Feudal and Revenue System

Feudal and Revenue System played a crucial role in shaping the political, social, and economic structure of medieval Rajasthan. This system defined the relationship between rulers, feudal lords, and peasants, and determined land ownership, taxation, and administration. In the study of Rajasthan History, understanding the feudal and revenue system helps explain governance, power distribution, and agrarian relations in the region.

Organization of the Feudal and Revenue System in Rajasthan

• After the death of Harshavardhana, the political unity of India ended.
• Central power weakened → Rise of local rulers in various regions.
• Small states emerged in Rajasthan, where the king appointed feudal lords by distributing land.
• Division of Land: –
  • Khalsa land → Under the direct control of the state
  • Jagir land → Under the control of feudal lords/Jagirdars
  • Sub-feudal lords → Appointed by Jagirdars
• Royal Authority → Jagirdar → Sub-feudal lord → People

Administrative Posts in the Rajput Period

Departmental Post	Function / Responsibilities
Mushrif	Secretary of the Finance Department
Waqia-Nawis	Handling information and broadcasting-related work
Daroga-e-Farashkhana	Head of the Supply Department
Daroga-e-Sair	Collecting Donations
Daroga-e-Dak Chowki	Managing the postal service
Daroga-e-Abdar	Managing food and water supply
Daroga-e-Naqqarkhana	Head of the department of musical instruments and drums
Amatya	Senior member of the council of ministers; assistant to the king
Sandhivigrahik	Preparing orders and foreign correspondence (according to Yashastilaka Champu)
Akshapatalika	Maintaining records of state income and expenditure; keeping accounts of grants
Vandipati	Writing/reciting praises of the king’s qualities, deeds, and lineage
Bhishagadhiraja	Chief physician of the state
Mahamantri	Chief advisor to the king; supervising ministers and ensuring smooth administration
Bhandarik	Chief officer of the treasury; later called “Bhandari” (treasury and supply system)
Mahapratihar	Maintaining discipline in the court; instructing visitors on etiquette
Naimittika	Royal astrologer

Main Categories of Feudal Lords in Rajput Period

Category	Description
Rajvi Feudal Lords	Younger brothers and close relatives of the ruler; royal blood relations
Sardar Samants	Indirect/distant descendants of the royal family; provided administrative and military services
Mutasaddi Samants	Officials who received jagirs in exchange for service in the state administration
Ganayat Samants	Local lords before the establishment of the state; accepted Rathore rule
Desh/Raj Samants	Those residing in the state who provided administrative and military service
Darbar Samants	Nobles and royals with close ties to the court
Bhomia Samants	Land granted for border security; tax-exempt; usually ancestral land

Feudal System in the Princely States of Rajasthan

Feudal System of Mewar

• first Organization – “Amarshahi Rekh”
• Founder – Amar Singh II (1697–1709 AD)
• Categories
  • Maharana – Supreme
  • Raja / Shahzada / Banikh
  • First Class Samants – 16 Umraos
  • Second Class Samants – 32 Samants
  • Third Class Samants – 330/332 Samants
• Special Names
  • Solah, Battis, Gol Samants
• Major Thikanas
  • Shahpura
  • Banera
  • Salumber
  • Bedla

Feudal System of Marwar

• Main Categories
  • Rajvi – Close relatives of the ruler
  • Sardar
    • Right Misal – Ranmal lineage
    • Left Misal – Jodha descendants
  • Mutasaddi – Administrative officers
  • Ganayat – Ancient regional lords
• Taxation System (Marwar)
  • Patta Rekh – Annual tax limit determined by the Diwan
  • Bharat Rekh – Tax payable based on actual produce
• Other Taxes
  • Tagirat – A special tax imposed by Ajit Singh

Feudal System of Jaipur/Amer

• “Barah Kotri System” – Prithvi Singh
• Major Kotris
  • Kachhwaha (Rajawat)
  • Nathawat
  • Khangarot
  • Naruka
  • Bankawat
  • 12th Kotri – of the Gurjars

Feudal System of Jaisalmer

• Two main categories
  • Davi
  • Jivani
• Origin: Bhati Rawal Harraj

Feudal System of Bikaner

• Three main categories
  • Descendants of Rao Bika
  • Uncle-Brother Descendants
  • Local/Foreign Subordinate Feudatories

Feudal System of Kota

• Two main categories
  • Desthi – Feudatories serving within the state
  • Hazurthi – Feudatories serving in the Mughal court
• Other Categories: Rajvi and Amir Umrao
• Note – Maximum Mughal influence → Increased centralization → Feudatories weakened

Classification of Land in Rajput Period

Type of Land	Characteristics / Description
Hakat-Bakat Land (Hakat-Waqt)	Land that was actually cultivated
Kankar Land	Dense forest land; the word “Kankar” also used for village boundary
Gormo Land	Land located near the village
Pival Land	Land irrigated by ponds and wells
Beed Land	Land near rivers and streams
Maal Land	Land with black fertile soil; especially arable and fertile
Dimdu Land	Land near wells or pits
Talai Land	Land at the bottom of a pond; crops grew without additional irrigation
Magra Land	Land in hilly areas
Barni Land (Barani)	Land with no irrigation facilities; completely rain-fed
Pasture Land (Charnota / Gochar / Oran)	Under the Gram Panchayat (village council); land left for grazing village cattle

Rajasthan and Medieval Tax System

Tax / Term	Meaning, Context, and Characteristics
Khams	Tax on spoils of war; generally 20% to the state and 80% to soldiers; Alauddin Khilji and Muhammad bin Tughlaq kept 80% for themselves
Kharaj / Khiraj	Land tax levied on non-Muslims under Islamic rule; different from Jaziya
Patta Rekh	Estimated annual income of a jagir; determined by the Diwan in Marwar; basis for tax assessment
Bharat Rekh	Tax deposited in treasury based on actual jagir income; usually less than Patta Rekh; not inheritance tax
Tagirat	Special additional tax on feudal lords by Ajit Singh of Marwar; an economic burden
Malabar / Malbab	Tax levied on commercial goods; part of commercial tax system
Nazar / Nazrana	Amount/gift given by a conquered chieftain/subordinate to the ruler as a mark of respect
Ghughri Tax	Rent collection based on the proportion of seeds; as much grain tax as the seed given
Lata / Bataai	Share of produce collected after harvest; tax based on actual yield
Kunta Method	Tax assessment based on estimating standing crop; higher possibility of disputes
Dori Mukata	Cash-based tax system; linked to currency-based collection development
Bighodi	Tax per bigha on commercial crops (e.g., opium, cotton)
Khidmati	Tax/tribute paid by defeated chieftains to ruler as submission
Idrar	Financial assistance/stipend to religious or learned persons; not a tax
Khilat	Special garment given as a mark of loyalty or honor; symbol of political prestige
Mansab / Halbandi-based tax	Revenue system linked to jagirs in exchange for military service or rank; Mughal administration
Dowry / Marriage Tax	Tax levied as gifts, clothing, or materials on marriage occasions; Rajput tradition
Hala Tax	Tax based on the number of soldiers/horses; related to military obligations
Board Bandhai	Tax/expenditure in Mewar for border security and expansion
Nazrana / Bakhshish Fee	Fee paid to ruler as a token of respect; strengthens political relations