The ryots, who were the peasant farmers in rural India, had to pay rent to the zamindar, who was the landowner or landlord in the village. This system of rent payment was prevalent during the colonial period in India.

Explanation:
1. The Zamindari System: The Zamindari system was a land revenue system introduced by the British during their rule in India. Under this system, the British government granted large landholdings to certain individuals known as zamindars. These zamindars became the intermediaries between the government and the peasants.

2. Rent Payment: The ryots, who were the actual cultivators of the land, had to pay rent to the zamindar for the use of the land. This rent was typically a fixed amount or a share of the agricultural produce. The ryots had to make these payments regularly, usually on an annual basis.

3. Forms of Rent: The rent payment could be made in different forms depending on the agreement between the ryot and the zamindar. It could be paid in cash, in kind (such as a portion of the agricultural produce), or through forced labor.

4. Economic Impact: The rent payment imposed a significant burden on the ryots. They had to give a substantial portion of their produce or income to the zamindar, which left them with minimal resources for their own sustenance and economic development. This further perpetuated the cycle of poverty and exploitation.

5. Exploitative Nature: The zamindars often took advantage of their position of power and exploited the ryots. They would extract excessive rents, impose arbitrary fines, and even evict the ryots from their land if they failed to make the payments. This led to widespread discontent and resistance among the ryots against the zamindari system.

Overall, the ryots had to pay rent to the zamindar as part of the exploitative zamindari system imposed by the British colonial administration. This rent payment was a significant source of economic burden and exploitation for the peasant farmers, further exacerbating their poverty and marginalization.