The History of Bengal (Vol. I: Hindu Period; Vol. II: Muslim Period 1200–1757) v1.c19.s4.16

v1.c19.s4.16

It is obvious that these were grants in perpetuity, rent-free, and accompanied with the assignment of all revenues (*pratyāyaḥ*) accruing to the crown. What is not obvious, however, is whether they made over to the donee merely the state-share of the produce and other state-rights in the land alienated, or conveyed to him the proprietorship of the land as well, that is, an out and out gift of soil and revenue both.³ If the latter was the case, it would involve either of the two assumptions — that the king was regarded as the ultimate owner of the soil or that he made the grants out of what may be called the royal demesne. It is probable, however, that the bulk of these grants transferred to the grantees merely the right to receive the royal share of the produce; they were not intended to deprive any existing land-holder of his right; in other words, they did not convey a title to the land itself. Sometimes the land donated already belonged by right of purchase to the donee, for whose support revenue charges were remitted. In such cases, the land became what may be described as “free-hold.”⁴