Indian feudalism
Indian feudalism refers to the
Terminology
Use of the term feudalism to describe India applies a concept of medieval European origin, according to which the landed nobility held lands from the Crown in exchange for military service, and vassals were in turn tenants of the nobles, while the peasants (villeins or serfs) were obliged to live on their lord's land and give him homage, labor, and a share of the produce, notionally in exchange for military protection. The term Indian feudalism is used to describe Taluqdar, Zamindar, Jagirdar, Zaildar, Ghatwals, Mulraiyats, Sardar, Mankari, Thakurs, Jotedar, Deshmukh, Deshpande, Desai, Chaudhary, Nayak, Nair, Naduvazhi and Samanta. Most of these systems were abolished after the independence of India and the rest of the subcontinent. D. D. Kosambi and R. S. Sharma, together with Daniel Thorner, brought peasants into the study of Indian history for the first time.[1]
Bihar
The Bihar region (now a state) of India was a hotbed for feudalism. Feudal lords ruled the region for decades; semi-feudal conditions still exist. As a result, child malnourishment is common, in spite of modern Bihar's status as having the fastest growth in gross domestic product in India.[2]
Telangana
Doras and
A famous line which is repeated by the oppressed was “Banchen Dora née Kalmoktha (I am your slave my lord, I bow to your feet).[5] Shyam Benegal's films Ankur and Nishant depict Telangana's feudalism grahically. A Telugu film blockbuster, Maa Bhoomi, showed the society under feudal lords.
The
Kerala
There were a number of feudal states in Kerala in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Era between the rule of Chera dynasty and the British rule (smaller feudal estates remained even during British rule). In
Madhya Pradesh
Initially, Madhya Pradesh was inhabited by numerous tribes who lived in densely forested regions with no semblance of authority. However, sometime after the fall of the
These zamindars enjoyed privileges under the native
Madras Presidency
Several zamindaris were established in the Madras Presidency (present-day Tamil Nadu and adjoining areas) from 1799 onwards. The largest of these were Arni, Ramnad, Ganapur and Sivaganga. The zamindari settlement was based on a similar settlement established in Bengal. The Zamindari settlement of Madras was largely unsuccessful and was wrapped up in 1852. However, a few Zamindaris remained till India's independence in 1947.
North Arcot
North Arcot region was under Jagirdars until the Indian independence. The largest estate was that of Arni, a
Northern Andhra
The Northern Andhra region was under Telaga doras until the Indian Independence. The largest estate was that of Vizianagram under the Poosapati kshatriya family which was liberal and enlightened.
Rayalaseema
The
Vidarbha
This section has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
The feudal lords in Vidarbha region are notorious for their oppressive rule.
In literature
- Indian Feudalism by Ram Sharan Sharma
- Govardhanram Madhavaram Tripathi, later adapted into film by the same name in 1968.[9]
See also
- Debt bondage in India
- Caste system in India
- Feudalism in Pakistan
- Princely states of India
References
- ISBN 978-81-85229-00-3.
- ^ B Vijay Murty (2010-12-16). "Food that's not fit for humans". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 2011-01-19. Retrieved 2011-10-14.
- ^ I Thirumali. Dora and. Gadi: Manifestation of Landlord. Domination in Telangana.
- ^ "Spat over portfolio". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 August 2004. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ "KCR's comments on Nizam's rule raise hackles NEWS ANALYSIS". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 8 December 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ Panel finds no data to prove T backwardness, Deccan Chronicle Archived December 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Gonds". Gonds' Rise to power- Chanda District Gazetteer. Gazetteers Department: Maharashtra. 1973.
- ^ ISSN 0967-3407.
- ^ "Saraswatichandra (1968)". January 21, 2010. Retrieved Feb 8, 2013.
Bibliography
- R.S. Sharma, Perspectives in Social and Economic History of Early India, paperback edn., (Munshiram Manoharlal, Delhi, 2003). Translated into Hindi, Russian and Bengali. Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu translations projected.
- R.S. Sharma, Material Culture and Social Formations in Ancient India, (Macmillan Publishers, Delhi, 1985). Translated into Hindi, Russian and Bengali. Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu translations projected.
- R.S. Sharma, Urban Decay in India (c.300-1000), (Munshiram Manoharlal, Delhi, 1987). Translated into Hindi and Bengali
- R.S. Sharma, Early Medieval Indian Society: A Study in Feudalisation (Orient Longman Publishers Pvt. Ltd., Delhi, 2003)
- R.S. Sharma, ISBN 978-0-19-568785-9)
- R.S. Sharma, Indian Feudalism (Macmillan Publishers India Ltd., 3rd Revised Edition, Delhi, 2005)
- R.S. Sharma, The State and Varna Formations in the Mid-Ganga Plains: An Ethnoarchaeological View (New Delhi, Manohar, 1996)
- R.S. Sharma, Origin of the State in India (Dept. of History, University of Bombay, 1989)
- R.S. Sharma, Land Revenue in India: Historical Studies, Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, 1971
- Historiography of Indian Feudalism Towards a Model of Early Medieval Indian Economy, C. A.D. 600-1000, by Vijay Kumar Thakur. Commonwealth Publishers, 1989. ISBN 81-7169-032-7.
- Dora and. Gadi: Manifestation of Landlord Domination in Telangana, I Thirumali, 1992
- Against Dora and Nizam : People's Movement in Telangana 1939-1948, I Thirumali
- "Chillarollu's Defiances in Telangana, 1900-1944" Indian Historical Review, XXII, 1995-1996
- Origin and Growth of Feudalism in Early India: From the Mauryas to AD 650, by Gian Chand Chauhan. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, 2004. ISBN 81-215-1028-7.