Why was the Mahalwari system replaced by the Permanent Settlement?
In areas where land ownership and cultivation rights were determined by the responsibility of the community, the Mahalwari system reigned. The system implied that the profits and losses from farming activities were shared among all village members. It eventually led to disputations among various groups regarding the distribution of land and sharing of crops.
Individual property rights were recognized with The Permanent Settlement of 1793, a move by Cornwallis to make revenue collection more stable. In addition to the recognition of individual rights, landlords were made responsible for the payment of taxes. As a result, the revenue collection process became more efficient and the landlords had greater security knowing that their lands were protected as long as they paid their taxes.
The Mahalwari System has been deemed advantageous, however, it was oftentimes subject to unfavourable activities such as malfeasance among zamindars who coerced farmers by means of excessive taxation. Further, due to communal ownership, individuals of diverse religious beliefs encountered problems, resulting in sporadic Hindu-Muslim clashes.
Efficiencies were absent within the Mahalwari system causing dissatisfaction between different communities. Thus, permanent settlements were established to ensure peace between religious groups while collecting revenues more efficiently.
How was the Mahalwari System different from the Permanent Settlement?
India’s land revenue system had undergone a lot of changes over time, mainly there were two prominent systems that were implemented during the British colonial rule the Mahalwari system and Permanent Settlement.
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