- Chauth: Chauth was a tax or tribute amounting to one-fourth (1/4th) of the revenue or produce of a region. It was claimed by the Marathas from territories they did not directly control, as a form of protection money to avoid Maratha raids.
- Serdeshmukhi: Serdeshmukhi was an additional 10% levy collected by the Marathas over and above the Chauth. It was claimed by the king as the hereditary right of the Maratha sovereign (Chhatrapati) as the supreme overlord.
Feudals in Rajasthan were landholding nobles, usually relatives of the king, who helped in administration and gave military support in return for land (jagir).
- Rajvis: Relatives of the royal family within three generations.
- Sardars: Non-royal family Samantas.
- Ganayats: Those who received jagir due to marriage relations with the royal family.
- Mutsaddi: Officials with Jagirs.
Many Rajput dynasties came into existence after the downfall of the Guptas which had their separate politico-administrative structures continued till the integration of Rajasthan. The administrative system was based on a feudal system where the king was first among equals. The feudal system here was not based on a hierarchical system but like a tent in which the king was the main pillar.
Administrative system:
It was divided into 3 parts.
- Central administration:
- king was the focal point of the entire administration, and used to make his decisions by consulting the council of ministers (COM), chieftains, etc
- Prince: most important place after the king.
- Pradhan: head of the COM.
- Bakshi: head of the military department.
- Mutsaddi class: these were like bureaucrats
- Provincial administration:
- In the state structure, divisions were established known as Mandals, overseen by officers termed Mandaliks. These Mandals were then subdivided into Vishyas, and within them, Vishyas were further organized into Pathaks/Khetaks. Beneath this administrative tier, groups of villages were overseen by leaders known as Gramaptis.
- Within the paragana, two distinct types of officers held authority:
- HAKIM: Heading the judicial department of the paragana.
- FAUJDAR: Tasked with upholding law and order within the paragana.
- Village administration:
- At the smallest unit of governance, the village (Moje) operated under the administration of a body known as Panchkula, typically composed of five or more individuals. Within the Panchkula, one or two officials represented the state, known as Karniks.
- Resolving disputes at the village level fell under the jurisdiction of two bodies: the village panchayat and the caste panchayat. Their rulings were officially recognized by the state.
- Key officials at the village level included the Patwari, responsible for revenue collection and land records, and the Kanwari, among others.
Revenue system:
- In the land revenue system, alongside the military and judicial structures, the Samant held a significant role. Land was categorized into two parts: Khalsa and Jageer.
- Khalsa: This referred to land where the king’s personnel directly collected land revenue.
- Jageer: Jageer encompassed various types:
- Feudal Jageer: Inherited by birth, revenue was collected by feudal lords.
- Hukumat Jageer: Assigned to bureaucrats (Mutsaddis) in exchange for a salary, with no hereditary rights.
- Bhaum Jageer: Tax-free land granted to ‘bhaumias’.
- Sasan Jageer: Tax-free land granted to Charan-Bhats for charitable, educational, and literary purposes.
- Revenue Fixation: Land revenue, also known as Lagaan, Bhog, or Hasil, was typically set at 1/6th of the grain produced. Determining factors included the nature of land, the market price of crops, productivity potential, and the caste of the peasant. Patel or Chaudhary played key roles in determining and collecting rent.
- Methods of Revenue Collection:
- Lata Method: Crop harvested under the supervision of Lata/Batai Method Recovery Officer, weighed, and revenue collected.
- Kunta Method: Estimation based on the standing crop, without weighing or measuring.
- Mukata: Lump sum assessment of revenue.
- Ghugri: Determined based on seeds provided by the state.
- Bighori: Assessment based on Bigha measurements.
Through its diverse revenue collection methods and hierarchical administrative structures, the medieval system exemplified the intersection of governance, economy, and social hierarchy, shaping the landscape of power and authority in feudal societies.
