Rural Society
Realm 77: The Village Republic, Cultivators, and the Zamindari Web
WORLD L — MEDIEVAL SOCIETY
MICRO-REALM 01
The Village Republic
- Largely self-sufficient communities.
- Isolated from high politics.
- "Little republics" (Metcalfe).
- Core of Indian civilization.
MICRO-REALM 02
Khud-Kasht
- Resident cultivators.
- Owned their plows/bullocks.
- Hereditary rights to land.
- Village elite peasantry.
MICRO-REALM 03
Pahi-Kasht
- Non-resident/migrant peasants.
- Cultivated neighboring villages.
- Often paid lower revenue.
- Driven by famine or oppression.
MICRO-REALM 04
The Panchayat
- Assembly of village elders.
- Led by Muqaddam/Mandal.
- Resolved local disputes.
- Maintained caste norms.
MICRO-REALM 05
The Patwari
- Village accountant.
- Maintained land records (Bahi).
- Tracked individual holdings.
- Crucial for state revenue.
MICRO-REALM 06
Jajmani System
- Caste-based occupational structure.
- Mutual exchange of services.
- Artisans paid in crop shares.
- Bound village economically.
MICRO-REALM 07
Primary Zamindars
- Milikiyat (property rights).
- Hereditary ownership of land.
- Could sell or mortgage rights.
- Paid direct revenue to state.
MICRO-REALM 08
Intermediary Zamindars
- Chaudhuris, Deshmukhs.
- Collected revenue for state.
- Received Nankar (allowance).
- Link between village and empire.
MICRO-REALM 09
Chieftains
- Autonomous rulers (Rajas/Raos).
- Maintained own armies/forts.
- Paid tribute (Peshkash).
- Absorbed into Mansabdari system.
MICRO-REALM 10
The Rural Base
- Engine of the Mughal economy.
- Massive surplus extraction.
- Funded cities, armies, monuments.
- Oppression led to revolts.