Correct Option
The correct option is 2 only
Explanation
In Mughal agrarian society, women played a crucial role in agricultural production, working alongside men in the fields. Their economic contribution significantly influenced social customs, including marriage practices and property rights, which were often governed by customary laws rather than strict canonical rules.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: Women were not strictly barred from inheriting zamindaris. Historical records from the Mughal period, particularly from Bengal and Rajasthan, provide evidence of women holding zamindari rights. Women, including widows and daughters, often inherited landed property and had the right to sell or mortgage these proprietary rights.
- Statement 2 is Correct: In many rural communities, women were considered a valuable resource due to their significant contribution to agricultural labor (sowing, weeding, harvesting, and processing). Consequently, the custom of paying a bride-price to the bride’s family was prevalent in many peasant and artisan castes, contrasting with the dowry system typically observed among the upper castes.
Key Takeaway: In Mughal agrarian society, women possessed property rights, including the inheritance of zamindaris, and their high economic value as agricultural laborers often led to the practice of bride-price rather than dowry in rural communities.