Consider the following statements with reference to Zamindars under Mu...
- Zamindars were landed proprietors who enjoyed certain social and economic privileges by virtue of their superior status in rural society. Caste was one factor that accounted for the elevated status of zamindars.
- The zamindars held extensive personal lands termed milkiyat, meaning property. Milkiyat lands were cultivated for the private use of zamindars, often with the help of hired or servile labour. The zamindars could sell, bequeath or mortgage these lands at will.
- In addition to owning the lands they cultivated, the zamindars had the hereditary right of collecting land revenue from a number of villages. This was called his talluqa or his zamindari. For collecting the land revenue, the zamindars received a share of the land revenue which could go up to 25 per cent in some areas.
- Hence, statement 1 is correct.
- The zamindar was not the ‘owner’ of all the lands comprising his zamindari. The peasants who actually cultivated the land could not be dispossessed as long as they paid the land revenue. Thus, the zamindars and the peasants had their own hereditary rights in land. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
- Control over military resources was another source of power for the zamindars. Most zamindars had fortresses (qilachas) as well as an armed contingent comprising units of cavalry, artillery and infantry. Hence, statement 3 is not correct
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Consider the following statements with reference to Zamindars under Mu...
Statement 1: They had the hereditary right of collecting land revenue.
Under the Mughal rule, the Zamindars were granted the hereditary right to collect land revenue from the peasants in their zamindari. The zamindars acted as intermediaries between the Mughal administration and the peasants and were responsible for ensuring the collection and submission of revenue to the Mughal treasury. This revenue collection was often hereditary, passing down from one generation to another within the zamindar's family.
Statement 2: They owned all the lands comprising his zamindari and the peasants had no rights on the land.
This statement is incorrect. While the zamindars had the authority to collect land revenue, they did not own the land in their zamindari. The land belonged to the peasants who cultivated it. The zamindars acted as landlords and collected revenue from the peasants in exchange for allowing them to use the land for cultivation. The peasants had customary rights on the land and were entitled to cultivate it for their livelihood. However, the zamindars often abused their power and exploited the peasants, leading to agrarian discontent.
Statement 3: They were prohibited from maintaining an armed contingent due to fear of rebellion.
This statement is incorrect. The zamindars were allowed to maintain an armed contingent for their protection and to maintain law and order within their zamindari. The Mughal administration recognized the military importance of the zamindars and relied on them to maintain stability in their respective territories. The armed contingent of the zamindars also served as a display of their power and authority over the peasants. However, this also meant that some zamindars became powerful enough to challenge the Mughal authority and could potentially rebel against the empire.
In conclusion, statement 1 is correct as the zamindars had the hereditary right to collect land revenue. Statement 2 is incorrect as the zamindars did not own the land, and the peasants had customary rights on it. Statement 3 is incorrect as the zamindars were allowed to maintain an armed contingent for their protection and to maintain law and order in their territories. Therefore, the correct answer is option C, i.e., 1 only.
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