Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c10.s8.1

v1.c10.s8.1

The system of renting out land was in great vogue in Vijayanagara times.⁸ An enquiry into some of the details relating to rent from land leads us to the question whether the method by which it was derived can in any way be identified with the method by which the kings of Vijayanagara received revenue from their viceroys. In other words, it is important to know the difference between the status of provincial governors, whom the Central Government placed over large districts, and that of the farmers and other people, who agreed to pay a stipulated sum to the rulers for having received from them certain productive agencies, for a definite time. Mr. Moreland writes thus: "The practice of appointing provincial Governors on farming terms prevailed in the Hindu Empire of Vijayanagar, and it is probable that the farming system extended down from the province to the village under the Empire, as it certainly did in this region after the Empire had collapsed".¹ In another place, Mr. Moreland states the following: "As to the Hindu territories in the south, we know from a large number of references in the Dutch records that farming was the regular practice from Pulicat at least as far as Negapatam. The farms were, sometimes at least, of short duration, for we read that the nāyak of Tanjore put in new governors almost every month (doubtless an exaggeration); and the post commonly went to the highest bidder in Tanjore, and also in Pulicat. From time to time we hear of severity and extortion".²