Zamindar
|
|
The 'Zamindari System' is a kind of feudal system, introduced by the Mughals to collect taxes from peasants. The practice was continued under British rule. After independence, however, the system was abolished in India and East Pakistan (present day Bangladesh), but is still current in Pakistan.
The word 'Zamindar' has for some time been used for a peasant who owns land.
Zamindar was also the name of a popular and very influencial Muslim newspaper in the Indian subcontinent run by Maulana Zafar Ali Khan.
| Contents |
Mughal Era
In the Mughal Era, the Zamindari system was begun to ensure proper collection of taxes during a period when the power and influence of the Mughal emperors was in decline. With the Mughal conquest of Bengal zamindar became a generic title embracing people with different kinds of landholdings and rights that ranged from the autonomous or semi-independent chieftains to the peasant-proprietors. All categories of zamindars under the Mughals were required to perform certain police, judicial and military duties. Zamindars under the Mughals were, in fact, more the public functionaries than revenue collecting agents. Although zamindaris were allowed to be held hereditarily, the holders were not considered to be the proprietors of their estates.
The territorial zamindars had judicial powers. Naturally, judge-magistracy, as an element of state authority conferred status with attendant power, which really made them the lords of their domains. They held regular courts, called zamindari adalat. The courts fetched them not only power and status but some income as well by way of fines, presents and perquisites. The petty zamindars also had some share in the dispensation of civil and criminal justice. The Chowdhurys, who were zamindars in most cases, had authority to deal with the complaints of debts, thefts and petty quarrels and to impose paltry fines.
British Era
Zamindar was the name of landlords in colonial India.
The Zamindari system was a way of collecting taxes from peasants in which the zamindar would collect all taxes on his lands and then hand over the collected taxes to the British authorities (keeping a portion for himself). The similarities to medieval feudalism are evident.
After Partition in India
The Zamindari system was mostly abolished in India soon after its independence.
After Partition in East Pakistan
The abolition of the Zamindari system (which divided the society into lords, owners of property, and commoners, users of property) in East Pakistan (1950) was a major landmark in Bangladesh's movement to a "people's state".
In West Pakistan (present day Pakistan)
In present day Pakistan the Zamindari System is still present, especially in the provinces of Sindh and Punjab. Zamindars are known by different terms in different provinces. In Sindh, for example, zamindars are known as 'Wadara', while n Punjab, different terms such as 'Chauhdari' and 'Malik' are used.
See Also
External Links
- Feudal system In Pakistan on Pakistani News website (http://www.newsweekly.com.au/articles/2000mar25_pfrcopm.html)
- Feudalism in Pakistan by Asian Human Right Commission (http://www.ahrchk.net/pr/mainfile.php/2004mr/108/)
- Zamindar Newspaper by Maulana Zafar Ali khan (http://www.storyofpakistan.com/contribute.asp?artid=C067)