zamindar

A zamindar is a landowner in South Asia who historically held the rights to collect land revenue from a defined territory, known as a zamindari, on behalf of the state. The term comes from Persian zamīn-dār, meaning “holder of land.” In practice, zamindars acted as local intermediaries who exercised revenue collection, maintenance of order, and various administrative functions within their estates, often with hereditary status and significant social influence.

Under the Mughal Empire, zamindars were local revenue contractors and administrators who paid a fixed sum to the state and retained any surplus from peasants. Their power varied by region, and they sometimes provided governance, justice, and protection within their domains while aligning with imperial policies.

During British rule, the Zamindari system was formalized in several regions, most notably through the Permanent Settlement of 1793 in Bengal. This arrangement fixed the land revenue to be paid by zamindars to the government and recognized them as the landowners responsible for collecting rent from peasants. In return, zamindars could keep a portion of the surplus as income. The system created a hereditary landed class and shifted direct revenue collection away from the state to the zamindars, often leading to peasant debt and social tension. Other regional systems included Ryotwari and Mahalwari, which assigned revenue rights differently.

In the modern era, land reform movements after independence aimed to abolish or reduce zamindari rights and redistribute land to tillers. By the late 20th century, many zamindari structures had weakened or vanished, though the term remains in historical and cultural contexts and in some places as a memorial title. Critics associate the system with feudal privilege and peasant exploitation, while supporters note its role in local administration and stability in certain periods.