1. JAGIRDARI CRISIS
In a narrow sense, Jagirdari crisis means crisis in the Jagir system resulting in the attempt of the nobles to corner the most profitable Jagirs for themselves.
But in the broader sense, it means a crisis in the economic and social relations of medieval Mughal India, more specially in the agrarian relations and the administrative superstructure reared upon these relations. The following were the causes for this crisis
- The nature of medieval Indian society, limited agricultural growth and whose delicate balance was liable to be upset on a number of counts, such as serious struggle for power at the centre, disaffection in the nobility etc was the main cause of this crisis.
- The breakdown of the Mughal administrative system and the weakness of the later Mughals. Growth in the size and demands of the ruling class, viz the nobility and their dependents, both of whom subsisted on the revenue resources of the empire. The number of Mansabdar increased from around 2000 in 1605 AD to almost 12000 by 1675 AD.
- The expansion of the Khalisa lands by both Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb, in order to meet the growing administrative expenses as also the cost of the wars which were a continuous feature of Aurangzeb’s reign, also initiated this crisis.
- Finally, opposition and revolts of the Zamindars and the peasants against the illegal exactions of the nobles aggravated this crisis.
2. CATEGORIES OF AGRICULTURE
The agriculturists in the Mughal period were grouped into the following three categories on the basis of availability of land. Khudkashta, also known as Malik-i- Jamin, were peasants who cultivated their own land, also known as Mirasdars (in Maharashtra) and Gaveti (in Rajasthan), they were the original settlers of the village. Muzarian or tenants were the agriculturists who lived in their own villages, but cultivated the land taken on Batai (rent) from the Khudkashta
Paikasht or Pahikashta peasants lived in other villages on temporary basis and were given a share in their produce as remuneration.
- The greatest Hindi poet of Akbar’s time was Sant Tulsidas (1532-1623 AD), who wrote the famous Ramcharitamanas. Surdas, the blind bard of Agra, has elucidated in very beautiful words of Brij Bhasa in his book, Sur Sagar, the childhood of Lord Krishna and the true love of Krishna and Radha. Keshavdas, was the author of several books, such as Kavi Priya, Ram Chandrika Rasik Priya, Alankri, Manjari etc.
- During the Shah Jahan period, great poets like Sunder, Senapati, Bhushan and Behari Lal lived, who wrote very good books. Sunders works earned him. Shah the distinctions of Kaviraj and Maha Kavi by emperor Shahjahan
CLASSIFICATION OF SOCIETY
- THE RULING CLASS
The Medieval Indian society was organised on a feudal basis. The emperor, as the absolute ruler, was the head of the social system. He claimed divine status and powers for the crown and declare authentic rights over the entire land in his capacity as the lord having supreme power of the country. Members of the royal family, together with the blood relations, friends and favourites of the king enjoyed a privileged position in the society, while the imperial harem and the court acted as the trend-setters in social and cultural affairs.
The Mughal nobility or the ruling elite, collectively styled as umara (plural of amir), who belonged to the first category of the mansabdari system and the feudatory chieftains, who owned allegiance to the Mughal crown, comprised the aristocracy of the land
- MAJOR RELIGIOUS GROUPS
Although there were several other religious communities, such as, the Parsis in Gujarat and Bombay, Christians on our West coast especially in Cochin-Travancore, and foreign European trading communities in the several parts of the country, the sub-continent was mainly peopled by the indigenous Hindus and Indian and foreign Muslims, who were found living side by side and working together at the Mughal court, in the camp and the public offices.
Religion permeated every aspect of the Medieval Indian society. The country was dotted with mosques, temples and other places of worship erected by the people belonging to various religious denominations: the whole of India from the Himalayan peaks to Kanyakumari in the South seemed to be a holy land.
- THE MERCANTILE AND PROFESSIONAL CLASSES
Nevertheless, trade and the traders continued to have a low social status. Merchants in India were not without influence in the political quarters where their own interests were concerned. Thus, each community of merchants has its leader or nagarseth, who could interrupted with the local officials on their behalf. The trading community in India, especially in the port towns, included some of the richest merchants who are comparable in wealth and power to the merchant prices of Europe. Banjaras were important trader class of Medieval era