159Consolidation and Creation of Loyal Zamindars

The policy of strengthening the loyalist zamindars and the appointment of the new ones to replace the rebellious ones was an old device. Aurangzeb, much more than anyone of his predecessors, had vainly tried it. The objective behind this policy was to open the gate to outsiders into regions which had been, or had lately been developing into, strongholds of the established zamindar castes. In pargana Unao, for instance, where the Bais had been dominant since the seventeenth century, efforts were made to promote the Saiyid zamindaris. The choice of the Saiyids was determined by the fact that they had once enjoyed eminence and had powerful kinsfolk (ulus) in the pargana. When Rad Andaz Khan proposed that Saiyid Ghulam Muhi-ud-Din be appointed the zamindar of pargana Unao, he gave the Saiyid’s possession of ulus and a familiarity with the region as special reasons for his recommendation.100 Since the Bais were a dominant caste in and around the pargana and were always in a position to exploit the peasants’ problems to the fullest advantage, the new zamindars’ strength had to be specially considered. The objective of award of zamindari, in some cases, was also to strengthen local officials through an infusion with additional loyal sources of influence and power.101

The appointment of zamindars was primarily an administrative necessity. Aurangzeb’s orthodoxy did not influence it very much. The Gehlots and the Chandels of pargana Harha, a Bais stronghold in sarkar Lucknow acquired their zamindaris from Aurangzeb.102 In one case, Aurangzeb cancelled the appointment of a Muslim zamindar in Baiswara due to the faujdar’s resistance.103 The policy was continued in (p.126) the early-eighteenth century, even though it had produced no tangible results in Aurangzeb’s reign.104

Again, we have a number of cases to show how some intermediaries, supported by the state, tried to acquire primary zamindari rights in and around the regions disturbed by zamindar uprisings. In the early years of the eighteenth century the chaudhuris of pargana Sandila appear to have strengthened their position by purchasing a number of zamindaris in the pargana.105 In May 1714, one Saroman Das, son of Alam Chand, apparently a qanungo, was favoured with an inam of 30,000 dams in pargana Sandi, sarkar Khairabad, for the plantation of some orchards around the town of Sandi. Again on 31 May 1716, Kankhat, a village, was granted to him as inam for raising a sarai and a garhi. The village was subsequently known as the qasba of Saroman Nagar alias Kankhat, a centre of military and economic importance. Saroman Das’s acquisition of lands and purchase of zamindaris in sarkar Khairabad went on unabated even under Burhan ul-Mulk.106

The policy of promoting outsiders as intermediaries in the strongholds of the turbulent clans was of little help when the government was riven by the internal strife amongst its functionaries. Further, when such intermediaries were encouraged to build their primary zamindaris and milkiyat at the expense of the

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160The Zamindars, the Madad-i Ma‘ash Holders and Mughal Administration in Awadh

c. 1707–1722

old landholders, the caste peasants had reasons, greater than their social ties with the rebel zamindars, to be up in arms with them against the Mughals.