Find the correct statements among the following facts given about Zamindars during the Mughal Period-
A. Zamindars held extensive personal lands termed as milkiyat.
B. Most zamindars had fortresses and units of cavalry, artillery and infantry
C. Zamindars could not sell the produce independently from their milkiyat lands
D. Bhakti saints did not portray the zamindars as exploiters or oppressors of the peasantry.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → A, B and D only
Zamindars did hold extensive personal lands called milkiyat, cultivated for their own use (A), and most kept fortresses along with cavalry, artillery and infantry of their own (B). It is also recorded that the Bhakti saints, who denounced caste and other oppressions, did not depict zamindars as oppressors of the peasantry (D).
Statement C is wrong: milkiyat lands were the zamindar's own property, and he could sell, bequeath or mortgage them and dispose of their produce freely.