Assertion A: In the Sangam period the Vellals were the biggest land-ow...
Statement A: In the Sangam period the Vellals were the biggest land-owning class and on account of their land ownership they enjoyed high position in the administration and government.
Statement R: There are no references to Serfs but the status of agricultural labor was no better than that of serfs.
Explanation:
• The statement A is true that during the Sangam period, the Vellals were the biggest land-owning class, and because of their land ownership, they enjoyed a high position in the administration and government.
• The Vellalars were a wealthy and socially dominant group of people who owned large tracts of land in the Tamil region.
• The Vellalars were considered superior to other groups and enjoyed many privileges and rights due to their land ownership.
• The statement R is also true that there are no references to serfs in the Sangam period, but the status of agricultural labor was no better than that of serfs.
• The agricultural laborers were in a vulnerable position in society and were at the mercy of their landlords.
• They were not considered slaves but were bound to their landowners and were forced to work in their fields.
• They had to pay a portion of their harvest as rent to their landlords, and they could not leave their land without the permission of their landlords.
• Although they were not slaves, they had no freedom and were dependent on their landlords for their survival.
• Therefore, statement A and R are both true, but R is not the correct explanation of A because the status of agricultural laborers was not related to the high position of Vellalars in the administration and government.
Assertion A: In the Sangam period the Vellals were the biggest land-ow...
C