Question

Explain Mahalwari system.

Answer 1

Hint: Mahalwari system is a form of land revenue collection system by the British. The government of Lord William Bentinck, the then governor general of India during the period 1828 - 1835 introduced the Mahalwari system in India.

Complete Answer:

- The Mahalwari system was introduced in 1822 by Holt Mackenzie. Later, the system was reformed during the period of William Bentick (1833).

-Mahalwari system was the primary land revenue system in North-West india.

- The Mahalwari system was introduced in the North West Frontier, Agra, Punjab, Gangetic valley, Central Province, etc. This system had elements both from Zamindari as well as Ryotwari systems.

- Under the Mahalwari system, the land revenue was collected from the farmers by the village headmen on behalf of the whole village (and not the zamindar).

- The entire village was converted into one bigger unit called ‘Mahal’ and was treated as one unit for the payment of land revenue.

- The revenue under the Mahalwari system was to be revised periodically and not fixed permanently.

- The revenue was collected by the village headman or the village leaders and the ownership rights rested with the peasants only. 

- The state share of the revenue was sixty-six percent of the rental value and the settlement was agreed for thirty years. The Mahalwari system laid down the concept of average rents for different classes and types of soils.

The entire land revenue system of the British had grave consequences. Firstly, land became a product for tax generation. Land became like a private property which never was considered before as one. The farmers resorted to growing cash crops instead of food crops because of prevalent high taxes. This caused famines and food shortages. Also, since taxes were to be paid in cash, farmers became indebted to moneylenders and the latter became the land owners. This also led to farmers becoming bonded labourers. Eventually, when India achieved independence, seventy-five percent of the land was held by only seven percent of villagers who were zamindars only.

Note: Mahalwari system was one of the three land tenure revenue systems during British rule, the other two being zamindari and ryotwari systems. The term Mahalwari is derived from the word Mahal which means estate, house or district.