Correct option is C
Khud kashta refers to farmers who cultivated their own land during the Mughal period. These farmers were not dependent on landowners for land but worked on their own agricultural holdings. The term Khud kashta literally means "self-cultivated" or "those who cultivate their own land."
Key Points:
- These farmers were independent and worked on the land they owned, unlike the Muzarain (tenant farmers) who rented land from the Zamindar (landowner).
- Khud kashta were often treated differently from other farmers in terms of revenue assessments and were sometimes exempt from certain taxes or had a different tax rate.
Additional Information:
- The Mughal agrarian system was complex, involving different categories of landholders and farmers.
- The Zamindar was a landlord who either leased or collected taxes from the peasants, and the Muzarain were tenants working under the Zamindar.
- Khud kashta were considered to be the backbone of agriculture during the Mughal period and played an important role in rural economies.
Other Options:
- Zamindar: Zamindars were landowners who collected taxes from peasants and were not the ones who cultivated the land themselves.
- Muzarain: Muzarains were tenant farmers who cultivated land owned by others (usually Zamindars), unlike Khud kashtas who owned and cultivated their land.
- Pahi Kasht: This is not a term used for farmers who cultivate their own land. The correct term is Khud kashta.
