How was the Mahalwari System different from the Permanent Settlement?

The Mahalwari System and the Permanent Settlement were both land revenue systems introduced by the British in India, but they had several key differences in terms of structure, revenue collection, and their impact on the agrarian society.

Key Differences Between Mahalwai and Permanent System:

1. Year of Introduction

• Permanent Settlement: Introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793, in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
• Mahalwari System: Introduced by Holt Mackenzie in 1822, in parts of North-Western India like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and central India.

2. Structure of Land Revenue

• Permanent Settlement: The revenue was fixed permanently on the land. Zamindars (landowners) were responsible for collecting and paying the fixed revenue to the British, regardless of agricultural output.
• Mahalwari System: The revenue was assessed for each mahal (village or group of villages). It was periodically revised based on the productivity of the land, unlike the fixed nature of the Permanent Settlement.

3. Responsibility for Payment

• Permanent Settlement: The zamindars (landowners) were solely responsible for paying the fixed revenue amount. They collected taxes from peasants and could retain a portion of the revenue.
• Mahalwari System: The responsibility was shared between village headmen and the villagers. The village headmen were accountable for revenue collection and were expected to ensure that the land revenue was paid on time.

4. Impact on Farmers

• Permanent Settlement: The system often led to exploitation of peasants because the zamindars were forced to pay the fixed revenue, regardless of crop yield. This resulted in increased landlessness and poverty among farmers.
• Mahalwari System: Although it allowed for periodic revisions of revenue based on the crop yield, it still led to exploitation by village headmen. The peasants continued to face a heavy tax burden, especially during times of crop failure.

5. Long-Term Impact

• Permanent Settlement: The system resulted in the concentration of land in the hands of a few wealthy zamindars, weakening the traditional agrarian structure. This created a rent-seeking class that showed little interest in improving agricultural productivity.
• Mahalwari System: Although it aimed to improve revenue collection by allowing adjustments based on agricultural conditions, it still failed to benefit peasants in the long run. The system led to exploitation and did not significantly improve the economy or agricultural productivity.

The Permanent Settlement aimed for a fixed, stable revenue system but created long-term issues for farmers, including landlessness and poverty. The Mahalwari System, on the other hand, allowed for periodic revisions but still led to exploitation and did not significantly alleviate the burdens faced by the peasants.