CHArl'ER VI - Shodhgangashodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/20242/11/11_chapter 6.p… · 257 1 vieu to incraasing the jama of unlucrative villages. The doou-W3nts uhich illustrate

CHArl'ER VI

The Ija~a System

An important development uhich took plane in the land revenue

system of the state of Jatpur during the 18th centuey uas the grant

of khalisa lands in i.iara to the various categories of the riay~ -

the maha.1ans, Jgirdars, zamindars, pate ls, chaudhary, qanunggs, rich 1

peasants and the village community on a fairly large scale. The

practice of _L1ara uas already knwn to the state but for the khalisa

lands its grant uas limited and restricted only to certain classes

of the r~ra such as ;eatels, maha;J.!_!!!, zamf.ndars and sometimes even 2 the more prosperous paasantso From the official point of view

,_,lara uas not regarded as a sound revenue arrangement. HoTtever, the

practice becam3 quite common particularly from the beginning of the

18th cc:mtueyo The state initially resorted to !..jara only in order

to rehabilitate the old ruill13d and desolated villages and with a

Arhsettas of pargan~ Chatsu, Suai Jaipurp L~larna, Bahatri, Lalsot and Dausao Muuazana Kalan pargana Chatsu, Swat Jaipul'", Malal'"nap Bl:iliat:s:-1, Lalsot and Dausa. H 0 So

Chi thi to the Gumashta of Ajmati !than and Nawal Singh Sultanote P

dt. K.!l(l Asaxh Vadi 10, V0 S. 1800/1743, DoDoHo The original documant reads as follout} s "- - - {.:.., rl t;T ~ 1-il[\fl ~q,:r 2~ '·~ :f' -;) ~-..if d ~ •I<Tf <j(:;r ffi ciT q ~~;"j.:, E,•\~(;T (,9"'0-cr..T \JOT 2ft r.~ ~"iHJ lt~GfP:r ";f'qfRi<- \it Tffcr ~ W ~ ;:.-~ ~ - - - " .... "''-'1 •i \II

The doouurent raads as follow 8:

" - - - ~ <T. o::r.nfr lt"C!Fi Ci.10~ mrrr '?r mer TJrrt cr~-1 ·.-;tr ~T( ~4 'rr ~ ~ ....,_~ ...,._..,.-r~ ~- ~--D.. ~-:T :rr-=r::-r j., - ~ . • ~r -..-'~.F. ~"rT ~ ~.--r' •&~c., ,.~it\ Gl .,ril ~'41{1 lG'--:1 \-1•1'41 t"1l ~ '•'\' -," til•,•o-. "'I \,I (~1<-:t,

.:)

257

1 vieu to incraasing the jama of unlucrative villages. The doou-

W3nts uhich illustrate the administrative practices of the time

clearly sst out the manner in uhich the D.9\Jly founded, old deserted

and unlucrative villages r.are developsd by the reven1m officials

through the practice of i.jara.., such villages were given in !.Jaro.

on a sliding scale of revenue d3mand ni th an annual increase in

the .. 1a12a up to five years till it reached the normal demand.2 In 3

normal conditions lucrative villages r.are not granted in i lara..A.

The zamindal"S ordinarily took the .. 1agir !antis of the othsr assignees (,

:tn their neighboumood in !Ja~.,. Houaver, relevant evidenne from

2.

Chithi to the Amil J!ff:m,ana Toda Rai Singh, dt. ~.£.ll'!r Posh Vad:! 9, V .s. 1822/1765. hfthi to the ~ pargana LB.lsot, dt. ~ AsoJ Sudi 3, v.s. 1826/1769, Chithi to the Amil lmrgana Chatsu dt. Asarh Sudi 2, v.s. 1815/i158. Chithi to the mil pa;gana Bahatri, dt, K~M. Asarh Sudi 15, v.s. 1817/1760. Yaddashti Pradakhti Gaon _pargana Malarna, dt. V .s. 17 83/1726. 'Mnwazana Kalan parg~n~ Uhatsu, Bahatri, H,S.

Chithi to the!!!!!...! pargana Lalsot, dt. K,U., l~sarh SUdi 14, y,.s. 1815/1758. .. _ . . ~ _ _ . - - - ~rr -;i~ ·:r :ncr \4 c, ... ; ... ;.() n r;;r ~-q ..... itrTI-1 m ~.7iir "~ d t;iT

t" - - - - 7Tfcr ~ -~~ r; f.r~ '~I'\.:: -._if~· rrr{ ~m:i ';;fliT ~ -ro:rr~1 ~m lj.-j h( c::J

-;:-nufr \fi o ~ '-I ~ crr.r-~1 - - - "

Chithi to the~ pa;gana Chatsu, dt, K2 M, Asarh Sudi 2, v.s. 1815/1758, D,D.H, "- - - r.1- iT ·.w;, 7: Tifcr ~i '-i...; %ff ~ Gl Qui I 'G iJ ·U ... , s c> ;,_.mt D' "<I G ~rtr t> fr 31~ t~T - - - TffcT ~IT ~ ifr~ tn"'=<:r c, '- ;.T rriT c,••i ~ q.:rr tl TI Ufff ~"itt;.;\\ ~.-lff\:icf vnuiT ~ ~ c;.~ -41- m- - - -"

The ,ljara of village Ram Singh Pura in pargana Bahatri was granted to Sukh Ram Brahman for a period of five years. He was required to pay the foll<ming amount 1

Year 1765 1766 1767 1768 1769

~. ~o.oo 8o.oo 125.oo 175.oo 25o.oo ~r.azana :Ialan pargana Bahat rt •

3. Amber Reco:rds - Chi thi. from Narottam Das to Dinan Shiv Nath, dt. K .. :z .. Sar.an Vadi 11 f v .s. 1812/1755. Chithi from Si ta Ram and Ram S:tngh to Binghi Sunder Das, dt. IG.l l:ag_ishri Sudi 10, v.s, 1808/ 1751. Jhatut Abal Karan dt, !C.! Chaitra Vadi 8, v.s. 1821/1764,BS.

iJ:~ ScP. Gupta, "Pattern of I.iara Syste!!l in Eas·tern Raiasthan"

258

the dcnum9nts shoos that after Swai Jai Singh's d9ath kbalisa land

uas given in !.Jara t1ide ly and it became a dominant feature of the 1

land revenue system. of the state. The significant developmant in

the ijaradari system during the period unde~ study was the grants

of istama.rari i,ja,ra and tankhuah ijara.

~ !r1aradar was required to pay a certain amount in seasonal

2 instalmsnts as stipulated in the terms of the patta, The documents

sh<r.l that the i,iara 11as not contracted for a fixed sum and the

amount could go on changing from year to year. The contracted

amount could bs decreased or iooreased in keeping with the produce .V The following examples are given belao to highlight the point:

3.

Name of the village

Radha GoVind Pura

Year

1755 1758

1761

1762

1765

Amount of the !._jara

271.00 30.00

38.40 61.00

17.34

Arhe.atta and J.Juwazana s of )2_argana Chatsu, M.alarna, Swai Jaipur, Dausa, Lalsot and Bahatri. Amber Records - Chi thi from Ehoob Ram to Tek Chand, dt • .!f:.M, Chaitra Sudi 12, v.s. 1811/1754, H.s. Arhsattas of pa;gana Chatsu, Malarna, Swai Jaipur, Dausa, Lalsot and Bahatri. Amber Records, ld.khtapg from Ajab Ram Pura Ram Sodhu ka of Suai Jaipur, dt. If.~~I. Ua.gishri Sudi 5, v.s. 1811/1754. Chithi to the A!!'!l: J?argar.a Jobner, dt. K.:.I. Kati Vadi s, V0 S o !S:i.1/ 175-Go ,L:qmtang by Vyas Ti lok Chand and Dalu Ram Godha, dt. K.,M., .lso.1 ~ 13r v.s. 1811/1754.

Arhsattas pargana Mn.larna for "the years of A.D. 1756, 1758,1762, 1775 and 1778. Also S3e :.:uuazana Pargana Chatsu, Lalsot and l1alarna, H0 S.

259

Year Amount of the !Ja~ Nama of the village

1760 121 .oo 1763 237.00

Man Pur Gate 1764 231 .oo 1768 111.69

1769 94.00

1778 1000.00 f

1779 1200.00

1780 1360.00 Vilas Pura 1781 1360.00

1782 1360.00

1783 400.00

17~ son.oo 1785 680.00

1752 aa::.s£ Kalauas 1760 210//2

1763 408.72 1764 271.25

1752 239.56

1756 68.81 Bh3riwas 1759 139.62

1760 207 0LOO

1761 72.94

i'l67 41.25 Shri Har Narayan Pur 1768 53.50

:1769 64 0 00

Hor.averp in certain cases the !._.1ara uas contracted for a fixed

sum and the contract c<T&.~ld continue for a number of years tti thout

260

any decrease or iooreass in the amounto This was so in casas ulte~

the !Jara grant uas madG in istamu:ar to a certain category of

_z~a_mi_n_,d-.a...,r::.os_,,._ The pattern. can be seen from the following examples:

Na.m3 of the village

Nalsar Dalsar

Kharla Rahimp-&~r

Nivod Vohra

Bhanoli

Ratanpur etc. 3 villages.

Name of th0 U aradar mount

Laxman Singh Rajauat 1852.00

Raja Gopal Singh Jadam 2930 0 00

Ajit Singh Rajauat of Isarda 1762 050

Suraj Mal Rajauat 900 .oo

Vikrama Ditya Rajauat 6000000

Period

1760 to 1771

1750 to 1758

1751 to 1770

1756 OllVlSl"dS

1765 onuards

The 1,1aradal" uas requirad to give a gabuliyat or likhtapg for the 1

said contract.. He l7as entitled to make represantations for reduc-

tion of the amount payable to the state only in accordance with the

terms and conditions mentio112d in the agraemant. Reduction could

be claimed in the case of natural ~alami ty and inroads made by an

invading army. In thess circumstances reduction uas granted after

verification by the !!!:1:..!! 11 the chaudhary and qanul1&2 of the actual

less suffered by the .!..1&l"adar, 2 In normal circumstances the ijara-:

~ uas practically left to bear all the risk involved in the col­

lection of rewnt!.3.v

1. Numerous original Likhtangs and q.abuliyats are preserved in the documents partaining to pargana, Chatsu, Dausa, Kot, Fagi, !Jalarna, Hindaun, Mauzabad etc., D.D.H·.

2. Chithi to the Amil Pargana Chatsu, dt. KM Vaisakh Sudi 1, VS 1808/1751. Chi thi to the Amils pa;;:ogana Bahatrl., dt. KH Vaise.1th Vadi 9, VS 1808]1751. Chithi to Shah Salig Ram 1-Iahajan, dt,:CJ Mfiih V,adj. 9p VS 1816/1759. Chithi to Shah Ram Kishan, dto ~cr Bdadon Sudi 11, VS 1810/1753. .. ~-..,.... ,.~. _ _,_.c... ,c,.. "('"'"!""'-~~ .-0\- -.,.. ~ ~.,...,... -,.~ .,>- ~ ... . -;-"!"

- - - -:..i 1.. ,.j)~;\fll ,.,~·ilol '••I , ''i~'-1' '-'II ... 1 •,•\ .:., ' ~,;vW'-1 t>l<-1 \II ',!,r.-\,\'"1 <,•1

IT-iT •·.l'f;.f-.• ~T:Tf .. i ~,~ •. H. ¢!' :-;r: \,(~ ::;~ •:--'J- 2;~ riT f.'r --j:.:r?ti;:.: ;~v!"{T

tfT~~ - - -"

261

I.iara could be granted of a Ramana or of mora than one R_argana,

or of a village (darobast) or part of it (sarikatD or of more than 1

one village and e-van of a field or of a particular cropo Ijara

could bs contracted for the ~ or land l"3venus (such ijara being

knG't'1n as mal i.jara) or for the ent:lra :re-venue including .!!!t sayar

aml other taxes (Kul Habubayati). It could also be made for one or

more of the various taxes such as .!!R!P rahdari, sadari, ~shkash,

bhom.i. etc.2 (See Appendix I). Gemrally the contract was made for

an amount less than that of the assessed revenue or ,jama of the area

farmed out by the ~1aradar on the basis of the basil of the preceed-3 ing five or seven years. A comparison between the figures of the

amount of 1.1ara and the basil figures of the preceeding and subsequent --Contd •••• f.n. 2. Chithi from Iiuan Raja Har Govind Kanhi Ram to

Arti Ram, the Aidl of pargana Swai Jaipur, dt. K11 M. Magh Sudt 6, v.s. 1810/1753, n.n.n.

1. Chithi to Shah Harikesh, dt. K.u. Sauan Sudi 8, v.s. 1811/1754, D.D.H. Muwazana Kalan pargayta Chatsu. .Arhsattas of pargana Chatsu, Suai Jaipur, Malarna, Dausa, Lalsot, and Bahatri, H.s.

2. Amber Records, letter to the ~irnil pargana Jobner from Diwan 1J7arlidhor Nand Lal, dt. Kati Vadi 8, v.s. 1811/1754. Amber Records, Likhtang by Vyas Ti lok Chand and Dalu Ram Godha, dt • A~oj Vadi 13, v.s. 1811/1754. Amber Records, Li.khta~ by iJohan nam-~ada Nand etc. ijaradars, dt. Phalgun Vadi 4, v.~ 1811/1754, H.S. Chi thi to Shah Harike sh from "Diwan Shiv N'ath, dt. Sawan $pdi 14, V0 S. 1810/1751, D.D.H·0

3. Chithi to the Amils pargana Toda Rai Singh, dt. Posh Vadi 9, v.s. 1822/1765.

The dooument reads as follGWe: '' - - - cy ~ fu\ff 1.-T ~ ~~ tf~ ( c:"'fil) q ~-~d<;f mq-~ trrr t.iT cy

~"~~- tcr.:-m-~- :-r::r nrrr q ~ ~ m m ~; i.\-l q ::r:rr tit 1liCr (cm.rs) . . ~

~"'I lt ?:rz:iT -~~ '·) "{ "G'TJ:rr - - - ''

262

years uould shor.r that the amount contracted by an bjaradar seldom

exceeded the average basil figure s.1 ~ &1aradar had an opportunity

to earn mora profit through efficient management and vigilaiiDe. The

1.1aradar's sou:roe of incoma lay in extending cultivation of the

cultivable wasteland. \.i th a viet! to inf!raasing the jama, the !_:1ara­

~ made efforts to bring the cultivable uaste and fallol"l land of

the village under plough. In many casas ue find the ~jaradar.~ in­

ducing tbe pahi s and the palti s from other villages tq Oome and

settle in the village and offering them coneessions. ~ The widespread practice of ijara opened up good prospects to

those parsons uho possessed investible money and had a good kna::rledge

of the agrarian condition and revenue paying capacity of the area.

Gem rally the i.1aradaz: uas required to furnish surety (malzamin!) of

a sahukar, preferential treatment being accorded to those who could 2 produce tp§.lZam:f.~ of a good _sahRQ:::. to the state. Even the big and

1. The !_Jara of ,P-argana Chatsu was g:r3nted to Shah Harikesh for a psrlod o:f 3 years 1.e. from 1754: to i756 for the following amount.

Year Amount 1754 74562.94 1755 81741.94 1756 85331.53

The .1ama of parg!lna Cbatsu in the praceeding and subsequent years uas as follow~:

Year 1751 1752 1753 1757 1~158

1760

Jama 91594..61

110978.62 93427.12

1e9259.28 102952.90

67316.03 Sa11an Sudi 1~, V .s. 2.

1810/1753. Also see -;;able

Chithi fi'"om Dil7an ~.:U.rli Dhar to the AID!! pargana Jobnsr~ dt. ~.tJ .. Rati Vadi 8, V .s. 1811/i'l54.

263

influential zmindaro and .~iMirdar! uex-e not exceptions to this rule,

and r.ara asked by the state to furnish malzamini of the sahuh:ar at 1

the time of bidding for ;1, • .1.!.~~- The zamin in that casa had th9 full

responsibility to make good the loss in case the ijaradar failed to

clear off the state dues. In return, the guarantor got a share in

the profit of the ijaradar, Although the documents do not provide

any information on tha share of the Zamint, it may have been substan­

tial considering the risk involved on the other hand it may have

been basad on customary rates. Thel."'a are instances uh.en the Zamins

threatened or actually committed suicide when the i,jaradar failed

to deposit the state dues and the zamin nas called to make good the

amount. For instaooe it \78.S reported by the amil of _pargana Lalsot

to the 1!aharaja in 1756 that many of the Brahmans of ~asba Lalsot

uho stood sursty on behalf of jLjaraoars had committed suicide as a 2

result of the failure of ! . .1aradarf! to deposit the state dues.

A darobast or sarikat khalisa village could be given in ijara

to a single .i.1aradar or in a group of them, 3 The follouing table

illustrates tb pattern.

2.

3,

Parne.na from }laharaJ.! Ishr.ari Singh to Dalel Singh Rajal'7at, dt. K, '!.I, l!!)gh Sudi 1, V .s. 1800/17 4:3, Amber Records, }Jih:htang dt. K.J.l., Sauan Sudi 7, V ,S. 1811/1754.

Chithi to the~ J?!rn.ana Lalsot, dt. K,Me sauan Vadi 11, V 0 S, 1813/1756,

Arhsatia~. pargann Bahatrt V,S. 1812/1755, pamana 1.1alarna YeS. 18:32/1775 and J!rgana Dausa v.so 1825/1758 0

Te.bls I

Tan Name 0~ the --- Tan

of ~1..!.31:1: vl.llage

~argana Year the village

Kupauas Bahatri 1755 1oooo; .... o•

Babatrt 1755 0 • 0 •

Name of .Amoun·(; Tan tha O:l -'Khalisaijaradar 1.1ara

Bso 1000/- Faki rdas '"/33

• •

Kalyanot

Seva, Dava 1025 Mali Duda

' Pa tvrarl and Himmat ;?atel

264

Natu~ o;l !.jara gre.nt

c,. 6 Daro-~

0 Daro-~

Pipaluara · liadi Malarna 1775 1300/~ 350/- 950/- Indar Raj 335 0 Serikat

B~~n Khalisa

Naua Gaon DRusa 1768 14:00/--4.200/- 200/- ~ateL 12 0 Sarikat Patwari and Khalisa _.1agirdar of the village

I.1are o:r the darobast and sarlkat khali sa mauzas uas usually

given to the local ~aha,jans, ~tels, zamindars, .:iagirdars, a single

peasant or even to the entire riaya of a village including tb2 suparior 1

sections of the contm:Jnity. A feu examples are given belon to illus-

trate the pattern.

1. Arhsattas o:t .P.argana Malarna, Ialsot, Chatsu, Bahatri, ]}ausa and Suai Jaipur.

265 Tab:l3 2

Name of the village

Pargana Year

Tan -of the

village

Nama of Amount Tan Tan the of

1.8if. r Khallsa !Jaradar !_jara

Natur0 of i.jara grant

Sri Govind- Rs2 ~.

pura Lalsot 1770 • • 0 • •• The raiyat 112 8 Darobast of the village.

Ram Sar Lalsot 1770 •• • • •• Chauhan & 174: 12 Darobast Meena ~iyat of .the village

ICalya Vas h~larna 1775 • • • • •• Jagirdar 50 0 Darobast zamindar & the rai~at of the village

Hm7ever, the grants involving larger terri tortes were made to

the local ponarful zamindars, .!1agirdars and sahukars who had local 1 connections as uell as strength to be able to collect the rewnue.

Thus ths .!,1ara of _Pargana Bairath was granted to sahukars Tilok Chand

and Dalu Ram Godha for a sum of Rs. 21 ,3001.f- for a period of three

years. The i.1aradars undertook the responsibility of realizing basil

2 from the zortalab Ra.iput zamindars,. They also maintained an armad

contingent. Similarly pargana Gaori and Vavai uere gfanted in i,jara

3 to Dalal Singh Rajauat uho uas a leading noble of the Jaipur !fahru;aja,

1.

3.

Amber Records, Likhteng from Rawal Sher Singh Nathawat and Bakhshi Ram Shekha't7at, dt. K.11. Sauan Sudi 7, v.s. 1811/1753. Likhtang fr c:n Ajab Ram Rura Ram Sodhuka, dt. K,M. Magi shri Sudi 5, v.s. 1811/1754, Chithi to Shah Ram Kishan, dt. K~M~ Bhadon Sudi 11, v.s. 1810/1753.

Likhtapg_, dt. K.M, Asoj Vadi 13, v.s. 1811/1754.

Chi this dt, K .. ::r .. M'agh Sudi 1, V .s. 1800/1743; dt. X.,:-1 .. Jeth Vadi 14~ v.s. 18cnr/1750, Thikana Records, Dhoola.

266

The !.,1ara could also be taken by persons from neighbouring

villages. Thus we find mahajans, patels, zamindars, jagirdars and 1

the peasants from a neighbouring village bidding for 1.1ara0 Gene-

rally the raiyat and patels were given i.iara on modarate terms,

this type of i.Jara being known as i,iara gun.jaishi ka .. 2 The assump-uero

tion hitherto made that most of the ijaradarsjspeculators from out-

side is not supported by the available relevant data. A majority

of i.jaradars be longed to the same village of which they took i,iara

and were well acquainted with the ~ocal conditions and customs etc.

The i.iaradars coming from neighbouring villages can not basically

be considered as outsiders as there was often a link among neigh-

bouring villages uhich "r.'are grouped together for their common needs.

~Ioreover, the ,t.jaradars from the neighbouring villages were also

familiar Tlith the agrarian conditions and customary practices of the

village which they held in Uara.., The number of i.iaradars coming

from other parganas and touns was quite msagre. It would appaar

from the following table that 74.68~ among Ljaradars were local

parsons whgreas 1.1aradars from outside and neighbouring areas formed

about 25.32%. J~ong them 36.27% were zamindars, 3 0 23% J!&irdars,

21.27% mahajans, 8.17~ peasants, 11.14% patels, and 4.8% chaudharis

and ganungos., The rest was constituted by persons of various other

categories. 89.06% of the ijara was held by individuals and 10.94% 3 collectively.

1. Arhsattas _pa:rga~ Chatsu, S\78.i Jaipur, Malarna etc. 2. !.::.tuazana Kalan J?arga~a. Chatsu.

3. These figures are based on the information contained in the .Arhsattas of J?argana Suai Jaipur, Bahatri, Dausa, Chatsu, Halarna and La.l sot •

A.

B.

c.

Table

!.1aradars: 14:98

Local •• 1120

From outside the village 376

Joint i j aradars 160

Single ijaradars 1338

Peasants • • 124

Patels •• 169

:Jaha.jans • • 321 614

Q!laudha;a ann Qanungos 63

Zamindars 550

J~irdars 41

111 seQ llaneous 230

8M

267

Broadly ijara grants were of three typss. In the first category

uas garar i,jara of a ,Pargal'!,~ or of a mauza or of a part of it or of

nol"3 than or.e nmuza, granted for a single season or for ona year.1

There are of courS3 cases of grants for more than ons year, evan for 2 a pariod of five years; but garar i.lara l7as ral'3ly granted for such

a long period. Hcmaver, it could be renewed for a further term after

the expiry of the contract. The qarar i.1ara of sarikat khalisa mauza

2.

Arhsattas and Muwazana Kalan .PRmana Chatsu, Lalsot, Bahatri etc.

Chithi to the.&!!! pargana Laloot, dt. K,.M,. SaTJan Vadi 2, v.s. 1822/1765.

268

uas praferably granted to the ~iaairdar of the same village on

1 month aarars..., Such grant uas made on administrative grounds to

enable the ,_jagirdar to create a homogenous revenue unit for the

managenrent of the village and to avoid dual administrative control

i.e. of the Jagirdar and the khalisa officials over the village.

The pattern can be seen by the follo-r.ring examples:

Nan:2 of the village

Pargana Year

Table 3

Nams of Amount Tan Tan !!!!! the of

ofthe jagir Kh.a- !.jara- !_.jara village lisa~

ns. A.

Nature of i,jara grant

Daulatpura Lalsot 1767 2875/- 2100/- 775/- Jagirdar 387 6 6 months

Rall\7ali

Har Ram Pur

Sirsali

of the nP~ village

Chatsu 1760 12700/- 10000/- 2700/- Bhopal 1800 0 Singh Chatrabhujot Ja$irdar of the village

Jaipur 1756 3000/- 2750/- 250/- Dalel 125 0 6 months Singh .£ara:i:" Chat rabbu jot Jagirdar of the village

Ualarna 1756 6000/- 5720/- 280/- Jagirdar 140 0 6 months of the Qarar village

t. Arhsattas of pargana Lalsot, v.s. 1824/1767 ar ana Chatsu, x.s. 1817/1760, 12argana S'Jai Jaipur v.s. 1813 1755 and pargena ~larna V .s. 1813/1755.

269

The main feature of garar i.1ara was its short tenure, ThiS

type of i,jara grant uas made by the revenue officials l7i th a vier.

to increasing the jama of the villages (Hasil-i Kamil). The grant

did not carry vrith it any adninistrati"tre functions. It v:as the

policy of the state to resume garar i.1ara after two or three years

as soon as the jama reached the normal demand.

The second type of iJara uas ijara istamarari which was granted

for a longer term.Yrn some cases it could become permanent, 2 al-

though it uas not so in the majority of cases. Ijara istamara~i

was contracted for a period ranging from four to fifteen years and 3

it could be rener.ed for a further term. The pattern can be seen

from the following examples:

Name of the village Name of the ijaradar

Bhariuas

Vaghar etc. ~,rauzas 3

Samrath Singh Surtanot

112gb Singh Raj au at

Amount !'eriod

lls.

1727 to 1732

5000.00 1730 to 1733 per year

Xherla Rahimpur Raja Uanik Pal and 2930.00 1750 to 1765 Tulas 2al Jadam per year

Chi tori Udai Singh Kumbhani 17 .oo Four years. for the current

kharif

Pilori Nihal Singh Kilyanot 1882.31 • 1751 to 1758 }l2r year

Achal Pura Jhujhar Singh Rajawat 136.81 1745 to 1759 per year

"Iamcl. •. na Khushal Singh Chela 1764 1765 1766 1767 300.00 450100 500.00 701., 00

1. ArhSattas 12argana Chatsu, Swai Jaipur, Bahatri etc.

2. Arhsattes pargana Bahatri, v.s. 1812/1755,V.s. 1818/1761,v.s. 1822/1765 and VS 1829/1772, pa2;ana 1mlarna VS 1808/1751:V.s. 1813/1756~ VS 1815/1758,VS 1832 1775, VS 1~5/1788.

3. Arhsat tas and ;.itr.azana klan .Parga.na Chat su, ~larna, Sl:ai Jaipur, De.usa~ Bahatri and Lalsot.

270

Houever, it could be resun:od at any tim2 even before the expiry of 1

the contract. Istamurari ijara could be granted of a village or

of more than one village, of a~ or of paz:gana, However, in

most of the cases the grant r.as made of a single village or a group

of villages. The grant of a~ or pargana in istamarari i.iara

nas rather restricted and r.as made only in extren:a case So

Ijara istamarari was granted for different considerations. The

rulers of the time were facing serious financial problems as a result

of continuous war with the :-tarathas and i,jara istamarari enabled

them to raise ft:nds to be paid to the ~.Iarathaso In many cases it

uas granted for purely administrative purposes such as the protec-

tion of the raiyat of an area from thieves and robbers and for tha

2 maintenance of 18:1 and order in a disturbed area. Thus the villages

of Hadhogarh and ~·iamana in pargana Bahatri wera granted in istamara!"i

1. Thus the village Raliya ta in .~mana Bahatri \'78.S granted in istam.arari ijara to Suraj J.Ial · lyanot in 1758 for a sum of Rs. 1294o25. Rouever, the grant '\"laS resunred in the follouing year (1759). Muwazana Rargana Bahatri. Tha village of :Jadho­garh uas granted in istamarari ijara to Khushal Chela. The amount of ijara uas fixed as foll0\'78 1

1765 750,00

1766 1000,00

1767 1300,00

17 6 8 and onwards 1600000

Houever, in the next year (1769) the i!iara uas resumed and granted to Bhom Singh Ka.chhawa Jogi in istamarari for a period of five years. The amount of ijara was as follows:

1769 400.00

1770 600.00

1771 soo.oo

1772 900,00

C}li th.i to the AI!lil EJr~ana Toda Rai Singh dt. K:M Posh Sudi 9, Vs 1~22/1765. cliito 'the .t\m:ll RirganS; liindaun, dt. l.Cl Jeth Sudi Bs V .s. 1821/1764 o :.:uuazana lan Par.gana Bahatri.

271

i,jara on concessional rates to one :OlUshal Chela for a period of

five years. The said villages TTere deserted on account of the dis­

turbance caused by thieves and robbers, The i.iaradar uas entrusted

uith the charge of constructing a fortress in the village and protec-1

tion of the .z:aiyat from thieves and ro'.Jbers. In another case the

grant of tIre village of Varoda and another five villages uas made in

i stamarari i jara to one Nadir lilian in order to protect the said vi 1-

lages from the incursion of Gu,jars of the neighbouring areas, The

~ also undertook to subdue the Gujai"Me2 The i,jarad&rs uere

3 in such cases asked to retain an armed contingent. Such re sponsi-

bilit$-res \",'ere usually given to a big zamindar or sahukar with requi­

site resources, Thus the bjara of pargana· Kot uas given to Ranal

Sher Singh Nathawat, the zamindar and jagirdar of Samod for a sum of

~. 1,25,001/- yearly. The istamarari ijaradar was required to produce

a bond from the sahukar. J;.ccording to the terms of the agreement,

the Liaradar could not leave the _pargana uithout obtaining prior per­

mission from the ~.Iaharaja, It uas also his task to subdue the recal­

citrant zamindars of the pargana. The ijaradar also undertook to

supply troopers in the case of any war. Steps to prevent thefts and

crima in the ,nargana were also to be taken by the i,jaradar, He uas

also entrusted uith the responsibility of resettling and rehabilitating

1 e Mu\7aZana Kalan Pa;rgana; Bahatri.

2, Chithi to the .1\mil pargana Hindaun, dt, KnM. Jeth Sudi s, V_.S 0

1821/1•164!

3, Amber Records, Likhtang by Ra"hal Sher Singh }Iathanat and Bakhshi Ram !:ihekhauat, dt, 14ll .. Sar.an Sudi 7, v.s. 1811/1754,

272

the raiyat of too ~ana,. lie r.as instructed by the 1laharaja to 1

appropriate the llasil on the basis of customary rates, although to

tibat extent such instructions v.are followed can only be a matter of

conjecture. However, the istamarari i.iara grants seem to have served

the state in a number of ways. Firstly, it ensured the remittance

of a fixed amount to the state exchequer. Secondly9 the responsibi­

lity of running the administration ami the maintenance of lau and

order was shifted on to the shoulders of the ,L1aradars 9 LastJ.y~ the

ruler could also secure military assistance from the i.iaradar at the

t im.a of vrar.

In soJit9 cases ijara. istamarari was granted to tulers of the

neighbouring states. Such grants consisted of villages which vrere

contiguous to the territories of neighbouring rulers. The rulers of

Bharatpur and Karoli states a.cqui red some villages in i stamarari 2

i.1ara from the !Ja.haraja of Jaipur. The reasons why such grants YTera

made are ho~verJ not kn<mno

In many cases the grant of j_stamarari i,jara was made in psrpe­

tuity by the ruler as a mark of spacial favour.to his kith and

1. Amber Records - Likhtang by Raual Sher Singh Nathawat and Bakhshi Ram Shekhawat, dt. Krhl, Sauan Sudi 7, v.s. 1811/1754.

Chithi to 1754.

Chithi to 1759.

Shah Harikesh, dt. K.M. Sawan Sudi 8, V .s. 1811/

Shah Salig Ram, dt. K,M. 1Iagh Vadi 9, V ,S. 1816/

2. J .. r11sattas pargana Bahatri and pargana Malarna.

273

1 kins nho rendered meritorious services to the state. These grants

uere in the form of natan zamindari ua i stamarari ijara,. This uas

the highest kind of superior land tenure ever conferred by the

rulers. Such grants were accompanied by administrativo functions

of the faujdari and the right to collect the revenue in a definite

2 area. The revenue payable by the grantee to the state was a fixed

lump sum not based on the actual produce and technically the grantees

uere as good as a j>eshkashi zamindar, The most significant feature

of such grants was that they were immune from transfer and could

not be assigned in ,1agir. The grantees were allowed to exercise

permanent zamindari and faujdari rights over the area under their

jurisdiction.

The superiority of the rights in such grants is established

by the very large sums of money paid by the grantees as peshkashe 3

Tne grantees' hereditary right over the area l~d to the establish-

1.

2.

3.

Chithi to the Amils Rargana ~~larna, dt. Asarh Vadi 5, v.s. 1821/1764, dt. Kati Vadi 10, v.s. 1824/1767. Sanad to Dalel Singh Rajawat, dt. Ke~L. Chaitra Vadi 1, V.S. 1797/1740. Pa~1ana to Rao Vikramaditya Rajauat, dt. V.S. 1817/1760. Va~7ana to Rao Vikramaditya Rajmvat, dt. K.M. Chaitra Sudi 9, V.S. 1821/1764. Chithi to Ratan Singh Rajawat, dt. Chaitra .§.!!.!!!. 4, V .s. 1802/1745. Pa:rwana Khas to Ratan Singh Rajauat dt. K.M. Kati Sudi 5, v.s. 1809/1752. Chithi from Diuan Jai Chand Amarchand to the Amil pargana Udehi, dt. K.M. Posh Sudi 14, v.s. 1830/1773. r?arr.rana to Magh Singh Rajawat, dt. K.M. Magishri Vadi 1, v.s. 1830/1773. ----

Ibid.

Paruana Khas to Awaj Singh Rajawat, dt. K.M. Magishri Vadi 6, v.s. 1855/1798. i?arwana to Rao Vikramaditya Rajawat, dt. K.li. Chaitra Sudi 9, v.s. 1821/1764. Parw~~ to Rao Vikramaditya-­aaja~at, dt. K,M. Sawan Vadi 11, V,S. 1834/1777, Parwana to Hathi Singh Rajauat~ dt. K,1l • .t:.soj Sudi 15, v.s. 1812/1755.

274

nrent of many neu thikanas, The creation of the thikanas of Bart7ara,

Dhoola etc. can be traced back to such grants. The main purpose

behind the grant of istamarari ijara wa uatan zamindari uas the

creation and expansion of the Xachhauaha zamindaris in the ;>arganas

rreuly acquired from the liughal territories by the rulers of Jaipur.

The zamindari grant 't7as combined uith istamarari ijara grant in

order to keep the neu zamindars in the position of intermediaries,

though in due course of tit1!'3 the grantees rose to the position o1

pa shkashi zami ndars 11 given

JJara istamarari could be/out of the khalisa mauza in full or

1 part thereof and could be held by one or more than one ijaradar.

Thera are many instances uhere the i,iara istamarari 't7as jointly held

by the patel, zamindar, and entire raiyat of a village. 2 There

are also instances of raiyat collectively holding i,jara istamaruri

of villages other than their residential villages. 3 Sometimes old,

ruined and desolated villages lYere also granted in istamarari i,iara 4

on a sliding scale of revenue demand.

1. Arhsatta pargana Chatsu, Sr.ai Jaipur, !dalarna, Bahatri, Dausa and LiiSot. llillwazana Kalan pargana Chatsup Dausa, S"::'ai Jaipur, Bahatrt, ~alsot, Malarna. Chithi to the Amil pargana Baha·trl, dt. K:l Vaisakh Vadi 9, v.s. 1808/1751. Amber Records -,Xdkhtang by Jait Singh Rajal7at, dt. KM Bhadon Vadi 9, VS 1819/1762.

2. Arhsatta pargana SUai Jaipur, Chatsu, Dausas Malarna, Lalsot and Bahatri.

3. Arhsatta pargana Malarna, Dausa, Bahatri, Swai Jaipur, and Lalsot.

4. Arhsattas and :7uuazana Kalan Pargana Bahatri, Chat su, Lalso·;; etc.

275

The third type of i,jara uas tan!dmah i,jaras It 11as granted to 1

state officials in lieu of their salary. Generally it was granted

foi" a short term t bough in sO'!!a cases it could be granted for a

longer term. 2

Naure of the vill:Ige

Pilaro

Sri Jaijagpura

Vilaspur

Visanpur

Kanhesar

The pattern can be seen from the following examples:

Tan Amount of Nama Of the Year tankh\:ah !._J.aradar

3750.00 1500.00 Daulat Ram l.Iaha.1an 1766

8000.00 ~Iaha Ram Kayastba 1784 to 1788

1360.00 1580.00 Jeeuan Ram Mahajan 1783 to 1785 uasuli f

f

1783 17~ 1786

400.00 500.00 680.00

500.00 p5r year

Man sa etc • IDlasb ar- 17 83 to 17 86 dar of Huzuri

Re kh Raj Khuas Istamarari . 1777 to 1'"188

The mauzas given in tankhwah i.1ara were not regarded as .1agir but

remained a part of lmalisa land though its income did not coma to the

state treasury directly.

The practice of granting tankln1ah i.1ara out of khalisa land

suggests that the rulers of the tims uere facing serious financial

problems and uere not in a position to pay all the state servants

(naqdi officials) in cash. The state did not uant that the remaining

revenue of the khalisa should be further alienated to the assignees

or the jagirdars and as such did not want to transfer khalisa revenue

1. lJuuazar.a Kalan Pargana Cbatsu and Bahatri. (

Az-hsattas pamana Ballatrl, Dausa, i.Ialarna, Lalsot etc. ~:U'::'e.:;;at:o. P-lan ,Pargana \;hatsu.

276

to the category of assigned revenues in the official recordso But

in order to meet the financial crisis, it resorted to the tankbr.ah

ijara system to the nagdi officials. It may be conceeded that in

actual practice the xevenue assigned in .iagir to a state official

(.jagirdar) and those given in tankhvrah ijara to tankhuah i,jaradars

amounted to the same thing. Hol'JSve r, the technical differenoe re­

mained as the revenue of th9 tuo were entered under two distinct ca-

tegories in the records. It seems that it was not possible to increase

further the xevenues of the lands (!.!!!) given in .iagir and as an

interim administrative-cum-financial arrangement, the state institu­

ted the tankhwah ijar&; system. The grant of tank1mah i,jara is an

index of the breakd<mn of the Bm_ system on the basis of uhich the

.. jag~ignments Tiere made.

Apart from the right of the collection of revenue, certain

other rights and responsibilities were also vested in the :!_.iaradar.

He had the responsibility of realizing state arrears outstanding

against the raiyat of the area given in i.1ara and certain other dues

belonging to the state such as 1!3shkash, and of remitting them safely 1

to the pargana tahuaU He uas required to prepare and maintain some

revenue records such as a"t,?ari.jah on behalf of the state and send them

2 to the office of Diuan Huzuri.. He was entitled to charge the state

the amount incurred on account of maintaining and preparing the revenue

records 3 Big ijaradars were required to retain an armed contingent

1. Chithi to Shah Sa:ig Ram, dt. KM Uagh Vadi 9, VS 1816/1759. Chi·~hi from Dir.an Sbi v Nath to Shah Harikesh, dt. IC1 Sauan Vad1 14, V .s. 1810/1753. Chithi to Shah I!am Xishan, dt. :c1 Bhadon Sud1 11~V.s. 1810/1~/53.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.,

277

\/ 1 in order to maintain 1au ami order ui thin the area granted in i,iara.

The ijaradar had the right to reneu J>atta to the rai~t stating 2

the land revenue demand settled upon each cultivator. Houever~ he

could not increase the customary rates and had to realize the revenue

on the basis of such rates. In depopulated villages \1lnd villages

where cultivable uaste ~d uas available~ he had the right to settle

pahis and paltis for the extension of cultivation.3

In many cases

ue find the ijaradar advancing tagai loans to the peasants uith a 4

vieu to expanding and improving agriculture. He was assisted by tha

5 state officials in realizing the basil from the recalcitrant raiyat,

t"hen an ijaradar uas expected to rehabilitate ruitred villages he uas

left undisturbed by the state in the task of managing and settling

the affairs of the villages according to his discretion, 6 The state

officials could only interfere in cases of theft and disturbanne of 7

la\7 and order.

1,

2.

3.

4.

5.

6,

7,

Amber Records, Likhtang by Vyas Tilok Chand and Dalu Ram Godha, dt. K:I .Aso,j Vadi 13 f YS 1811/1754. Chi thi to the Ami 1 J?argana Hindaun, dt, IC.I Jeth Sudi 8, V .s. 1821/1764,

Cbithi to the .. '..mil pargana Bahatri, dt, rr.~r. 1-.sarh Sudi 15, V,S. 1817/1760,

Chithi to the :!m!,! pargana Chatsu, dt, K,He Vaisa!rh Vadi 12, v .s. 1821/1764 0

Chi thi to Shall Salig Ram dt. K,~.I. ~Iagh Vadi 9, V ,S. 1816/1759. Chithi to Shah Ram Kishan dt. ~c.~.~. Bhadon Sudi 11, V,S.1810/1753.

Chithi to the Amil £axgana Bahatri, dt, K.~. Vaisakh Vadi 6, V.s. 1818/1761, Cbithi to the Amil pargana IChohri dt. K.~.l, Sauan Vadi 7, V .s. 1801/1744.

Chitlli to the~ pargana Chatsu, dt, IOI Jeth Sudi 7 ,vs 1826/1769

Ibid 2

278

~ could be tahen auay from an ija:radar and granted to i

another in case the nar. bidder uas prepared to pay a larger amount.

In that case the former !.;Jare.dar l78s entitled to receive compensa-2 tion for his labour. According to the docum.ants the compensation

r.as paid at the rate of 1/8th of the total amount of ijara agreed

upon.3 However, this was not applicable in cases where an !.:1aradar

had rehabilitated a village after securing it in :tJara...4

( The village

Vaskho Raj uas granted in _!)ara to one Sada Ram in 1760 for a sum of

ns. 211/-. It was reported by the amil to the huzuri that another

~1are.dai" uas prepared to offer ns. 400/- for the same village. The

offer ue.s turnsd d<mn by the huzuri on the ground that the old

ijaradar (Sada Ram) had rehabilitated the village, and he r.as ~r-

mi tted to continue ijara :for a psriod of three years. lif the ijare - -- ~ ..

uas to be granted to a new ijaradar, he had to make good the loss

caussd to th2 state by a former defaulting ijaradar, \ It uas also

the responsibility of the n.ar. .!_jaradar to pay the amount advanced

1.

3.

Chithi to the Amils pargana Chatsu, dt. K.ll, Asarh Sudi 2, v.s. 1815/1758. Chi thi to the A mil pargana Bah at ri , dt. K.~l. .Asarh Sudi 15, vs. 1817/1760.

Chithi to the ~ pargana Chatsu, dt. K.:M. Asarh Sudi ·2, v.s. 1815/1758. Chithi to the Amil pargana. Lalsot, 1815/1758.

dt. rc.:~I. Asarh Sudi 14, v .s.

Chithi to the !!!~!! pargan~ Bahatri, dt. K.M. As arb Sudi 15, v .s. 1817/1760.

4. Muuazana Kalan pargana Chatsu.

279

1\/ as ta~ ai to the rai yat by the f orn:2 r i ja radar. The !.1 a ra c c-..tld be

2 :rasmod in cases tha ijaradar failed to deposit the state dues. It

ccald be taken ar.ray in case of his highhandedness against the raiyat

or if there uere strong protest from the raiyat. against the grant of

The grant 'I'Hts usua1 ly made in abnormal conditions such as

decline in produce, depopulation and devastation due to i.'ar etc., etc~

disturbance in lau and order, financial crisis/ As soon as normal

conditions ...are restored the areas given in i,iara uere resumed by

the state./

The state policy of granting ijara on a large scale attracted

b f h k ..... ..:~ ah . 3 a num er o sa u ars auu m a.1ans.., The sahukars and mahajans

entered the field in dueal cape:ni ty. Firstly they fUrnished surety

to the state on behalf of the .!.Jaradars uho uere usually the zamindars,

.. 1agirdars, pate ls, and chaudharis, The importance of the role of

1. Chithi to the Amil pargana Cbatsu, dt. ~.it-1. Asarh Sudi 2, V .s. 1815/1758. Chitiii to the ~ pargana Lalsot, dt. K;:.r. hsarh Sudi 14, V .s. 1815/1758.

2. Chithi to Dalel Singh Rajawaf, dt. K.;.r. Bhadon Vadi 5, v.s. 1800/ 1743.

3. Amber Records, Likhtang by Shambhu Ram Aggar\lal and Shri Chand Vijay Vargi, dt. K:1 Bhadon Sudi 3, VS 1811/1754. Khatut J.J:lal Karan- letter from :laban Ran Inder Chand to Singhi Jiv fiaj, dt. illd Sa'r.'an Vadi 10, VS 1824/1767. Chi thi to Shah Salig Ram dt. KH Maha Vadi 9, VS 1811/1754. Amber Records - Likhtang by Ajab Ram Sadhu }{a, dt. Kl.f 1.1agishr! Sudl 5, v.s. 1811/1754. Amber necords - Chithi from Diuan !:Urli Dhar Nand Lal to the Amil pargana Jobner, dt. !C.I Kati Vadi 8, V .s. 1811/1754. 'Aiib'er Itecords, Likhtan,g by .ilalu Ram Godha, dt. K:.I Aso.1 Vadi ::.3~ v .s. 1811/1754. Chi thi from Diwan Shiv Nath to Shah Harike sh, dt. IC.I Sauan Sudi 14f v .s. 1810/1753. Chithi to Shah Ram Kishan, dt. IC.l Bhadon Sudi 11, v.s. 1810/:1.753.

Arhsattas parganas Chatsu 9 SUai Jaipur, Ualarna, Bahatri, ~ausa# Lalsot.

280

sahukars as guarantors (Zamin) can be visualized from the fact that

in granting ijara preference uas given to those uho uere able to 1

the furnish mal zamini of the sahukars, It must be mentioned hera that/

role of a guarantor was not a neu one for the mahajan, as he uas

involved in the !Jara system in tha·t capac! ty from an earlier ps riocl,

llat:'aver, there uas a shift in his role which becam:e especially marked

from the second half of the 18th century, In the context of the

':eakening of administration and the growing financial problems

arising out of the constant Llaratha inroads, the agrarian policy

of the state underwent a change so as to secure as much money as it

could by granting Khali sa lands ill ijara. 2 The sahukars also started

investing their money for bidding !,jaras for themselves, The grm:­

ing practice of ijara opened up good prospects for inve stmant and

proved lucrative for the sahukars uho had a close knowledge of the 3

revenue paying capacity of the areas. There uas a keen competition

2.

.~h~ thi from Dir.an l.lurli Dbar to the !!!!!,! pargana Jobner, dt. X,d, Kati Vadi 8, V. s. 1811/1754.

Cbithi to the Amil pargana Lalsot, dt. K.1J. Jeth Sudi 14, v.s. 1823/1766 • .. - - - ~ .,..~...,....::.,...,1 "'~:'\ ~ -tJr,m 7j1ff !frn'1:ri::; ~~ vn-~-· onrfr t-~ 1 8 2 3 ~ ~.;T ~ ~--11~ c7(r "fr~ ri· ~ ~trrr 1 8 2 4 ~ ~ ~ I 8 2 5 Tr ~ ~'· I 8 2 6 ·:'j ~T.-;urr ~~;rr I 8 2 7 ~ :"~Tr£urr - - -" r-AT •··~ II '- ·lT s:r ~--:-:TU ~ ~ ~Tf U ~\~1<1 \1N ~Jq; ~'1\i I 8 I 0 q $ - .'::-~ rilf.;.ll ~·• '-'i~• I

\ft:rf 18 I 0 ~ ~ ... ;Jt;\) ~;,ltll ~m q t~~<i>T zf*; 18 I I ·:; ~R:f.l ~ sw:T ;:fj­\f'ci'tf I 8 I 2 ·:{ 2.1m]" '-ti, 31FIT T~. H: ~ - - -

Chithi to Shah Ram Kishan, dt. K,1,I. Bhadon Sudi 11, V,S, 1810/ 1753. Chithi to the Amil pargana Bahatri, dt, K,M. 4~sarh Sudi 15, v.s. 1817/1760.

3. Khatut .Lhal Karan, Chi thi dt. K.:.r. Sar.an Vadi 10, VS 1824/1767.

281 among the sahukars to a.cqui re large tracts of land on i,jara. They

even pleaded for the resumption of ijara from persons already hold-1

ing it on the promise of paying larger amount. Some of the

sahukars tried to secure lucrative tracts on ~jara through their

influence over the state revenue officials. Thus Mohan Ram Inder

Chand secured the ~ of tno taaluqas of pargana Khande la through

~ Jiv Raj for a sum of Rs. 69,000/-. He had estimated the jama

of these taaluqas to be about~. 1,oo,ooo;-. 2 This also suggests

that the sahukars were not entering the field merely as speculators

but were already sure of a handsome profit. The growing eagerness

of the sahukars and mahaJans to take ijara appears to be a neu

feature. Its causes and background, however, need to be further

investigated. There is some evidence to indicate that trade and

commerce were in a state of decline during this period due to the

disturbed conditions created by the Marathas3 and that the sahukars

and mahajans turned to ijara as an alternative for investment.

Notwithstanding this, it would be hazardous to conclude anything

positive unless the conditions of trade and commerce during this

period are looked into rno re carefully.

1. Amber Records, Likhtang by Shambhu Ram Aggarwal and Sri Chand Vijay Vargi, dt. K.M. Bhadon Sudi 3, v.s. 1811/1754. "- - - tf"tTRT m~:ffi ~ ~JtH.~ :rm tiT<TI" ~I t1clrq-Flf ~ ~ 21"171Tif

~ "i I <t. 4 I ot. i!'; bt \IT * )t,qr - - - ~T1."" 'iTclrY ~'JI I ~I ltc;r.:.T ;~wrr ~ ~ 2o,ooo 2ft-{~ tm--- -"

2. Khatut Ahal Karan, dt. K.M. Sawan Vadi 10, v.s. 1824/1767.

3. Chi thi to the Ami 1 pargana Mauzabad, dt. K.:.I. Ka.ti Vadi 6, v.s. 1811/1754.

282

~aradarl system as an institution functioned broadly uith­

in the administrative set up of the state~~The available documen­

tary evidence no=uhere suggests that the revenue officials of an ~ ijara

area given in ijara uere removed from the office. In g_ar$r/ on the

other hand l'le find positive evidence to r>rove that they continued 1 in the office as before. !vloreover, the assessment uork uas invarlo.F>

bly dong by the state revenue officials uhereas the ijaradar uas

entitled to collect the assessed revenue on the basis of customary

rates.2/The presence of the state officials served as a check on

the exactions made by the i,jaradars. The documents containing comp­

laints lodged by the raiyat to the revenue officials against i,jara­

~ also confirm the presence of these officials. Further, the

ijara docum3nts reveal that the i,jaradar uas entitled to charge the

state the amount incurred on account of the remunerations of the

pargana officials such as~' faujdar etc. The ijaradar uas paid

by the state the amount incurred on account of the salaries of the

revenue officials and maintenance of revenue records at the follow­

ing rates:~

2.

3.

I,jara of tap;pa Shahpura, pargana Swai Jaipur, dt. VS 1811/1754.

Tankln7ah ~

Ami 1' s salary

Choukayat khazana

Rs.

Rs.

Rs •

325.00

300.00

55.00

.i\..mbe r r..ec ords, Likhtang_ from Ajab P..am Ruru Ram, dt. IC 11I. :Iagi­shri Sudi 5, v.s. 1811/1754.

Chi thi to the .. ~ 1 pargana Thohri, dt. x.::. Sar.an Vadi 7, 1806/1749.

Amber !tecords, Likhtang by Ajab E.at:tl:ura r..am !:;odhuka, dt. :-=asishrl Sudi 5, V .s. 1811/1754.

v .s.

283

Stationary etc. Bs. 100.00

A,jurdars Rs. 50.00

Fau,jdar's salary Rs. 300.00

Ghora Nagara Rs. 200.00

lv!eena chol1kayat's salary Rs. 220.00

Uhen an entire J!argana was given in ijara, the revenue

assignments and grants made by the state in that pargana were

not resumed. The position of the various assignees and grantees

was unaffected except that now they had to pay the state dues,

if any, to the jagirdar.1 Certain conditions stipulated in the

agreement came into force uhen the villages were transferred

from khalisa to jagir and vice versa. In the case of transfer

of the villages from ,jagir to khalisa, the ijaradar was required

to rea lise the revenue (.jama) of these villages as assessed by

the tappadar and other revenue officials rather than on the basis

of the specified tan~ On the other hand in the case of the

transfer of villages from khalisa to jagir, the ijaradar was

required to assign the revenue to the ,1agirdars on month ratio 2 based on six months, eight months, and ten months garars 0

Thus there is sufficient evidence to prove that the ijaradari

system did not alter basically the working of the land ·revenue

1. Chi thi from Diwan Shiv Nath to Shah Harikesh, dt. K.M. Sawan Sudi 15, v.s. 1810/1753.

2. Ibid. Chithi to Shah Ram Kishan, dt. K.M. Bhadon Sudi 11, v .s. 1810/1753.

284

administration particularly in those cases uhere the qarar

ijara was granted and the ijaradars were not given administra­

tive rights.

Houever, the grant of istamarari ijara along with admini­

strative functions is an index of the breakdown of administra-

tion. The right of revenue collection and faujdari were two

separate rights. But they were combined in one in the istama­

rari ijara system. Theoretically the faujdar continued to be

in the parganaas a separate state official but his jurisdiction

did not extend over the areas granted in i stamarari ijara. The

real pouer in these areas nOl"! vested in the ijaradar. The

breakdoun of the office of faujdari uas a significant develop­

ment in the administration of the state. Theoretically the

i.1aradar uas required and was instructed by the state to

realize land revenue and other taxes on the basis of customary

rates. He uas also e:x:pscted to be the protector of the raiyat

of that area. But after the assumption of power by the

ijaradar, there was no effective mechanism to check to what

extent he was following the instructions of the state.

It is difficult to say uhether the effects of the ijaradari

285

system on the peasantry r.era altogether ruinous and led to their

intensive exploitation, t"e have seen earlier that the contracted

amount of i.tjara seldom exceeded the average jama of the proceeding

years and it was usually not made for an amount higher than the jama.

The basil figures of years after the wi thdraual of ijara shm1 that

there uas no decline in the average produce of the area hitherto

he ld in ;i.J ara • And in the majority of cases the i j aradars were

local persons uho had long term interest in the reverue paying

capacity of the area, ~~Ioreover, the ijaradars uere not permitted

to enhance the existing land revenue rates and the state instead of

the:!,jaradar1

bore the risk in the case of natural calamity, There

are, of course, instances uhere the J..jaradars did not follow the

the instructions of the state, exploited the raiyat and adversely

affected the revenue paying capacity of the area. But uhenever such

cases uere reported by the raiyat the grievances uere redressed and

the grants uere withdrawn.2

The consent of the raiyat \788 also

taken into account before granting an area in i.iara and in many cases

the proposed i.jara grants were not made due to the disapproval of

1e Chi thi from Diwan Raja Har GoVind Kallhi Ram to Arti Ram, the AmiJ ,Eargana S\7ai Jaipur, dt, Kn2,1, Magh Sudi 6, V,S. 1810/1753,

2o

Chithi to Shah Ram Kishan dt. K.~.I. Bhadon Sudi 11, V .s. 1810/ 1753, Chi thi from Diwan Shiv Nath to Shah Harike sh, dt, X .. M .. Sar.an Sudi 14, V,S, 1810/1753 0

Ch! th~. from Shah Ki shan Ram to the Ami 1 pargana Bahat ri dt o

K,d, .. l8.gh Sudi 11, V ,S, 1829/1772,

Chithi to the ~ pargana Lalsot, dt. !_L.H, Aso:i Sudi 13~ VoS• 1821/1764.

Chi thi to the Ami 1 ,Eargane. Pahari, 1817/17300

dt. I( • }!, Sauan Sudi 3, v .s.

286

1 the raiyat. Further, the ~atel, the zamindar or the village com-

munity may be expected to have kept a close uatch on the operations

of the i_.jaradar. So long as the village community was strong enough

it uas not possible for the !.Jaradar to exact more than what 't'las

due at customary rates. These factors may be considered to have

served as a check on the intensification of the exploitation of the

p3asantry. Howver, the possibility of exploitation cannot be ruled

out in those areas where the state had no check on the i.1aradars,

such as in the cases of ijara istamarari with faujdari rights •

. Before arriving at any co~lusion regarding th2 effects of ijaradari

system on the peasants, r.e must also bear in mind the fact that in

many cases the individual paasants as mll as the raiyat of the

village as a 't'Jhole uere also functioning as i.iaradars and there are

also instances of raiyat jointly holding ijara of villages other

than their residential villages. The peasants even jointly took

~ along ui th the zam.indar, .1agirdar, patel; and mahajal!,. The

evidence cited above tends to show the existence of strong village

cot:Imanities and mutual cooperation of the holders of varied inte-

rests in identical economic spheres.

Thus the .!,.1aradari system became an integral part of the

machinery of land revenue administration. The ijaradars played

different roles stuchsa the collection of land revenue, preparation

and maintenaooe of revenue records, the maintenance of lar. and

order, improvement and extension of cultivation including rehabil:t-

1. Chithi to the Amil _pargana Lalsot, dt. K,.:l .. Aso.1 Sudi 13, vs. rs21/l764:. /l.mbe r Records, Chi thi fzoom the ::.,c.te 1 and Pntt:ari _9esba ;~jab Garh to S'!lah .1':.rti nam, dt. :c.= Sar1an Vadi 3, V .s. 181771760.

287

tation of the ruined villages. From the functional point of vier.

hardly any distinction can be drawn between the i,jaradar and zamin-

It is also evident from the above that it was not mare ly the

sp2culators uho came to be interested in i,jaras,., The grants wera

made to the ~ahukars, mahajans, zamindars, jagirdars, yatels,

raiyat etc. on different considerations. There was thus a vast

variety in the types of people uho took i,jara and in the typss of

ijaras themselves.

Most of the remarks made against the ijara system do not per­to

tain/tbe qarar i.1ara which l'JS.s granted :for a short term but relate

to !.,iara 1 stamarari, The qarar ijara was granted on different

considerations. These considerations were usually 1) solution of

the financial problems o:f the state, 2) increase in the jama of

unluerative vi~leges, and 3) rehabilitation of old ruined and

deserted villages. Tne !.:,1aradars were required to Pl\Y revenue on

sliding seale. The considerations mentiomd above led to the grants

being made for short terms. _Qarar ijara did not alter the lend

revenue system. On the. other band, the grant of ijara istamarari

had far reaching impact on the agrarian situation, and led to al­

most a collapse of the entire land revenue system. As ue have al­

ready seen, the holders of 1:1ara istamarar yielded considerable /

,'\,....,./,/

power. In the absence o:f any effective check :from the state ad--- -

ministration the possibility of the exploitation of peasants was

much greater under such grants. An overall increase in the practice

of i.1ara is an index of the weakness of the state and indicates

that it was facing severo finannie.l and administrative crises.

288

:?argana Chat su

Percentage of Year revenue from

iJara

175:i. 13.80

1752 55.29

1753 69.92

1754 1CO.OO

1756 73.58

1757 73.71

1758 67.79 1•/59 100.00

1760 50.69

1761 60.05

1762 75.14

1763 32.41

1764 24.63

1766 22.56 1767 13.82 1768 28.4.0 1771 65.24 17./3 78.28 1774 71.10 1779 80.79 1782 68.02 1787 83.24 1788 81.69

289

?argane. Bahatri

:'e rcen ~age o:f Year reven ua from

.; . .::..sJara

1752 59~09

1754 47 007

1755 50.38

1756 63.12

1758 76.39

1759 87.87

1761 82.88

1765 82.42

1766 89 0 21

1767 49.22

1768 93.06

1772 93.02

1775 97070

1783 90.81

Pargana S-r,rai Jail?!!!

1756 24.23

1757 18.99

1759 21.59

1760 19.03

1761 25.71

1762 20.09

1763 13.32

1764 25.50

1765 41.79

1766 32.13

1767 32.84

1769 50.66

1770 46.45

Year

1759

1760

1762

1764

1765

1768

1769

1770

1771

1772

1774

1775

1776

1780

1786

1789

Percentage of revenue from i.1ara

63.68

89.66

88.89

58.22

71.76

50.50

45 0 62

66.67

90.03

85.63

96.50

96.27

60.97

66.98

28.14

14.-19

290

Year

1751

1753

1754

1756

1757

1758

1759

1760

1761

1762

1763

1764

1765

1766

1767

1768

1769

1774

1775

1776

1777

1778

1781

1782

1784

1788

?argana :la.la:;:-na

Percentage of reve 'lue from ijo.ra

66.57

100.00

62.05

53.05

64.94

65.09

67.21

55.96

59.16

67.50

58.78

100.00

59.58

68.91

66.84

66.56

72.96

71.97

82.26

79.29

85.10

83.38

62.51

62.20

84.35

25.33

291

Year

1751

1752

1753

1754

1755

1756

1757

1758

1759

1761

1762

1763

1764

1765

1767

1768

1769

1770

1774

1776

1784

1.3argc.na leal sot

Percentage of revenue from i,jara

36 .os 33.91

45.93

42.28

4'8.19

48.94

45.06

25.26

38.09

35.48

48.25

42.29

48.75

38.26

51 .3~

41.68

65.36

45.48

89.20

49.51

76.49

292

Pargana

Kot

Pari} ana 2 )airath and

Narain Pur

Village ( darobast) Korli Kaji

Village {Sarikat) Kanhawas

Nandgaon etc. 63 villages

Village Jawar and Alan Pur

~.Ial i jara of the village Raimal Pur

~{angal !:ad i .1ara of 1.::1afiq Janlibandi

Villa3e llamauas, ijara including ~ Sair, bhom, Virar, Pani, 'QaSUr, Vato etc. Kulhabubayati

Pargana Jobner i)tRra of Rahdari and ~

~endix I

Name of the ~jaradar

RaTia 1 She r Singh Nathauat

Tilok Chand Godha

SaTiant Singh Naruka a nl Nand a Pat\!ari

Raiyat of the village

Rekh Raj Palliwal

Jait Singh Uajawat

Chauhan and ~!aenas of the village

Rekh Raj

Prtthvi Ram

Arnar Chand :.Iaha,jan

Pargana :ITarai n Pur i__jara of Peshkash Tilok Chand Godha

Village Illiohra Bara i,jara of chhe li .Jhun;pari Patel of the ville6e

Villqge Sri Sarastipur ijara of Charai {grazing) Banjaras of Niuai

Village Jai Si ngL.pura ijara of Batai Jinsi ~ Patel ?alti

Village Pipal¥.·ara Koh :t.iara of indigo crop --

,!i 1J.age ?ipalr.ara !Coh i jara of a field

village o

~>Ti lgar (dyers) of Qasba ;,Ialarna

of the

293

Amount ns.

Year of the grant

125001.00 1751

213001.00 1754-1756

110.00 1762

50.00 1756

1767

2081.00 1762

174 0 75 1770

76.75 1771

159.72 1772

2100.00 1754

20000.00 1754

21.00 1755

12.28 1766

7.00 1763

27.00 1758

4.65 1758

294 A J2pe ndix I I

Pargana Lalsot

Village Year Amount Amount of Tiasil in .:lliali s::. of~ Year ~.mount

Kalawas 1752 261.69 1756 455.15

1760 371.25 1757 4:83.00

1763 408.72 1758 371.31

1764 382.50 1762 408.72

Kakarya 1760 93.00 1761 111.25

Kirori 1756 232.09 1757 312.00

1758 179.31 1759 257 .sa 1760 243.56

Ghato 1761 221.75 1762 204.75

1763 319.53

1765 457.84

Jai Singh Pura 1752 99.22 1756 102.94

1759 89.75 1757 51.84 1760 101.00 1758 64.91

1761 67.75

1762 112.59

Pataluas 1751 32.00 1757 109.84

1756 271.00 1758 187 .oo 1759 267.03

1760 328.00

Paloda 1757 159.69 1756 206.22 1759 169.09 1758 94.09

1760 128.28

1761 81 .~ 0

1762 160.50

1763 230.75 Ranoli 1757 513.00 1752 335.56

1756 542.00

1758 420 0 84

295

Contd ••• Pargana La.lsot

Village Year Amount Amount of Jiasi 1 in ~fuali sa of _!)ara Year Imount

Ram Singh Pura 1756 476.00 1752 206.28

1757 192.50 1755 366.00

1759 243.28 1758 141.53

Vijalwas 1752 161.00 1756 81 0 25

1763 89.50 1758 123.35

1759 149.37

1760 43.47

1761 87 .oo 1762 43.72

Shahjahan Pur 1763 119.81 1756 307 .oo 1759 381.00

1760 165.69

1761 133.81

1762 160.62

Sahas Pur 1756 39.81 1757 36.00

1758 57.62

1759 63 0 00

1763 116.88

296

l'argana :.Ialarna

Village Year Amount !..mount of Hasi 1 in :Olali sa

of i,jara Year }..mount

:.!adhu Sudan Pura 1761 216 .oo 1756 72.94

1762 301.00 1757 26.94

1758 73.04

1759 25.69

1760 251.03

Gaori 1757 55.00 1754 111.00

1758 81.00 1756 25.00

1761 111.00 1759 95.69

1760 42.50

1762 48.97

Avra 1759 51.00 1756 60.78

1760 61.00 1761 66.00

~othali 1758 196.00 1756 174.47

1762 145.00 1757 26.88 1763 205.00 1759 169.91

1760 112.78

1761 87.59

Kotri 1759 361.00 1756 361.78

1760 431.00 1762 361.00 1761 465.00 1763 423.37

Aniyala 1758 141.00 1760 335.00 1759 236.00 1761 154.97

1762 218.09

Raghubansi 1758 so.oo 1760 152.00

1759 131.00 1761 63.59 1763 172.00 1762 155.00

L'tcl Pur 1761 271.00 1756 188.91 1763 165 .oo 1757 154.88

1758 215 0 50

1759 271.59 1760 12 0 15 .. ,.,£.! ... ~ f"\r\ 1"\~

297

Pt: .. rgena Chat su

Village Year Amount of Amount of IIasi 1 in Xhali sa i.jara Year }.mount

Radha Govi nd Pur a 1755 271 .oo 1751 102.78

1758 30.00 1752 99.03

1761 38.40 1760 183.53

1762 61.00 1763 25.15

1765 17.34 1768 72.78

n.am }~agar Garhi 1762 25.00 1751 205.34

1752 201.97

1760 13.03

1761 24.78

1763 20.50

1764 27.97

1765 101.06

1766 253.47

Abhai Pura 1751 128.00 1752 112.75

1760 68.00 1755 61.94 1761 68.00 1757 56.15 1762 105 .oo 1758 40.78

1763 66.84

Aurang Pur 1768 215.00 1751 159.69

1769 137.47 1755 275.91

1760 126.59

1761 120.88

1765 167 .on 1767 152.56

Jai Singh Pura Vujrag 1763 725.00 1760 643.15

1764 828.00 1761 2C9 .~-9 1765 855.37 1762 41<.!,.94,

1766 932.03

1767 637 .9""(

••

298

Contd •••• Pargana Chatsu

Village Year ;,.,mount of Amount of Hasil in Khalisa !,.jara Year .rlmount

cr.u.aphri 1762 225 .oo 1760 180.37

1761 152.88

1763 255.65

1764 262.31

Chosila 1770 300.00 1764 239.78

1771 360.00 1765 106.81

1772 420.00 1766 200.40

1767 230.40

1769 224.31

Sri Govind Pur a 1760 121 .50 1761 218.65

1762 235.00 1763 181.59

Vijay Govind Pur 1760 112.62 1757 36.31

1762 45.00 1758 108.97 1763 90.00 1761 51.62

1764 38.34

1765 101.09

1767 132.69

Vichpuri 1762 561.00 1760 637.56

1761 192.88

1763 290.75

1764 656.78

1766 985.25 1767 1193.62

Sakat Pur 1760 154.50 1751 153.40 1762 159.62 1752 113.25

1755 185.06 1756 62.15

1761 137.03

299

Contd •••• ?ar,gana Chatsu

Village Year Amount of Amount of Hasil in Khalisa i.iara Year Amount

Sakat Pur 1763 198.75

1764 193.72

Sri Jairaj Pur 1761 31.00 1752 63.53

1763 47.00 1757 Uncultivated

1758 21.00

1764 67.00

1765 32.62

1766 87.94

List of the holders of :l.jara i stamarari

Name of the ijaradar

Purohit Seua Ram

Dhiraj Singh Naruka

Suraj Mal Jat

"

" Jbujhar Khan

Khushal Singh Chela

Re kh Raj IOlauas

Abhai Singh Khangarot

Chaudhary Ganga Dhar

Koju Chela

Nadir Khan

Village

Morat Huka

Kanohar

Jatoli

Cbhola\7as

Dogdhi

Di lauas Pur

Mamana and Madhogarh

PARGANA CHATSU

Nand Gaon etc • 63 villages.

PARGANA DAUSA

Gugolav etc. 4 mauzas

Visalwas

Vorai

PARGANA HI NDAUN

Varoda etc. 6 villages.

Amount of i,iara

500.00

364.00

90.00

161.00

75.00

7500.00

285 .vo

495.00

380

Year

1761

i765

1765

1765

1765

1761

1'169

1768

1780

1780

1764

. .

301

Cont 'd •••• List of the holders of ijara istamarari

PARGAN!\ IlJ.LSCT

Name of the Village Amount Of Year !.jaradar i,jara

Laxman Singh Rajawat Nalsardal Pur 931.00 1756

Jagirdar, zamindar Kalyawas etc • and raiyat 2 mauzas 50.00 1762

Jagirdar and zamindar Khatwo 98.37 1762

~irdar Talab Gaon 137.50 1768

Patel of the village Matlano 0.25 1762

PARGANA k'-IJ\RNA

Raja Gopal Singh Jadam Kherla Rahim Pur 2930.u0 1756

Ajit Singh Rajawat Niwod Vohra 1762.50 1756

n Jhunpara Kt:tera 1722.00 1756

n Vajroli 1041.00 1756

" Rat hod 1895 .uo 1756

Raja Gopal Singh Jadam Nf)vod Sarai 1500.00 1756

n Mahra 1600.00 1756

n Adil Pur 1460.00 1756

Bhairon Singh Rajawat Gudhla 1733.37 1756

n Pipalwasa Kah 2862.37 1756

" Bhanoli 1986.69 1756

n Manglor 1042.75 1756

Vikramaditya Rajawat Vahar 1500.00 1764

Man Swarup Brahman Pargana Nand pur 800.00 1784

Harchand Mahajan Sudri 111.50 1778

. .

Cont 'd •••• :d.st of the holders of i.jara istamarari

:? .tll!GANA S\.iU: JAI PUR

Name of the Village .t.\mount of !.,iaradar i,jara

Dale 1 Singh Sikamal Mal 2ur Dungar 301.00

Nihal Chela Govind i"ur

tt Udaipur Gilhara 263.00 since

Zami ndar Shekhauat Rahrauas 1062.25

Raj Singh Chauhan Salawas 1010.00

Hathi Singh Rajawat K:uwavo 506.12 since

Zaminda,t; of the village Sih Puro 139.50

" Kotri 1201.00

Sada Ram Mahajan Tala etc. 1778000

Gulab Singh Shekhawat Dhanaka 'Cas 1250.00

Ra't'lal Chhaju Ram Sarheti 438.97

Devi Ram Joshi G8l7ali 3320.50

Dhiraj Singh Hami rde ka Dehrl 200.00

" Bhurli 600.00

Raj Singh Hamirdeka tiara Hera 300.00

De vi Ram Jo Bhi Rajawas 395.00

Dhiraj Singh Hamirdeka Hariyano 167.00

Gaj Singh Chauhan Sa law as 505 .oo

Udai Singh Rbmbhani Chi tovi 17.00

Arjun Singh Kalyanot Pilort 941.12

Year

1770

1766

1770

1770

1770 long

1770

1756

1756

1756

1767

1767

1767

1767

1767

1767

1767

1767

1767

1767

••

Cont 'd •••• List of the holders of ijara istamarari

Name of the i,jaradar

Nanji Musalman

J~irdar

Dalel Singh Rajauat

Vikramaditya Rajawat

n

Raj Singh Rajanat

Tilok Chand Dalu Ram Godha

h~gh Singh Rajawat

P ARGANA Sl".:AI JAIPUR

Village

Dilawar Pur

Klloh

~ Patni

PARGANA Sr.:'Al MADHOPUR

Gagai etc.

Barwara

P ARGANA SHERPUR

Ja\7ar

Pargana Bairath

P ARGANA U13HI

Veghor -etc. 3 villages

Amount Of ijara

90.00

26.84

42946.00

aooo.oo

2801.00

71001.00

sooo.oo

303

Year

171'0

1770

1754

1752

1762

1754

1776