The Village Headman
Explanation
The Mahalwari system was a land revenue settlement introduced by the British in the North-Western Provinces, parts of Central India, and Punjab. It was conceptualized by Holt Mackenzie in 1822 and later reformed under the Governor-Generalship of William Bentinck (Regulation IX of 1833).
System Analysis:
- Unit of Assessment: The basic unit of revenue settlement was the village or a group of villages, referred to as the Mahal. The land was considered to be jointly owned by the village community.
- Responsibility for Payment: Unlike the Ryotwari system, where the state dealt directly with individual cultivators, the Mahalwari system held the entire village community collectively responsible for the revenue demand. The Village Headman (often referred to as the Lambardar) signed the engagement on behalf of the village and was responsible for collecting the revenue from individual farmers and paying it to the Company.
Comparison with Other Systems:
- Zamindari System (Permanent Settlement): The Zamindar was the intermediary and responsible for paying revenue.
- Ryotwari System: The individual cultivator (Ryot) was directly responsible for paying revenue to the government.
Key Takeaway: In the Mahalwari system, the revenue settlement was made with the Mahal (village estate), and the Village Headman was the designated intermediary responsible for paying the revenue to the British administration.