What does the term ‘dastak’ refer to?

Solution

● Option A is correct and C is incorrect: Dastak was the trade permit sanctioned to the east india company by the Mughal government. Under the terms and conditions of farrukh siyar’s farman of 1717 the East India Company was entitled to trade in Bengal without paying the normal customs duty. The company sold dastaks at high price not only to European private traders but also to native merchants. Consequently, the government was losing revenue on the one hand, and the native merchants were losing their business due to unequal competition with the company and private traders, on the other. The problem turned into a crisis during the regime of Sirajud-Daula. His policy against the abuse of dastak was one of the important causes of his conflict with the company. Nawab Mir Qasim finally abolished the inland duties altogether in order to save the local merchants. ● Option B is incorrect: Farman means an irrevocable royal decree issued by the emperor. A farman carries the form of a bill made law by the assent of the head of the state. It was promulgated either in response to an application made by a subject to the emperor or as a royal policy decision. ● Option D is incorrect: Parwana was an order issued by an officer to his subordinate during the Mughal period of India history.