Which statements on the agrarian system in the post-Gupta period is no...
The correct answer is option 'C'.
Explanation:
In the post-Gupta period, the agrarian system underwent significant changes. The agrarian system refers to the system of land ownership, cultivation, and revenue collection in rural areas.
Feudatory System:
- The feudatory system was a prominent feature of the agrarian system during the post-Gupta period.
- Under this system, the king granted revenue rights to the land to his feudatories, who were usually powerful landlords or nobles.
- Theoretically, only the revenue from the land was granted to the feudatory and not the land itself (Option A). This means that the feudatory had the right to collect revenue from the land but did not have absolute ownership over the land.
Confiscation of Grant:
- Once the grant was made to a feudatory, it could not be confiscated by the king (Option C). This means that the king could not take back the land or revenue rights from the feudatory once it was granted.
- This provision ensured stability and security for the feudatories and encouraged them to invest in land development and agricultural activities.
Hereditary Succession:
- In practice, the land held by the feudatory tended to become hereditary (Option D). This means that the revenue rights and land ownership were passed down from one generation to another within the feudatory's family.
- This hereditary succession allowed the feudatories to establish their own dynasties and exercise control over the land for an extended period.
Reassignment on Death:
- The grant was subject to reassignment on the death of the tenant (Option B). This means that when the feudatory died, the king had the authority to reassign the land and revenue rights to a new feudatory.
- This provision allowed the king to maintain control over the land and revenue and prevented the feudatory from establishing a permanent hold over the land.
Overall, the agrarian system in the post-Gupta period involved granting revenue rights to feudatories, with the revenue collected from the land being granted to the feudatory. The land itself was not granted, and the grant was subject to reassignment on the death of the tenant. While the land held by the feudatory tended to become hereditary, it could not be confiscated by the king once the grant was made.