The agrarian system of Moslem India

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 1804119261

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-188010

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Moreland, William Harrison http://d-nb.info/gnd/172263670

Title:: The agrarian system of Moslem India

Edition:: 2. ed. Reissue (d. Ausg. Cambridge) 1929; [Reprint]

Place of publication:: Delhi

Publisher:: Oriental Books, Munshiram Manoharlal

Year of publication:: 1968

Scope:: XVII, 296 S.

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

Usage license:: Get license information via the feedback formular.

Chapter

Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Chapter VC. The seventeenth century

Collection:: Economics Books

134 THE AGRARIAN SYSTEM OF MOSLEM INDIA the staff employed under the Diwan, which consisted of three sections, the Amins, whose primary business was assessment, the Kroris, who were concerned mainly with collection, and the Treasurers, who handled the money when it was received. These subordinates were posted to circles (chakla), which were not identical with the districts of Akbar’s time, but were presumably arranged with reference to the amount of work. The motive underlying the first order is the need for increased control over this localised staff: the central authority complained that it was kept in ignorance of agricultural conditions, and was not in a position to check the reports which it received. The preamble of the order allows us to see what had been happening; a sanguine as- sessment would be made at the beginning of each year, but the collections were apt to be disappointing, and the deficiency would be explained, on paper, as due to allowance for calamities, which were suspected to be fraudulent in- ventions. In order to put the administration in a stronger position, instructions were now issued for the submission of more detailed annual returns for each village; but the opportunity was taken of codifying the practice of the de- partment, and it is this portion of the document which gives it historical value. Following the order in which the subject-matter is ar- ranged, we may begin with the development policy of the Ministry. This follows closely on the lines with which we have become familiar. Extension of cultivation comes first, then increase in the area under high-class crops, then the repair and construction of wells for irrigation. Peasants who co-operated actively in carrying out this policy were to be treated with consideration, and their reasonable requests for assistance were to be met; but the idea of cul- tivation as a duty owed to the State was still paramount, and flogging was specifically authorised in cases where this duty was neglected (R. 2; H. 1-3). The operation of such rules as these would necessarily depend to a great extent on the individuality of the local officials; since ex- tension of cultivation and increase of revenue were the declared aims of the Ministry, its staff must have been

Access restriction

Copyright

fullscreen: The agrarian system of Moslem India

Monograph

Chapter

Table of contents

Download

Monograph

Chapter

This page

Image fragment

Citation links

Citation recommendation