Zamindaris were established in the Madras Presidency by the government of the British East India Company starting from 1799 onwards. These settlements were established in order to delineate authority to landlords and thereby relieve the ryot from the control of middlemen who often exploited them. Often, these zamindars were Indian Native princes who lost their sovereignty due to British expansion. The zamindari settlement was based on a similar settlement established in Bengal. The Zamindari settlement of Madras was largely unsuccessful and was wrapped up in 1852. However, a few Zamindaris remained till India's independence in 1947.
Land proprietorship in Madras Presidency
editThe colonial Madras Presidency comprised an area of 148,796 square miles (385,380 km2), of which 141,705 square miles (367,010 km2) were under direct British rule, while the rest was distributed amongst the princely states. In the areas administered by the British, three systems of land proprietorship existed: zamindaris, inams and ryotwaris.
In 1911, zamindari estates covered 26 million acres (110,000 km2) and occupied over one-fourth of the total area of the presidency.[1] In 1945-46, there were 20,945,456 acres (84,763.25 km2) of Zamindari estates which yielded a revenue of 97,83,167 Rupees and 58,904,798 acres (238,379.26 km2) of ryotwari lands which yielded a revenue of Rs. 7,26,65,330.[2]
Zamindaris from 1799 to 1852
editThe zamindari system was introduced in the Madras Presidency in 1799 in the aftermath of the defeat of the Polygars in the Polygar Wars.
Zamindaris in 1877-1920
editIn 1877, C. D.Maclean made a survey of the existing zamindaris under the jurisdiction of Madras Presidency. As per this survey, a few of these zamindaris were larger than some of the smaller princely states in the Presidency. The largest of these were Jeypore Estate which was the largest amongst all zamindaris in the Presidency with an area of 12,000 square miles (31,000 km2), Vizianagaram with 2,970 square miles (7,700 km2), Ramnad, Ganapur and Sivaganga, Ramnad and Sivaganga being demoted princely states, were larger in size than the princely states of Cochin or Pudukkottai. Ramnad, the larger of the two, covered an area of 2,351 square miles (6,090 km2), and was second only to Travancore amongst princely states in Madras Presidency. Karvatinuggur, Kalahasti, Nuzvid, Poonganur, Paralekhemidi and Podile and Darsi divisions of Venkatagiri were larger in size than the princely state of Banganapalle while Virasanapettah, Arni estate and Kanguni were larger than Sandur.
| List of zamindaris in Madras Presidency in the year 1877 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zamindari | Area (in square miles) |
Population in 1877 | Revenue paid to the Madras government in 1877 (in rupees) | |
| Chengalpattu district | ||||
| Kayapakkam | 2 | 670 | ||
| Ellimbedu | 1,066 | |||
| Nemmili | 848 | |||
| Karamthangal | 148 | |||
| Bunanthangal | 152 | |||
| Keevaloor | 530 | |||
| Belayanoor | 159 | |||
| Palanallore | 455 | |||
| Thathanur | 118 | |||
| Bhimapuram | 102 | |||
| Vayaloor | 1,085 | |||
| Periveli | 458 | |||
| Magayur | 1,752 | |||
| Isoor | 658 | |||
| Irumbedu | 239 | |||
| Amayampattu | 28 | |||
| Vichoor | 123 | |||
| Vilangansor | 132 | |||
| Perla Velikadu | 146 | |||
| Vettur | 320 | |||
| Saravabakam | 225 | |||
| Othevilakam | 235 | |||
| Karimbakam | 210 | |||
| Vembanur | 321 | |||
| Panayur | 244 | |||
| Vilangadu | 297 | |||
| Puthukuppam | 46 | |||
| Keelakandai | 177 | |||
| Sinna Velikadu | 193 | |||
| Venmalagram | 102 | |||
| Sirulakatoor | 44 | |||
| Pondur | 3,693 | |||
| Torayur | 147 | |||
| Sirumayllor | 446 | |||
| Andarkuppam | 363 | |||
| Chithur | 165 | |||
| Thundan Vellery | 117 | |||
| Mambakam | 205 | |||
| Kalputtu | 121 | |||
| Agarum | 565 | |||
| Coimbatore district | ||||
| Oothocooly | 4,393 | |||
| Samattur and Kottampatty | 1683, 1860, 4200 | |||
| Avalappampatty | 2804 | |||
| Poravipolliem | 1436 | |||
| Negamam | 2480 | |||
| Metrathy | 1966 | |||
| Thoongary | 848 | |||
| Myvady | 561 | |||
| Jothampatty | 146 | |||
| Vedapatty | 146 | |||
| Andipatty | 5,166 | |||
| Mooloor and Okinium | 2,236 | |||
| Sattiagalam | .... | |||
| Ganjam district | ||||
| Akkayavalasa | 1 | 788 | 278 | |
| Asika | 3.56 | 7,712 | 4,857 | |
| Athgarh | 149.37 | 77,228 | 60,000 | |
| Baruva | 10.25 | 8,454 | 7,800 | |
| Beddam | 1.75 | 217 | 89 | |
| Belamarapalavalasa | 2.33 | 855 | ||
| Beridi | 14.75 | 10,960 | 4,500 | |
| Budharsinghi | 4.25 | 3,244 | 500 | |
| Chackipalli | 0.75 | 1,018 | 869 | |
| Chikiti | 64.5 | 40,789 | 34,000 | |
| Chinnakemidi (Sana Khemundi) | 55.31 | 29,849 | 20,000 | |
| Chinnatangam | 7.43 | 395 | 424 | |
| Chittivalasa | 1 | 5,698 | 2,074 | |
| Danta | 4.06 | 3,220 | 3,309 | |
| Dharakot (Dharakote) | 50.25 | 31,262 | 25,000 | |
| Davabhumi | 4 | 3,539 | 5,188 | |
| Gopalpur | 1,171 | 5,165 | 3,699 | |
| Jalantar | 25.5 | 18,450 | 7,000 | |
| Jarada | 9 | 5,813 | 1,002 | |
| Jarangi | 2.75 | 2,336 | 1,002 | |
| Jonnupada | 0.31 | 138 | 93 | |
| Khallikot | 84 | 42,589 | 19,000 | |
| Karakavalasa | 9.06 | 7,795 | 4,048 | |
| Konsalacuttur | 0.33 | 574 | 393 | |
| Kurla | 3.75 | 5,457 | 5,455 | |
| Lusaram | 0.75 | 320 | 332 | |
| Malgam | 1.56 | 916 | 572 | |
| Mandasa | 35.75 | 34,508 | 14,000 | |
| Mungatavalasa | 5.75 | 3,695 | 4,048 | |
| Palur | 16.31 | 4,173 | 553 | |
| Paralekhemedi | 451.5 | 252,391 | 82,139 | |
| Pedda Khimedi (Bada Khemundi) | 78.43 | 40,810 | 23,500 | |
| Peddatangam | 0.31 | 564 | 424 | |
| Rajapur | 0.18 | 266 | 76 | |
| Santalaksimipur | 7.06 | 485 | 1,192 | |
| Seddibeharakuttur | 0.25 | 109 | 103 | |
| Seerghar (Sheragada) | 20.75 | 9,595 | 5,500 | |
| Srikurmana (part of Vizianagaram) |
17.75 | 16,927 | Included in Vizianagaram | |
| Sorada | 46 | 15,324 | 4,000 | |
| Surangi | 14.75 | 12,919 | 3,500 | |
| Talasamudram | 1.37 | 923 | 2,383 | |
| Takkali Estates | 61.56 | 58,054 | 49,088 | |
| Tallavalasa | 0.37 | 387 | 424 | |
| Tarla | 28.75 | 24,639 | 4,000 | |
| Tarlepatta | 0.75 | 388 | 256 | |
| Tilaru | 15.75 | 6,180 | 3,654 | |
| Towdam | 2.5 | 1,030 | 686 | |
| Urlam | 14.5 | 11,061 | 13,582 | |
| Yellamanchilli | 1 | 643 | 654 | |
| Godavary district | ||||
| Pittapore | 188 | 79,606 | 3,41,627[3] | |
| Polavaram | 292 | 58,274[4] | 43,210[5] | |
| Kolanka | 14350 | |||
| Tuni | 376 | 50,201 | 26429 | |
| Dommeru | 240 | 35,001 | ||
| Annavarapu Peta | 3895 | |||
| Kapileswara Puram | 8765 | |||
| Undrajavaram | 630 | |||
| Kotipally | Peskash in the Vizianagaram Zamindari | |||
| Uppada and Aminbada | 673 | |||
| Nidadavolu and Barhajhally | 1,19,346 | |||
| Ambarapet | 16,097 | |||
| Vegayammapeta | 8362 | |||
| Tangellmudi | 5143 | |||
| Bhimolu | 3031 | |||
| Anumullanka | 611 | |||
| Singanagudem | 46 | |||
| Vilasa | 1440 | |||
| Janupalle | 218 | |||
| Jalimudi | 277 | |||
| Telikicherla | 962 | |||
| Gundepalli | 962 | |||
| Panangipalli | 737 | |||
| Sirasavilli Savaram | 300 | |||
| Bantumilli | 200 | |||
| Mukkamala | 107 | |||
| Jaggampet | 33,072 | |||
| Dontamuru | 3248 | |||
| Rayavaram | 1998 | |||
| Viravaram | 26876 | |||
| Palivela | 19,240 | |||
| Kirlampudi | 23,382 | |||
| Gopalapuram | 18,540 | |||
| Elamanchili | 8,823 | |||
| Chinchinada | 1647 | |||
| China Mamidipalli | 255 | |||
| Neredumilli | 445 | |||
| Vardhanani | 532 | |||
| Dhumantigudem | 142 | |||
| Gollaprolu | 11,567 | |||
| Kesanakuru | 11,574 | |||
| Vasantavada | 7,349 | |||
| Narayanapuram | 2,948 | |||
| Malakacherla | 1,495 | |||
| Daddipudi | 378 | |||
| Gutala | 6,749 | |||
| Mungondapalem | 545 | |||
| Chidipi | 1,671 | |||
| Peddeham | 2,628 | |||
| Tirugudumetta | 1,856 | |||
| Injeram | 3,217 | |||
| Pattesam | 2,282 | |||
| Prakkilanka | 1,822 | |||
| Vangalapudi | 3,817 | |||
| Viravillipalem | 3,534 | |||
| Nadavapalli | 3,129 | |||
| Tyajampudi | 2,791 | |||
| Kurukuru | 1,482 | |||
| Billumilli | 1,619 | |||
| Lakkavaram | 2,643 | |||
| Jangareddigudem | 499 | |||
| Dharmavaram | 2402 | |||
| Krapa | 2,385 | |||
| Malakapalli | 2,282 | |||
| Katavaram | 2,135 | |||
| Yadavolu | 2,161 | |||
| Konitivada | 2,004 | |||
| Borrampalem | 1,038 | |||
| Vegavaram | 787 | |||
| Gavuripatnam | 1,853 | |||
| Murumanda | 1,850 | |||
| Anatavaram | 1,763 | |||
| Magam | 1,746 | |||
| Yernagudem | 1,725 | |||
| Vunkaramilli alias Ravimetta | 1,630 | |||
| Kalavalapalli | 1346 | |||
| Pativala Gurajanapalli | 1,296 | |||
| Mallavaram | 947 | |||
| Johurullabada alias Hukumpeta | 1,401 | |||
| Buchampeta | 738 | |||
| Gangolu | 1,264 | |||
| Vella | 1,240 | |||
| Bayyanagudem | 1,006 | |||
| Potukurru | 210 | |||
| Bommuru | 853 | |||
| Guttinadeevi | 776 | |||
| Kondagudem | 753 | |||
| Petta | 583 | |||
| Viravaram | 554 | |||
| Dandangi | 551 | |||
| Surasaniyanam | 529 | |||
| Nilapalli | 479 | |||
| Nandigudem | 390 | |||
| Nallamillipadu | 203 | |||
| Gavaravaram | 145 | |||
| jagannadhapuram | 117 | |||
| Pydimetta | 110 | |||
| Vadlapattanam | 86 | |||
| Tirumanagudem | 64 | |||
| Mansubdari of Godavari district | ||||
| Thotapalle Estate | 6,310 | |||
| Bhadrachalam and Rakapalli | 505 | 27,695 | 21,090 | |
| Bollineni | ..... | |||
| Kistna district | ||||
| Nuzvid Estate | 561 | 107,465 | 1,08,221 | |
| Virsanapettah | 257 | 55,662 | 20,829 | |
| Challapalli | ||||
| Chintalapati Vantu | 17,500 | |||
| Chevendra | 4,776 | |||
| Chanubanda | 1.357 | |||
| Mylavaram Muttah 1.25 vantu | 4,858 | |||
| Mylavaram Muttah 1 vantu | 3,887 | |||
| Vutukur Muttah | 2,156 | |||
| Half of Tiruvur Muttah | 2,117 | |||
| Yenagadapa Muttah | 1,236 | |||
| Half og Gumpalagudem Muttah | 1,295 | |||
| Western part of Gumpalagudem muttah | 1,291 | |||
| Munagala Paragana | 4,572 | |||
| Vallur South | 20,493 | |||
| Gudur Paragana | 35,988 | |||
| Pinagudur Lanka | 319 | |||
| Kruttiventi South | 2,910 | |||
| Balliparru | 459 | |||
| Kuchipudy | 229 | |||
| Narayanagudem | 138 | |||
| Other Half of Tiruur muttah | 2219 | |||
| Kalagara | 812 | |||
| Putrela | 510 | |||
| Kondur and Kmbhampad | 507 | |||
| Kokilampad | 75 | |||
| Pengollu | 1,262 | |||
| Munukulla | 71 | |||
| Komera Muttah | 703 | |||
| Lingagiri Pragana | 486 | |||
| Devarapally | 451 | |||
| Rayavaram | 908 | |||
| China Gollapalem | 238 | |||
| Chitti Gudur | 524 | |||
| Madura district | ||||
| Ammayanayakkanur | 100 | 11,606 | ||
| Ramnad | 2,351 | 504,131 | 3,38,686 | |
| Sivaganga | 1,557 | 434,253 | 2,88,317 | |
| Paliembatti | 13,544 | |||
| Pandalgudi | 11,136 | |||
| Rettiembadi | 11,978 | |||
| Velur | 10,563 | |||
| Velliagundam Taluk | 2,183 | |||
| Sirupaly | 903 | |||
| Puliengolum | 1,931 | |||
| Jotilanaikanoor | 1,070 | |||
| Woodapanaiknoor | 2,583 | |||
| Thoddappanaiknoor | 2,179 | |||
| Keelacottai | 480 | |||
| Nadukottai | 773 | |||
| Melaycottai | 910 | |||
| Perayoor | 11,857 | |||
| Sappattor | 8,813 | |||
| Santhayoor | 3,697 | |||
| Yeloomalai | 3,612 | |||
| Bodinaiknoor | 15,347 | |||
| Gantamanaiknoor | 13,414 | |||
| Tevaram | 1,100 | |||
| Yerasackanaiknoor | 2,061 | |||
| Kannivady | 38,120 | |||
| Ayagudy | 16,785 | |||
| Yedayacottai | 7,000 | |||
| Mambaray | 1,500 | |||
| Nellore district | ||||
| Venkatagiri | 3,77,085 | |||
| Darsi division | 488 | 73,139 | Revenue included under Venkatagiri | |
| Podile division | 405 | 62,934 | Revenue included under Venkatagiri | |
| Chundi | 21,219 | |||
| Mutyalpad | 2,000 | |||
| North Arcot district | ||||
| Arni Jagir(e) | 170 | 77,679 | 5,933 | |
| Kalahasti | 602 | 135,104 | 1,76,816 | |
| Kangundi | 179 | 52,047 | 22,959 | |
| Karvetinagar | 634 | 289,894 | 1,80,495 | |
| Punganur Estate | 524 | 109,282 | 66,859 | |
| Pulicherla Polliem | 5,580 | |||
| Bungari Polliem | 11,643 | |||
| Gudipati | 2,849 | |||
| Thummba Polliem | 1,783 | |||
| Kallur Polliem | 4,097 | |||
| Naraganti Polliem | 6,553 | |||
| Karakambodi Polliem | ..... | |||
| Krishnapuram Polliem | ... | |||
| Tanjore district | ||||
| Poraiyar Nadar's estate | ||||
| Kabisthalam estate | ||||
| Kadalangudi estate | ||||
| Kunniyur estate | > 24 | |||
| Poondi estate | > 24 | |||
| Ukkadai estate | > 24 | |||
| Koonampatti | ||||
| Vadapadimangalam estate | > 24 | |||
| Gandharvakottai estate | 6,577 | |||
| Sillathur | 2,165 | |||
| Palayavanam | 3,767 | |||
| Singavanam | 3,261 | |||
| Mudukkur | 2,461 | |||
| Nedvasal | 2,067 | |||
| Sandangudi | 2,046 | |||
| Kallakottai | 1,701 | |||
| Padaramkottai | 1,309 | |||
| Attivette | 913 | |||
| Konur | 433 | |||
| Punavasal | 350 | |||
| Tirunelveli district | ||||
| Alagapuri | 5.2 | 2,452 | ||
| Avudyapuram | 13.36 | 6,960 | ||
| Ettaiyapuram | 527.47 | 140,108 | ||
| Kollapatti | 20.4 | 7,530 | ||
| Jennalkudi | 11.34 | 3,532 | ||
| Kadambur | 25.8 | 7,590 | ||
| Kollakondan | 1.35 | 9,021 | ||
| Kulattur | 15.27 | 4,903 | ||
| Mannarkottai | 21.16 | 13,900 | ||
| Maniachi | 15 | 3,190 | ||
| Melmandai | 34.1 | 4,460 | ||
| pithapuram | 101.48 | 14,034 | 56789 | |
| Setthur | 91.44 | 11,916 | ||
| Singampatti | 110.38 | 16,295 | ||
| Sivagiri | 122.38 | 49,531 | ||
| Surandei | 1.34 | 2,580 | ||
| Talavankottai | 6.14 | 3,117 | ||
| Thenkalam | .... | |||
| Uurkad | 3.32 | 3,903 | ||
| Uthumalai | 124.49 | 31,541 | ||
| Trichinopolly district | ||||
| Udayarpalayam | 642 | |||
| Thoriyur | 700 | |||
| Marungapuri | 20,586 | |||
| Kadavur | 13,410 | |||
| Kattuputtoor | 15,901 | |||
| Ariyalur | 700 | |||
| Vizagapatam district | ||||
| Anakapalli | 597 | 143,549 | - | |
| Bimlipatam | 243 | 113,079 | - | |
| Bobbili Estate | 333 | 140,739 | - | |
| Chepudipalli | 615 | 162,827 | - | |
| Gajapatinagarum | 276 | 121,758 | - | |
| Golaconda | 874 | 26,720 | 1,02,374 | |
| Hill tracts of Golconda and Viravalli | 500 | 15,880 | - | |
| Jeypore Estate | 12000 | 405700 | N. A. | |
| Kurupam | 800 | 80,034 | 2,50,000 | |
| Salur | 222 | 77,006 | - | |
| Vavilavalasa and Siripuram | 440.30 | 33,006 | - | |
| Sarvasiddi | 960 | 129,185 | 1,90,595 | |
| Serungavarapukota | 318 | 130,362 | - | |
| Viravalli | 688 | 166,184 | - | |
| Visakhapatnam | 216 | 90,467 | - | |
| Gubbi Samasthanam | 94684 | 236,789 | 10,93,567 | |
| Vizianagaram | 2,970 | 149,920 | - | |
| Source:MaClean, C. D. (1877). Standing Information regarding the Official Administration of Madras Presidency. Government of Madras. pp. 419–434. | ||||
Other zamindaris
editThis is a list of other zamindaris which were either not included in MaClean's list or were non-existent at the time of the enumeration.
-
His Highness Maharaja Sir Raja Sri Ravu Svetachalapati Venkatesh Srinivasa Ranga Rao Bahadur of Gubbi (1881-1921) -
-
HH Raja P. V. Bheemasena Rao of Panyam, Andhra Pradesh -
-
Portrait of Rao Venkata Kumara Maheepati SuryaRao -
Raja Rangayya Apparao Zamindar of Kapileswarapuram
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 290.
- ^ Statesman, Pg 154
- ^ The rent for Pittapoor also included the rent for Cocanada and Coringa
- ^ Imperial Gazetteer of India, James Sutherland Cotton, Sir Richard Burn, Sir William Stevenson Meyer Clarendon Press, 1908 - Great Britain
- ^ A Century of Politics in Andhra Pradesh: Ethnicity & Regionalism in Indian State. Rationalist Voice Publications. 2002.
- ^ "Indian princely states starting with A". Indian princely states website. Retrieved 27 December 2008.
- ^ "Anegundi Zamindari". Indian princely states website. Retrieved 27 December 2008.
- ^ "Indian princely states starting with B". Indian princely states website. Retrieved 27 December 2008.
- ^ "Indian princely states starting with C". Indian princely states website. Retrieved 27 December 2008.
- ^ "Indian princely states starting with P". Indian princely states website. Retrieved 27 December 2008.
- ^ MacLean, Charles Donald (1879). "Zamindar of Dharmavaram".
- ^ MacLean, Charles Donald (1879). "Zamindar of Totapalli".
- ^ MacLean, Charles Donald (1879). "Zamindar of Kavalapalli".
- ^ "Zamindar of Nandigama". 30 January 2024.
Further reading
edit- Steinberg, S. H. (1950). The Statesman's Yearbook 1950. London: Macmillan and Co.
- B. Dirks, Nicholas (1993). The Hollow Crown: Ethnohistory of an Indian Kingdom. University of Michigan. pp. 19–28. ISBN 978-0-472-08187-5.
- Dr. R.C. Misro & S.K.Dash. "SOME ASPECTS OF CULTURAL LIFE IN PARALAKHEMUNDI ZAMINDARI : A STUDY" (PDF). Orissa Human Resources Journal. XLVII (3). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2008.