The Mahalwari System is a significant chapter in the history of British colonial rule in India. Introduced in the early 19th century, it was a revenue settlement scheme where the village headman was authorised to collect the revenue from peasants. It was implemented in parts of North India, particularly in the United Provinces and Punjab.
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Key Features of the Mahalwari System
Under the Mahalwari System, land revenue was assessed and collected from individual villages or groups of villages called “Mahals.” The revenue was fixed based on the productivity of the land, which was assessed periodically. The cultivators were allowed to retain ownership of the land and were given a share in the produce, which was subject to payment of the fixed land revenue.
Impact on the Peasantry
The Mahalwari System had a positive impact on the rural economy of India. It created a sense of ownership among the cultivators and motivated them to increase agricultural productivity. Since the revenue was fixed based on the productivity of the land, the cultivators were not burdened with a fixed revenue rate that remained unchanged regardless of changes in productivity.
Limitations of the Mahalwari System
While the it was an improvement over the earlier systems, it had its own limitations. The system was not implemented uniformly across the country and was limited to certain regions. Moreover, the revenue collection under this system was not always efficient, and there were instances of exploitation of the cultivators by the revenue collectors.
Conclusion
The Mahalwari System was a significant development in the revenue collection system of colonial India. It recognized the rights of cultivators and gave them a direct stake in the payment of land revenue. While it had its limitations, the system was an improvement over the earlier systems and had a positive impact on the rural economy of India. Today, the Mahalwari System serves as an important reminder of the complex history of land ownership and revenue collection in India.
| Parameter | Mahalwari Settlement | Permanent Settlement |
|---|---|---|
| Introduced by | Holt Mackenzie | Lord Cornwallis |
| Year of Introduction | 1822 | 1793 |
| Areas of Implementation | North India, particularly in United Provinces (Uttar Pradesh) and Punjab | Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha |
| Basis of Revenue Assessment | Villages or groups of villages called “Mahals” | Individual Zamindars |
| Ownership of Land | Cultivators were allowed to retain ownership of the land | Zamindars were recognized as the owners of the land |
| Responsibility of Payment | Village headman was responsible for paying the land revenue | Zamindars were responsible for paying the land revenue to the British government |
| Assessment of Revenue | Based on the productivity of the land, which was assessed periodically | Fixed revenue rates were determined based on the estimated value of the land, which remained unchanged regardless of changes in productivity |
| Impact on Peasantry | Gave cultivators a direct stake in the payment of land revenue and recognized their rights | Created a burden on the cultivators, who were at the mercy of the Zamindars and often subjected to exploitation |
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