Consider the following statements with reference to Zamindars under Mughals:

1. They had the hereditary right of collecting land revenue.

2. They owned all the lands comprising his zamindari and the peasants had no rights on the land.

3. They were prohibited from maintaining armed contingent due to fear of rebellion.

Which of the statement given above is/are correct? 

Solution

Zamindars were landed proprietors who enjoyed certain social and economic privileges by virtue of their superior status in rural society. Caste was one factor that accounted for the elevated status of zamindars. • The zamindars held extensive personal lands termed milkiyat, meaning property. Milkiyat lands were cultivated for the private use of zamindars, often with the help of hired or servile labour. The zamindars could sell, bequeath or mortgage these lands at will. • In addition to owning the lands they cultivated, the zamindars had the hereditary right of collecting land revenue from a number of villages. This was called his talluqa or his zamindari. For collecting the land revenue, the zamindars received a share of the land revenue which could go up to 25 per cent in some areas. Hence, statement 1 is correct.