mustered up to five horses. The duties of ahadis were of a miscellaneous character.