Agrarian System

This volume, Agrarian System during the Dogra Reign in Kashmir (1846-1889), deals with an important aspect of the people's life during a transitional period in the Kashmir's history. This period, i.e. the second half of the nineteenth century provides us with a classic illustration of the ruling elites in a backward society holding back society's progress, lest a change undermine their position. While the neighbouring regions of Kashmir were entering into the modernity through various stages of internal and external turmoils, Kashmir retained most of the characteristics of a medieval economy and society, until the end of the nineteenth century.

The agrarian structure of this period was a matter of comprehensive interest, affecting all sections of the Kashmiri society. There were competing interests among the dominant landed elements and variety of segments of peasantry who made up all social classes in a variety of ways. For comprehensive understanding of the nature of Kashmir's rural economy and society, this volume examines the processes, changes and the manner in which the peasants cultivated their fields and the manner in which their produce was distributed among various sections of the society. It deals with the agricultural production, the nature of the cropping pattern and the agricultural technology, and the extent of revenue assignments, grants, and the position of assignees and grantees in rural society, the nature of revenue administration, its organization and functioning, the magnitude of the land revenue demand, and its impact on the condition of the peasantry, and the pattern of trade. All these aspects are closely related. No pure and simple landlord class existed, and the land assignees and grantees were numerous and they always manipulated the administrative agencies for their selfish ends. This volume is intended solely as a critical study of the system in greater detail than has hitherto been made.