Mouzadar
The term Mouzadar refers to a person who takes tax of a mouza (revenue collection unit). Historically, they were influential hereditary nobility figures in Assam's socio-political landscape during the feudal era during the Kamarupa Kingdom to the Ahom Dynasty; similar to the Thakurs of north-western India. These local chieftains and landlords played essential roles in administration and governance, maintaining their significance until British colonial rule.
Etymology and History
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The name literally translates to ‘‘mouza’’ as 'a large unit of land', from the Persian suffix ‘‘-dar’’ (دار/দার) ‘possessor’.
The Feudal System
The mouzadars were central to Assam's feudal system, managing large landholdings and collecting taxes for the monarchy. They acted as intermediaries between the central authority and local populations, often commanding small soldiery forces for maintaining law and order. This diminished direct royal governance, empowering local leaders like the mouzadars to enforce policies and make administrative decisions. As landowners, they often enjoyed tax exemptions, enhancing their power and social status.
Role in Administration
In governance, mouzadars collaborated with officials such as mandals and satradhikars. They were not just tax collectors, but also judicial authorities, resolving disputes and maintaining order in their jurisdictions. Their role as local guardians fostered stability and social cohesion during conflicts. A single mouzadar typically oversaw multiple villages or considerable land areas, which could range from hundreds to thousands of acres.
Influence
Mouzadars, particularly in the Lower Assam division, historically controlled large stretches of land that were politically tense due to frequent minor attacks from central Indian ruling dynasties. Their role was crucial in defending the mainland, and they also imposed taxes as trade routes passed through their territories. Additionally, mouzadars often financed the war expenses of kings by providing loans, which the kings were expected to repay. If repayment did not occur, mouzadars would shift their support to the opposing rulers during conflicts, ensuring their own security and that of their aristocratic class. As a result, mouzadars became wealthy and respected aristocrats during the monarch era, wielding significant royal powers. Many maintained close relationships with royal families and the aristocracy, which further strengthened their socio-political standing. These connections granted them various privileges, such as tax exemptions and considerable influence in royal affairs. Their hereditary status created a local nobility that played a significant role in governance in Assam until British colonial rule transformed the political landscape.
Decline of Power and Transition
The influence of the mouzadars began to decline during the onset of the British Raj, when temporary non-hereditary mouzadars were introduced as officials who, in some circumstances, could replace the hereditary mouzadars whenever the permanent mouzadars could not collect the required amount of tax in their mouza, for the colonial government.
After India's independence, new administrative structures and land revenue systems disrupted the traditional feudal hierarchy. Many lost their by-birth privileges, resulting in a transformation of local governance. However, some chose to support the struggle for independence, repurposing their influence for social change and leaving behind their privileged lifestyles.