A History of Agriculture in India v1.c35.s7.3

v1.c35.s7.3

A striking development of the Gupta period, according to Sharma, was the emergence of the Brahman landlords at the cost of local peasants. Land grants made to the Brahmans brought virgin lands under cultivation. But these landlords were imposed from above on the local tribal peasants, who were reduced to a lower status. In central and western India, the peasants were also subjected to forced labour. The Brahmans were granted land free from tax for ever, and they were authorized to collect from the peasants all the taxes which could have otherwise gone to the emperor. Royal agents were not permitted to enter the villages granted to the Brahmans. The Brahman land-owners were also empowered to punish criminals.²