jagirdari

Jagirdari was a feudal land tenure system used in medieval and early modern South Asia, notably under the Mughal Empire, and continuing in various forms during British rule. In this system, a jagir was a grant of revenue rights over a defined area, such as a village or group of villages, given to an individual known as a jagirdar in return for military, administrative, or other service. The jagir did not confer outright ownership of the land; the sovereign retained ultimate ownership, while the jagir provided the right to collect and retain a portion of the revenue from the peasants within the jagir, subject to fixed assessments and imperial supervision.

The jagirdar exercised local authority within the jagir, including certain civil and sometimes judicial powers, and was responsible for maintaining law and order and for providing soldiers or other services to the ruler when required. Jagirs could be hereditary or subject to royal sanction, and jagirdars could transfer or lease revenue rights with royal approval. Revenue collection and financial accounts remained tied to the state’s needs, and misrule or failure to fulfill duties could lead to forfeiture or regranting of the jagir.

In the British period, the jagir system persisted in many regions but gradually lost political authority as revenue and land systems were reformed. It coexisted with zamindari and other intermediary arrangements, serving as a means to fund administration and military forces. After independence, numerous states enacted land reform measures that abolished or transformed jagir rights, diminishing the jagirdar’s traditional role.

As a historical institution, jagirdari illustrates the feudal structure of agrarian authority in South Asia, shaping land revenue, local governance, and military organization for centuries. Its legacy influenced agrarian relations, state control, and social hierarchy, though its impact varied by region and period.