Introduction:

The Mahalwari system was a type of land revenue system introduced by the British in India during the early 19th century. It was one of the three major revenue systems introduced by the British, the other two being the Zamindari system and the Ryotwari system.

Mahalwari System:

The Mahalwari system was introduced in parts of the Gangetic Valley, the North-West Provinces, Central India, and the Punjab. It was based on the principle of joint responsibility, where the entire village or mahal was held responsible for the payment of land revenue. The lands of the village were divided into different plots, and the revenue was assessed on the basis of the quality of the soil and the crops grown.

Features of Mahalwari System:

The following were the salient features of the Mahalwari system:

1. Joint Responsibility: The entire village or mahal was held responsible for the payment of land revenue.

2. Land Division: The lands of the village were divided into different plots, and the revenue was assessed on the basis of the quality of the soil and the crops grown.

3. Revenue Assessment: The revenue was assessed for a period of 30 years, and it was revised every 10 years.

4. Collection of Revenue: The revenue was collected by the village headman or the lambardar, who was responsible for the distribution of the revenue among the villagers.

5. Land Ownership: The ownership of the land was not transferred to the cultivators, and it remained with the state.

Advantages of Mahalwari System:

The following were the advantages of the Mahalwari system:

1. Joint Responsibility: The system ensured that the entire village was held responsible for the payment of land revenue, which prevented the exploitation of the weaker sections of the society.

2. Revenue Assessment: The revenue was assessed on the basis of the quality of the soil and the crops grown, which ensured that the revenue was reasonable and fair.

3. Collection of Revenue: The revenue was collected by the village headman or the lambardar, who was a local person and was aware of the ground realities. This ensured that the revenue was collected efficiently.

4. Land Ownership: The ownership of the land remained with the state, which prevented the concentration of land in the hands of a few.

Conclusion:

The Mahalwari system was introduced in parts of the Gangetic Valley, the North-West Provinces, Central India, and the Punjab. It was based on the principle of joint responsibility, where the entire village or mahal was held responsible for the payment of land revenue. The system had several advantages, such as joint responsibility, reasonable revenue assessment, efficient collection of revenue, and prevention of concentration of land.