An Historical Re-Reading of Evolving Land-Man Relationship in The
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An historical re-reading of evolving land-man relationship in the Princely State Cooch Behar ( 1772-1949): Contextualizing political economy of regional history in perspective A Thesis submitted for the Degtee of Doctor of Philosophy (Arts) of the University ofNorth Bengal Submitted By Smt. Prajnaparamita Sarkar Assistant Professor of History Darjeeling Govt. College Darjeeling Supervisor Dr. Ananda Gopal Ghosh Professor of History Department of History University ofNorth Bengal tttt92 Contents Page Preface 1-11 Glossary lll-Vl Map Vll-Vlll List of Tables IX Introduction 1-41 Chapter -1 An Historical Outline of the Princely State Cooch Behar 42-63 1.1. Cooch Behar State under the Independent Koch Rulers 1.2. Cooch Behar State under the Feudatory Chiefs 1.3. The People ofthe State ofCooch Behar 1.4. The Pre-colonial Social, Economic and Political Structure of the State of Cooch Behar Chapter-2 History of Land Settlements in India: A Regional Perspective 64-105 2.1. Pre- Colonial Land Management System in India 2.2. Land Management System of India under Colonial Rule 2.3 The Land- man relationship oflndia under Colonial Rule Chapter-3 Land Settlements in Cooch Behar: An Overview 106-148 3 .1. Pre-Colonial Land Management System of the Cooch Behar State 3.2. The Colonial Land Management System ofthe Cooch Behar State Chapter-4 Regional Historiography: Political Economy of the Princely State Cooch Behar 149-174 4.1 Regional Historiography, Regional History and (or) Local History 4.2. A Synoptic View on Political Economy 4.3. Political Economy of Cooch Behar State in Pre-colonial and Colonial Period Chapter-S Impact Study of Land Settlements in the Princely State Cooch Behar 175-195 Conclusion I 96-208 Bibliography 209-217 Appendices 218-243 Preface At the out set, let me submit my compulsions and convenience in undertaking this academic exercise what I have attempted to make for nearly a decade. Being born and brought up in Cooch Behar, presently the district town of Cooch Behar-the erstwhile capital of the Princely State Cooch Behar, my sense of history did gradually grow in a positive social and academic ambience which helped to develop an insight in me to understand both academically and conceptually the history of our region. The present study has attempted to unravel an unexplored area of Cooch Behar State ( 1771-1949). The Princely State Cooch Behar occupies an important place in the eyes of the contemporary historians specially dedicated to the cause of regional history. Because of its chequered past and an objective recorded history of continuous 500 years dynastic rule as well as the relevant documentation of records of administration which are available and accessible. The balance of convenience, for me, tilted to concentrate on the study of Cooch Behar especially its land -man relationship .. Indeed the present study is based on regional-national continuum and more precisely would unfold the micro - specificities of history in the regional frame to understand further the macro specificities of history. The lens used in the study is "National History Localised". The history of the State of Cooch Behar triggered an academic intervention ,· of diverse interests. While the central preoccupation of the researchers in the colonial phase was to explore 1) the dynastic history of family, 2) the beneficial economic and administrative reforms undertaken by the State of Cooch Behar under the aegis of the colonial Residents, the central concern of the researchers in the post- colonial phase appeared to be to construct the different shades of interrelationships between the State of Cooch Behar, its neighbouring states and the British India at different points of time. Until recently, agrarian studies on colonial India have been basically the policy studies. However, the official debates on revenue settlements have provided ample academic space for numerous regional studies. Studies on the structure of agrarian relations in their regional variations, the internal matrix of the economy, the processes of productions, trends in productivity, rents, pnces, Iand-man relationship, inter alia, have still been relatively scarce. Over the years the focus of analysis has also changed within the policy studies. In addition, what is being realized now that the issues of land alienation, land-control structure, socio economic de-stabilization, and social dynamics of Iand-man relationship, impact of prices, market mechanism, and agricultural productivity ofthe Princely State of Coach Behar have not been seriously explored by the contemporary wisdom of regional historical research. The proposed study is addressed to the issues mentioned above, hitherto remained unaddressed. The present study could not have been completed without the ceaseless inspiration and continuous academic support of my supervisor Professor Ananda Gopal Ghosh. In fact he has taught me the basic lesson of history. He has made me to understand the different aspects of the history of our region by his thorough wisdom and deep insight in the subject. I express my gratitude and indebtedness to my research supervisor. I owe to all of my teachers in the Department of History, University of North Bengal. I extend my gratitude to the respective supportive staff and librarians of the State Library, Coach Behar, North Bengal University Library, State Central library, Kolkata, National Library Kolkata, State Archives Kolkata, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi, National Archives , New Delhi, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Simla, for their kind cordial co operation. Most importantly I owe to my parents and my uncle for their continuous support and encouragement. fJL~~~·,~~ SM lzM ' Prajna paramita Sarkar Assistant Professor of History Darjeeling Government College Darjeeling. 11 Glossary Abwab : Illegal exactions. Ad hi : Half share of the produce. Adhiar : Share croppers who pay half of the produce as rent. Ahilkar : A native officer. Ahutali : The land used for the cultivation of local variety of paddy known as Ahu. As sal : Original rent. Baotali : Low land where Bao paddy was sown. Bigha : A measure of land varying in extent in different parts of India. (One Bigha= 14,400 sq. feet or one third acre approx.). Bish :Land measurement equivalent to thirteen standard bighas. Brahmottar : Land donated to the priest. Bujharat : Local explanation of enlisting of land Bundar : Riverrine trade centre. Chaklah : A territorial demarcation for revenue and administrative purpose. Chittis : Small patch of land. Chukanidar :Under tenant of a Jotedar. Dar-Chukanidar : Under tenant of a Chukanidar. Dara-dar-Chukanidar : Under tenant of a Dar-Chukanidar. Debutter Land dedicated for worship or maintenance of the deities and for other religious purposes. l1l Dewan : The Chief Minister of an Indian Prince. Dewani : The revenue collecting rights. Durbar : The meeting place. Ekwal Jamabundies : The Settlement rent-rolls. Estafasar :Forms i.e. the stamped applications for maps. Fauzadari Ahilkar :Native officer invested with the ordinary power of a magistrate in the regulation provinces. Halisa : land measurement like those of equivalent to one bigha. Hustabood : Annual revenue statement of the State. Hustobund : Investigation and survey or detailed inquiry. Izara : Tax Farming. Izaradari : Lease of land Jagir : A grant of land in exchange of service. Jagirdar : Holder of Jagir. Jagirs : Service tenure system. Jama : Rate of revenue. Jamabandi : Revenue roll. Jhum : Slash and burn methods of cultivation/ shifting cultivation Jote : A unit ofland. Jotedar :Landlord. Kabuliyat : A written agreement. Khangi :Expenditure for Royal Household. Khas : The possession of an individual indicating his authority on something. Khatian : Record-of-right. lV Kistwar : Cadastral Survey. Khanapuri : Preliminary record. Krishiprojas : Cultivating ryots. Lakhiraj : Exemption from paying revenue. Maghuwatali : land for the cultivation ofRabi crops. Mahajan : Moneylender. Mahal : A revenue paying unit. Mal : Land revenue. Mal-guzari land : Revenue paying land. Mauza : A village or group of villages having separate name in the revenue records- a fiscal division. Mokarari : Permanently settled land. Naib Ahilkar : A native officer who tries petty offences in the rank of sub divisional officer. Narayanee Rupee : The currency introduced by Cooch Behar raja. Nazir Deo : Commander-in-chief Nuzzer : Type of tax imposed by the Mughals. Paik : Soldiers who had to work for the State by offering their free manual labour. Pargana : Territorial and administrative division ofMughal ruled areas. Patit : Fallow land. Patit-Charch : Fallow land Settlement. Petbhata : The tax free estates given to the relatives of the king. Pirpal : Lands dedicated to Muslim Pir Raikat :Umbrella bearer ofthe king. v Raiyat : Tenant. Rakam Charcha : Classification ofLand. Rupit : Lands for cultivation. Sali : Transplanted rice. Sajwals :Revenue collector. Sannad : The Royal order. Sannyasi : Hindu saint. Suba : Province. Tali-Chukanidar : Sub tenant oftashya Chukanidar. Tashya- Chukanidar : Sub tenant ofDara-dar chukanidar. Tehsildars : Collector of revenue appointed by the British Government. Terijes :Final record of rights of land. Zilla : District. Vl Map of India 1805-1910 Vll Map of Princely State of Cooch Behar Vlll List of Table Page Table-1 : Major Annexations of Indian Territories by the East India Company (1757-1857) 73 Table-2 : Rent (Per bigha) of Different Categories of Lands 116 Table-3 :Amount of Revenue (in Rs.) Collected