Previous Year Question
With reference to Mughal India, what is/are the difference/differences between Jagirdar and Zamindar?
Jagirdars were holders of land assignments in lieu of judicial and police duties, whereas Zamindars were holders of revenue rights without obligation to perform any duty other than revenue collection.
Land assignments to Jagirdars were hereditary and revenue rights of Zamindars were not hereditary.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
Statement 1 is incorrect. Under Mughal administration, most mansabdars were assigned the right to receive assessed revenue from a territory in lieu of their salary; this assignment was known as a Jagir. A Jagirdar did not become the owner of the land; he was principally entitled to collect the assigned revenue.
On the other hand, Zamindars were not merely revenue collectors. They constituted a local landed class possessing rights in rural society. They could possess their own milkiyat lands, which could be sold, mortgaged or bequeathed. They also performed khidmat (services) for the state and possessed military resources. The Ain-i-Akbari records the substantial combined cavalry and infantry strength of the Zamindars. It is therefore incorrect to say that they had no obligation or role beyond revenue collection.
Statement 2 is also incorrect. Ordinary tankhwa Jagirs were not hereditary. Jagirdars were frequently transferred, generally after about three to four years, so that they could not establish permanent local roots. In contrast, Zamindari rights were generally hereditary in character.
One qualification should be remembered: special categories such as Watan Jagirs could be hereditary, but this was not the rule for the ordinary mansabdari tankhwa Jagir.