The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c11.t20.7

c11.t20.7

An interesting theoretical study in connection with the Chola revenue from real property would be that bearing on its precise character as to whether it was rent or tax. Incidentally it may be pointed out that communism in landownership is practically unknown in Hindu law-books.² The trend of ancient thought on land-tenure is to regard it as individual concern. But in *Tamil* inscriptions, while the individualistic tenure (the *ryotwari*, to use the British Indian term) is easily to be inferred, communal property in certain lands is also assured to village *panchâyats* by the legislation of Râja-râja the Great (985—1018).³ We may take it that so far as the Chola Empire is concerned, land was owned both in severalty as well as in common.