Rule of Law in Medieval India: A Critical Analysis of Colonial Perceptions

Abstract

The rule of law in medieval India has been subjected to colonial misperceptions by Colonialists.The roots of the legal system stretched back to the ancient Dharma Shastra tradition of Hindu laws that could be witnessed in Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Arthashastra. Parallel to the Hindu legal system, the Muslim legal system, under Muslim rulers, was based on the laws of Sharia, also practiced on the land of Medieval India. During the colonization of the Indian Sub-continent, a new legal system was introduced. This gave a new fanatical and bigoted approach against the local Islamic and Hidus customary as well as religious laws. The named it as a despotism divine kingship and lack of structured judicial system. The research is conducted with qualitative cum exploratory paradigm to have a critical analysis of the colonial delusions and misperceptions that defile the minds of readers. This paper also examines the legal system of India during the medieval ages. The researcher has also shed light on the colonial legal system that was implemented by British colonists and damaged the legacy of the Indian rule of law to the utmost.