Peasants, Zamindars and the State: Agrarian Society and the Mughal Empire — Important Questions

Raiyat, Muzarian, Kisan, Asami

Indo-Persian sources used multiple terms for peasants: raiyat (most frequent), muzarian, kisan, and asami. Zamindar referred to landed proprietors, not peasants.

True

Khud-kashta were residents of the village in which they held their lands, as opposed to pahi-kashta who were non-resident cultivators from other villages.

Cotton, Sugarcane, Mustard

Jins-i kamil referred to cash crops that brought more revenue. Cotton and sugarcane were prime examples, along with oilseeds like mustard. Rice and wheat were basic staples, not cash crops.

Polaj

Polaj was annually cultivated land (most productive), Parauti was temporarily fallow, Chachar was fallow for 3-4 years, and Banjar was uncultivated for 5+ years (least productive).