The Jagirdari crisis during the Mughal period.
The Jagirdari crisis during the Mughal period.
Or, to what extent was the Jagirdari crisis responsible for the fall of the Mughal Empire?
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Jagirdari crisis: -
Brief introduction to the Jagirdari system: -
The words Jagirdar and Mansabdar are almost synonymous. Every Jagirdar was entitled to receive Mansab. During the Mughal period, the revenue of each land was pre-determined. The amount of revenue collected from the area was distributed among the Mansabdars of equal rank. The income of the Jagir was the salary of the Mansabdar. Apart from this, the practice of paying salary in cash was also prevalent. This practice gradually became a problem for the Mughal administration.
Classification of Jagirs: -
During the Mughal period, Jagirs were divided into two categories -
(i) Tankha Jagirs and
(ii) Waten Jagirs.
The jagir that was given in exchange for salary was called tankha jagir. And waten jagir was the right to enjoy the right to land. This jagir was mainly given to Hindus and it was hereditary. The revenue amount of waten jagirs was fixed during Akbar's time.
Revenue deficit: -
The problem of jagirdari started after Akbar's time. Taking advantage of the weakness of the central administration, many provincial rulers stopped paying revenue. During Aurangzeb's time, this situation became terrible. The treasury became completely empty. There was no money left even for running the army. In addition, the situation became extreme when the rebellious zamindars and tenants also stopped paying rent.
Reduction in the amount of Khalisha land: -
After Akbar, when the financial crisis intensified, the state's Khas land or Khalisha land also started being converted into jagirs for the purpose of distributing land among the Mansabdars. As a result, the state's income from Khalisha land started decreasing. As a result, the emperor again became completely dependent on the jagirdars for revenue.
Internal conflict within the jagirdar system: -
There was an internal conflict and contradiction within the jagirdar system. The rights of the jagirdars were not hereditary. Again, although the jagirs were entitled to revenue, they were not the owners of the land. Even if the jagirdars collected revenue, it was determined by the royal officials called Kanungo. Again, it was not certain how long the rights of the jagirdars would be in force. Although the responsibility of justice or peace and order was in the hands of the jagirdars, there was also an army appointed by the emperor. In this way, a contradiction can be observed in the power of the jagirdars.
Abuse of land-based political power: -
For the above reasons, attempts were seen among the jagirdars to embezzle the income of the farmers. Since many used to pay revenue in cash, they were forced to sell the crops at a much lower price. The entire revenue system was in charge of the officials - Talukdar, Mukaddam - as a result, they used to embezzle the major share of the revenue. If the middlemen continued to misuse their power in this way, it weakened the jagirdari system.
Exploitation and oppression of farmers: -
Since the jagirdari system was not hereditary and there was no guarantee of jagirdari rights; therefore, the jagirdars chose the path of earning more profit by exploiting and oppressing the farmers. Many times, the jagirdars would not collect the revenue themselves but would delegate the responsibility to the ijaradars. After the ijaradars got the responsibility, the villages of India turned into deserts.
Competition among the jagirdars: -
A hateful political factionalism started in the Mughal court centered on the jagirdari occupation of land. Everyone started exerting their own influence in the court to get better quality jagirs. The practice of buying and selling jagirdars by paying bribes was also prevalent. Although the emperor was aware of this illegal activity of the jagirdars, he did not take any action due to the greed for revenue.
Difference between deposit and collection: Inevitability of conflict between the administration and the jagirdars: -
During the reign of Jahangir and Shah Jahan, the number of jagirdars increased. However, a huge difference was seen between the revenue shown or deposit and the revenue collected or collection. When the number of jagirdars increased further during the reign of Aurangzeb, the problem became more intense. Although the number of jagirdars increased, the amount of land available for distribution did not increase. As a result, the conflict between the jagirdars and the administration became inevitable.
Role of the jagirdar crisis in the fall of the Mughal Empire: -
The crisis of the jagirdar system weakened the Mughal administrative foundation and dealt a severe blow to the agricultural system of India. When the jagirdars appointed ijaradars and started inhumanely oppressing the farmers for revenue, it completely destroyed the agricultural system. Administrative weakness on the one hand and the agrarian crisis on the other sounded the final death knell of the Mughal Empire.
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