Farman

noun

/fərˈmɑːn/

An irrevocable royal decree or mandate issued by a Mughal emperor, carrying the force of law and used for administrative orders, grants, and diplomatic communications.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

The Permanent Settlement of 1793 derived its legitimacy from the diwani farman of 1765, by which the East India Company secured the right to collect revenue in Bengal and thereby transformed a commercial concession into the foundation of territorial empire.

Synonyms

decreeedictmandateordinanceproclamationdictate

Antonyms

petitionrequestappealplea

🌱 Word Family

farmans (n pl); related Persian: farmānravā (ruler), farmāndeh (commander)

🔡 Root

Persian farmān = decree, order; Middle Persian framān; Old Persian framana = command; fra- = fore, forward

📜 Etymology

From Persian farman ("decree, order"), from Middle Persian framan, from Old Persian framana ("command, order"), from fra- ("fore, forward").

🧠 Memory Hook

A farman comes from a "FAR" (distant, lofty) sovereign whose "MAN-date" must be obeyed — the king commands from afar and all must comply.

🏛️ History & Culture 📖 Seen in: Mughal Empire — Babur to Akbar (1526–1...

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