Ostensibly land grants were initially made on religious grounds. But t...
Ostensibly, land grants were initially made on religious grounds. However, the underlying idea of donating land was:
- To extend the area of cultivation through private efforts.
By granting land, rulers encouraged private individuals to cultivate these lands, which in turn increased agricultural production. This practice helped in developing unused or underutilized lands, boosting the economy and ensuring a steady supply of food and resources.
View all questions of this test
Ostensibly land grants were initially made on religious grounds. But t...
Ostensible religious grounds for land grants
- Land grants were initially made on religious grounds, meaning that the primary reason for donating land was to fulfill religious obligations or gain religious merit.
- This was in line with the prevalent belief systems of the time, where acts of charity and donation were considered virtuous and a means to attain spiritual merit.
- Donating land to religious institutions or Brahmanas was seen as a way to earn the blessings of the gods and ensure divine favor.
Underlying idea of donating land
The correct answer to the question is option 'B', which states that the underlying idea of donating land was to extend the area of cultivation through private efforts. This answer can be explained as follows:
1. Promoting cultivation and agriculture
- One of the primary motivations behind land grants was to promote agriculture and increase cultivation in a given area.
- By donating land to individuals or institutions, the donor aimed to encourage the recipients to cultivate the land and make it productive.
- This would not only benefit the recipient but also contribute to the overall economic development of the region.
2. Private efforts for agricultural expansion
- The emphasis on private efforts in the answer suggests that the responsibility for cultivating the donated land fell on the recipient.
- Instead of relying solely on the state or royal exchequer for agricultural development, land grants aimed to incentivize private individuals or institutions to take up the task.
- This decentralized approach allowed for a more efficient and widespread expansion of cultivation.
3. Benefits of agricultural expansion
- The extension of cultivation through land grants had several benefits for the society and the state.
- It increased agricultural production, leading to a surplus of food and other agricultural products.
- This surplus could be used for trade, taxation, and supporting the needs of the growing population.
- It also contributed to the overall prosperity and economic development of the region.
4. Religious motivations
- While the primary reason for land grants may have been religious, the underlying idea behind this religious aspect was to stimulate agricultural growth.
- Donating land to religious institutions or Brahmanas was a way to promote cultivation and ensure that the land would be put to productive use.
- The religious dimension provided a moral and spiritual justification for the act of donation, making it more socially acceptable and culturally significant.
In conclusion, the underlying idea of donating land was to extend cultivation through private efforts, thereby promoting agricultural expansion and economic development. While religious motivations played a role, the primary objective was to stimulate agriculture and reduce the burden on the exchequer.