Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057345).pdf/51

 HAR

43

corded about him that as fast as younger branches of the family came into existence they were provided for independently. The mode in which

Raja Randhfr Singh acquired his

title is related in

pargana Malihabad.

I have elsewhere pointed out (Kheri) that when the community was a mingled one, where any one Chhattri clan acquired ascendancy over a large body of aliens, either of other Chhattris or of lower castes, their position was that of a military colony among a hostile subject race there was always risk of a revolt discipline and prompt action were a necessity of their position, so they yielded ready obedience to a single chief who became their raja. When, on the other hand, a clan was really numerous and occupied a compact territory, so that it had little to fear from internal risings, it found no necessity for a raja ; the whole body fought together for the common interest ; each component village was known and entitled to the assistance of all if attacked. It was customary to divide the estate into particular numbers of villages, either chaurdsi; 84 or baydlis, 42, or 52, bdwan ; a solidity and unity were thus given to the aggregation of atoms which was useful as a rallying cry in stirring up patriotism, and in impressing the extent of the clan's rights and interests upon strangers.



In fine, the original internal polity was always republican, unless where any one small clan had acquired a political supreniacy or military dominion over numerous subjects. If there arose dangers of oppression from without, or invasion by Moslem aliens, the frequent habit of military obedience became in time permanent feudal dependence, and the raja became the natural and chosen protector of the people; when again th« Musalman soldier tax-gatherer was warlike and near at hand in some waUed city, the raja was often killed, the taluqa broken up, and very oppressive exactions and imposts taken from the people.

Those rijas who survived compromised with the Government, paid and became mere tax-gatherers. In time also the Oudh Government found that it would be more convenient to have resident middlemen who could collect their dues everywhere, and the policy of introducing such was largely carried out during the last twenty years prior to annexation. In Hardoi there were never any r^jas except one, of Sewajpur but many large taluqas were either formed for the first time or aggrandized from mere zamindaris during the thirty years preceding annexation. tribute,



There is a very considerable difference between the two kinds of taluqa. In the one case the raja is either the descendant of some ancient independent chieftain who ruled the people prior to the advent of Musalman authority, or he is a chief chosen by the people as a protector and a lord, when internal dissensions or external dangers demonstrated their need of a wise head and a single hand at the helm. In the other case the false taluqdar was not chosen by the people as a ruler, but was imposed upon them by the Government, not to perform the functions of a ruler or judge, but simply those of a tax-gatherer. In India the tax-gatherer under native rulers has always been the most powerful element in the state where there were no courts or police, he was the only authority ; and if localized, his existence determined the political and, in a great measure, the social system.