Q. With reference to the condition of the Rural Masses and peasantry in the Mughal Empire, consider the following statements:
1.The village headman (Muqaddam or Chaudhari) played a crucial mediating role between the imperial tax collector and the peasants, often enjoying certain privileges and tax concessions.
2.The demand for land revenue was uniformly high across all regions, generally fixed at one-third of the produce, as established by the Dahsala system.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: A
Notes:
Explanation:
- Statement 1: Correct. The village headmen and local intermediaries were integral to the revenue collection process, linking the state to the village. They used their position to exert control over the peasantry and were often rewarded with nankar (revenue-free land) or commissions.
- Statement 2: Incorrect. While one-third was the standard under Akbar’s Dahsala in core areas, the demand was not uniform. It varied greatly by region, the type of crop, and the system used (e.g., Batai in frontier regions, higher demands in areas controlled by powerful Zamindars or later under Aurangzeb).
