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

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Chapter

Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Chapter II. The 13th and 14th centuries

Collection:: Economics Books

30 THE AGRARIAN SYSTEM OF MOSLEM INDIA the middle. It may well be, then, that the chroniclers’ silence in regard to agrarian changes is explained by the fact that there was nothing to record; that throughout the century the old agrarian system continued to function under the established Chiefs; and that their methods were followed in the areas where Moslems were in direct contact with peasants. The relations between Governor and Chief would probably be, in the main, matters for negotiation, while the relations between Chief and peasants would be outside the scope of the Revenue Ministry, which would be gradually accumulating experience in the management of the areas which were neither held by Chiefs nor assigned to individuals. It cannot be said that this view is established by an adequate mass of recorded facts, but it seems to me to be the most probable interpretation of the few facts which have been preserved. As regards the areas managed by Moslem officials, the only fact which emerges is that the position of the headmen was recognised. The passages given in Appendix C show that in the matter of perquisites headmen were on the same footing as Chiefs; and it is safe to infer that, in the one case as in the other, the perquisites were intended as remunera- tion for service to the King, or, in other words, that the villages which were not under Chiefs were managed through their headmen. There is nothing on record to show the extent of the headman’s authority: all that can be said is that his position was recognised by the Moslem adminis- tration. Before leaving this century, it may be well to ask what was the attitude of the sovereign towards the peasants under his rule. The question can be answered only .in the case of Ralban, whose power extended over nearly half the period. [n his advice to his son, whom he placed on the throne of Bengal, he insisted (Barni, 100), on the danger of making excessive demands on the peasants, even when they were justified by precedent, and on the need for firm but just administration. With regard to assessment, he advised a middle course: over-assessment would result in the im- poverishment of the countty, but under-assessment would render the peasants lazy and insubordinate; it was essential

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