Question

What is the difference between subedar, mansabdar, iqtedar and jagirdar?

Answer 1

Jagirdar is a title created during the times of Delhi Sultanate. Under Delhi Sultanate, the Jagirdars were allowed to collect taxes, revenues and maintain a standing army. This way, they received benefits and land grants from the Delhi Sultans.The Mughals continued the Jagirdari system while making slight changes to the way they ruled. Under Mughals, the Jagirdars were allowed to collect taxes, revenues and in turn submit them to the Mughal Coffers. However, the option of maintaining an army was removed. Instead, The Mughals named Nawabs/Mirza[2] who were deputy rulers and viceroys to maintain and control an army. This system helped initially the Mughals to keep the Jagirdar and Nawabs in check.However, post Aurangzeb, the Mughals were weaker and the Nawabs declared their independence.Zamindar[3]A Zamindar is also a Jagirdar in many ways. However, their rank differed under different Emperors and Kings. They are seen as an equivalent of a British/European Aristocrat. A zamindar purchases and allows peasants to work on the land he owns. In turn, he pays in bulk to the empire’s coffers while retaining the independence to rule the lands.Over the years, Zamindari system turned hereditary and some of the Zamindars were also named as Rajas, Sri, Pillai, Rao, Thakur, Reddy, Thevar under Hindu rulers and Nawabs, Mirza, Chaudari, Khan, Sardar, Malik under Muslim rulers. The British made slight changes to the system while retaining their core functions in collecting taxes and materials.Post Independence, India enacted the 44th amendment to its constitution which repealed the Right to Property[4]. This in turn allowed the Indian Government to enact laws such as “Zamindari Abolition Act” in 1951, abolishing the Zamindari and Jagirdari systems. The neighboring countries of Pakistan and Bangladesh (Then East Pakistan) also followed suit in the same decade.

Answer 2

Explanation:

Jagirdars were holders of land assignments in lieu of judicial and police duties, whereas Zamindars were holders of revenue rights without obligation to perform any duty other than revenue collection.

2. Land assignments to Jagirdars were hereditary and revenue rights of Zamindars were not hereditary.