Land Revenue Policy Of Bijni Raj Estate During Mughal And The British Rule: An Empirical Study

Abstract

Bijni Estate which was part of undivided Goalpara district which occupies a distinguished position in the history of this area. The Bijni Raj Estate which was a part of Undivided Goalpara district was subordinated by the Mughals initially and thereafter passed it over to the British East India Company by means of the Mughal Emperor’s farman of 12 August, 1765. On the strength of Mughal Emperor’s farman the British came into possession of the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.  At that time Goalpara district was a part of Bengal, as a result of which Bijni Raj Estate was also resettled under the colonial rule. The present paper an attempt has been made to analyse the land revenue policy of the Bijni Raj Estate during Mughal and the British Rule. It also tries to find out on the revenue which the Bijni Rajas had to pay to different governments under whom they acted as tributaries. Different kinds of land tenures and the tenancies and merits and demerits of the permanent settlement are also discussed.