Zam

Objectives

Objectives

• To locate and trace the origin of the zamindaris.
• To examine the causes that led to the establishment of the Zamindari system
• To discuss the agrarian system.
• To assess their role and their contribution to the society.
• To analyse the causes for the decline and abolition of the system.

Sources

• Proceedings of the Board of Revenue, Revenue Consultations,
• Revenue Despatches from and to England, Reports of the Special Commission,
• Reports of the Administration of the Estates under the Court of Wards in Madras Presidency,
• Reports of Madras Estates Land Act Committee
• Government Orders.
• Manual of the Administration of the Madras Presidency

C.D. Maclean,

• Manual of the Coimbatore District, F.A. Nicholson,
• Madras District Gazetteers, Coimbatore , B.S.Baliga
• Land Revenue System and Land Tenures of British India - Baden Powell,

Sources

Organisation of the Thesis

• Introduction
• Establishment of the Zamindari System
• The Zamindaris of Coimbatore Region - An Overview
• The Zamindars and the Society
• The New Agrarian Setup:

The Peasants, Zamindars and the British

• Decline of the Zamindar
• Conclusion
• Bibliography
• Annexure
• Photographs

Coimbatore District

• Southern part – Dharapuram, Karur, Pollachi, Udumalpet and part of Palladam, were added to the Dindigul Collectorate.
• The rest of Palladam, Bhavani, Coimbatore, Erode, Kollegal & Satyamangalam - Salem Collectorate.
• The district bifurcated for revenue collection.
• In 1804, merged into one and was brought under the control of the district Collector.
• Divided into taluks.
• The zamindari system in three taluk- Pollachi, Coimbatore and Karur.
• In 1910 Karur taluk transferred to Thiruchirappalli district.

The Zamindars as a New Class

• Viswanatha , approval of the Emperor Achutharaya introduced Poligar System.
• The chieftains were termed as Palayakaran
• Pudukkottai -larger palayam ,Kolarpatti &Dhali- the smallest.
• The poligars

-held possession of an extent of territory,

-headed the administration,

-maintained the establishments of army,

-perfomed kaval duty

-collected revenue and

-took interest in social and cultural activity

• Poligars Hostility with the British

The Zamindars as a New Class

Chapter 2

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ZAMINDARI SYSTEM

Factors:

• Misgovernance and corruption, the company was on the verge of bankrupt.
• The heavy administrative and military expenses
• Acquisition of new territories , additional cost of administration
• Lack of knowledge of local languages , impracticable for the company’s servants to collect revenue
• Preferred system involving less expenditure and more profit.
• Appointment of servants, supervisors, maintenance of record and so on required a large expense.
• Permanent settlement ,permanent income , without any expenditure and burden.
• The position of the zamindars ,poligars and their military strength , a matter of great concern to the company.
• To maintain the aristocracy in India as in England

Implementation

• Since 1775, the Court of Directors insisted to set right land revenue
• Court of Directors and the Bengal Government urged for the introduction of revenue and judicial system in Madras as in Bengal.
• Edward Clive directed the Board of Revenue to constitute an enquiry
• The Board of Revenue on 2nd September 1799 submitted the detailed report
• To accelerate , a Special Commission ( 9th February 1802 ) constituted
• The regulations submitted to the government- 12th July 1802 for approval.
• Edward Clive passed four Regulations,

-Madras Regulation XXV of 1802 (Permanent Settlement Regulation),

-Madras Regulation XXVIII of 1802, (Tax Collection)

-Madras Regulation XXIX of 1802 (Karnam’s Regulation) and

-Madras Regulation XXX of 1802 (Patta Regulation)

The Zamindari Estates in Madras Presidency

• 53 poligars in the Madras Presidency came under the settlement

1. Kannivadi 19. Naduvasal 37. Padurenkottai

2. Ammianaikanur 20. Bangari 38. Attivetti

3. Bodinaikanur 21. Gudipati 39. Konur

4. Guntamanaikanur 22. Narganti 40. Punavasal

5. Ayakudi 23. Kaliur 41. Uthukuli

6. Ediacottai 24. Pulichelar 42. Samathur

7. Erachakanaikanur 25. Tumbu 43. Kottampatti

8. Tavarum 26. Ankusagiri 44. Negamum

9. Mambarai 27. Bagalur 45. Avalappampatti

10. Pooliangolum 28. Sulagi 46. Puravipalayam

11. Oottapanaikanur 29. Gandrakottai 47. Ramapattinam

12. Doddapanaikanur 30. Papanadu 48. Metrathi

13. Jothilnaikanuri 31. Falaivanam 49. Thungavi

14. Kelakottai 32. Singavanam 50. Jothampatti

15. Melakottai 33. Madagur 51. Vedapatti

16. Nadookottai 34. Sillattue 52. Maivadi

17. Velligoondum 35. Saindengudi 53. Andipatti

18. Seroomalay 36. Kallakottai.

• These palayams were settled in or about 1808.
• Thirteen poligar in Coimbatore region were granted sanad in 1871.

Uttukuli Zamindari

Samathur and

Kottampatti

• Thirteen villages-Alagapuri, Kongalappampalayam, Manakadavu, Peddanayakkanur, Ponnapuram, Attupollachi, Avalchinnampalayam, Ayyampalayam, Gangampalayam, Pakkodipalayam, Rangasamudram and the chief villages, Kottampatti &Samattur.
• Vanagounder of Keerarur - Narayanurnadu (Dharapuram) vs Balaraja -Vaiyapuri nadu (West Palani), for Balasamudram
• Moved to Nallurukanadu (west Udumalpet).
• Visited Viyayanagar Rayar’s territory won the title ‘Vanagamudi' palayakkarar, successors were faithful chieftains of Rayar

- 1909- Venkata Subba Vanavarayar

-1915-Venkatasubba Ramaswami Vanavarayar

-1928-Venkatasubba Ramaswami Vanavarayar

-1936-Balagopala Kulandai Velayudhaswami Vanavarayar

• Martimonial allaiance with Uthukuli
• Ramraj Vanavarayar - no male heir, 1996, Zamindarini Aannur Shanthi
• Muthu Krishna Sakthivel Vanavarayar / Krishnaraj Vanavarayar

Samathur and

Kottampatti

Puravipalayam Zamindari

Puravipalayam Zamindari

• Three villages -Puravipalayam, Chandrapuram &Servakaranpalayam.
• Surname or royal title ‘Gopana Mandradiars’
• Goppannan of Kalanthai in Varakkanadu (west Palladam and north east of Pollachi)
• Important role in the pandya civil war (1167 A.D.)
• Rewarded Goppanan with the titles ‘Immudi’ and ‘Mandradi’.
• His descendants later became the palayakkarar of Puravipalayam.

1909-Jagan Mandaladhipati Gopana Manradiyar

1915- Jagan Mandaladhipati Gopana Manradiyar

1926-Nataraja Gopana Manradiyar

1936-Jagan Mandaladhipati Gopana Manradiyar

• Court of Management ,eleven years from 1926 to 1st July 1937
• Nataraj Gopana Manradiyar ,minor (major -14th Aug 1934)
• Studied at Stanes European High School, promoted to VII STD,

but discontinued and given administrative training in his estate.

• The estate was handed over to the proprietor on 1st July 1937.

Ramapattinam Zamindari

• Three villages- Mannuur, Ponnapuram &Ramapattinam.
• No records about their origin.

1909- Malayanddi yerappa Gounder

1915- Nandhagopal Yerappa Gounder

1928- Kumara Gurupara Ramanatha Malayandi Yerappa Gounder

1936- Kumara Gurupara Ramanatha Malayandi Yerappa Gounder

• KGRM a minor , management of Court of wards 1919 - 10th November 1930.
• The present generation at the palace upholds the traditions of their ancestors

Ramapattinam Zamindari

Avalappampatti

Avalappampatti

• Six villages -Gollappatti, Kallipatti, Kondekavundanpalayam, Mulanur, Nagur and Avalappampatti.

1909- Tirumalai Venkata Jothaya Avalappa Nayakkar

1915- K.Subramanya Chettiar

1928- K.Subramanya Chettiar

1936- T.S.Kandaswami Chettiyar

• The place at Kondeykavundenpalayam remains, few alterations made by the present generation.
• The present aranmanaiyar is K.Vasudevan.

Negamam

• Two villages - Chinna Negamam & Periya Negamam.

1909-Ramakrishna Nayakar

1915- Ramakrishna Nayaka

1928- Ramakrishna Nayaka

1936- C.Ramachandra Nayakar

• Kuladai Ananda Jaya Devaiya Nayakr
• Thirumalai Raja Devaiya Nayakar
• Anandaraja Devaiya Nayakar

Zamindaris of Udumalpet Taluk

Metrathi

Vedapatti Timmanna Nayakan Vamsavali

Vedapatti Timmanna Nayakan Vamsavali

• Podithalai Gummana Nayakan - west of river Amaravathi, created village.
• Vedakambalam community,named the village as Vedapatti.

1909- Doraiswami alias Velayudha Gummulusami Nayakkar

1915- Thangasami Nayakkar alias Komara Velayudhasami Nayakkar

1928- Thangasami Nayakkar alias Komara Velayudhasami Nayakka

1936- Komara Velayudhasami Nayakkar

• The present zamindar is Chinnasamy.
• His sons Mahendramani and Venkatachalam are daily wage workers.

Maivadi

• Chinnamanayak clan.
• Rajagopala Nayak -Myiladi, Maivadi.
• Failed to pay tribute ,auctioned, purchased by the poligar of Uthukuli

1909- Minakshi Sundara Kalingarayar Gaunder (Minor)

1915- Venkatasubba Minakshi Sundara Kalingarayar Gaunder

1928- Venkatasubba Minakshi Sundara Kalingarayar Gaunder

1936- Venkatasubba Minakshi Sundara Kalingarayar Gaunder

• Venkatasubba Minakshi Sundara Kalingarayar.

adopted Sadhasivam, heir to Maivadi zamin

• Palanikumar is residing at Maivadi

Zamindari & Temples

Contd..

• To obtain payment of reven...

The Anti - Zamindari

Campaigns

• Rich tenants, the wealthy cultivators and money-lenders
• Caste associations
• Rural Campaign
• The Peasant Movements
• Ryots associations
• Zamin Ryots Association
• Districts Ryot’s Association
• All India Peasant Congress

Steps Taken Towards the Abolition of the System

• Prakasam Committee
• Estates Land Reform Bill of 1938 & Estates Land Revenue Bill of 1939 ,drafted but not passed.
• In 1940 ,Adviser Government , scheme for the conversion of zamindari tenure into ryotwari by buying zamindars lands and paying them compensation on the basis of net income.
• The Congress Government (1946) determined to abolish zamindari system, not executed immediately.
• National Government (1947 ) resolution, abolition of zamindari system.
• Madras Estates Land (Reduction of Rent) Act XXX of 1947
• The Bill of 1947
• Madras (Estates Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) XXVI of 1948

Contd..

• Zamindars were crucially important in the machinery of revenue extraction were deprived of their political power.
• Zamindars continued to be the communal leaders of their area with the same status.
• Few zamindars due to land ceiling lost their lands and were economically ruined.
• Even today the so called zamindars are respected and held in high esteem and given first honour in religious festivals.
• But much of the heritage has been lost in the depth of time and not much is remembered about them.
• It is beyond doubt that they are an integral part of the culture.
• The rise, progress and decline of Zamindari system has been an integral part of the social phenomenon of the region.

Thank You