zamindarihttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zamindari_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezamindari, n. & adj.
Revised 2018

zamindarinoun & adjective

Now historical.
  1. noun
    1. 1.
      1742–
      A territory or area administered by a zamindar.
      Sometimes opposed to haveli (haveli n. 1).
      1. 1742
        He made off, and went towards his own Zemidari.
        J. Fraser, History of Nadir Shah 218
      2. 1776
        The Chief and Council of Ganjam..recommend the converting [of] some of the smaller Zemindaries into Havelly Lands.
        in 2nd Rep. Comm. Causes of War in Carnatic (1781) App. 8. §11
      3. 1830
        This system prevailed both in the Zemindaries and in the Havelly, or fiscal lands under the direct management of the government.
        J. Briggs, Present Land-tax India 234
      4. 1858
        The ancient zemindarry of Golugondah, which yields about 10,000 rupees of clear surplus annually.
        J. B. Norton, Topics for Indian Statesmen 165
      5. 1917
        There is no such man within my zamindary as can catch the living snake.
        Chambers's Journal December 781/1
      6. 1959
        The robbers rarely carried on their depredations in the zamindari of their residence.
        B. B. Misra, Central Administration of East India Company 1773–1834 vi. 331
      7. 2008
        A well-wisher in Calcutta had warned her of financial trouble in the Raskhali zemindary.
        A. Ghosh, Sea of Poppies ii. 45
    2. 2.
      1757–
      The office or jurisdiction of a zamindar.
      1. 1757
        All the land laying south of Calcutta, as far as Culpee, shall be under the Zemindarry of the English Company.
        in Copy of Advocate, Attorney & Solicitor Generals Rep. (1767) 16
      2. 1758
        Sunnud from the Dewan of the Subah of Bengal, for the Zemindarry of the Lands granted to the Company.
        in Journal House of Commons (1772) vol. XXXIII. 850/1
      3. 1785
        The zemindary was secured to the family and descendants of Bulwant Sing.
        Annual Register 1783 Hist. Europe 5/2
      4. 1872
        The zemindars succeeded to their zemindaries by right of hereditance.
        A. Bastian, Die Rechtsverhältnisse bei Verschiedenen Völkern der Erde ii. 72 (note)
      5. 1890
        The appellant, who was the eldest son of the late zemindar..contended that the zemindary was impartible.
        Times 8 March 4/1
      6. 1962
        At the end of the uprisings, the English rewarded him for his assistance with the title ‘Raja of Nilganj’ and the zamindari of 15 villages.
        Econ. Development & Cultural Change vol. 11 24
      7. 2012
        He probably feels that he should have inherited the zamindari.
        H. Gantzer & C. Gantzer, Year before Sunset 229
    3. 3.
      1976–
      The system of land tenure and revenue collection administered by means of zamindars.
      1. 1976
        Zamindari was abolished in 1951-52 in these villages.
        V. P. Singh, Caste, Class & Democracy iv. 89
      2. 1988
        People of different communities were welded together in a common struggle against the oppressive system of Zamindari, or landlordism.
        Indian Bookworm's Journal Autumn 18/3
      3. 2006
        Through legislation zamindari was abolished in Bihar soon after independence.
        Econ. & Polit. Weekly vol. 41 4288/2
  2. adjective
    1. 1763–
      Of or belonging to a zamindar or zamindars; designating or relating to the system of land tenure and revenue collection administered by means of zamindars.
      1. 1763
        They may be presumed more to be depended on for determining equitably any disputes about points of trade,..than any zemindary court.
        Extract of Consultation 1 March in Orig. Papers Disturbances in Bengal (1765) vol. II. 47
      2. 1790
        An Inquiry into the nature of Zemindary Tenures in the landed property of Bengal.
        J. Grant (title)
      3. 1835
        The parties are members of a zemindary family.
        Asiatic Journal & Monthly Register vol. 17 ii. 195/1
      4. 1885
        They now..cultivate the lands of some eight or ten zemindari estates.
        G. S. Forbes, Wild Life in Canara 171
      5. 1915
        Whole inam properties amounting to about 50,000 acres; and zemindari lands of rather more than 100,000 acres.
        S. Playne et al., Southern India 398/1
      6. 1968
        After independence, many Hindu zamindars fled, the zamindary system was abolished and the land divided into tiny portions and sold to the Muslims.
        Times 6 April (Pakistan Supplement) p. v/4
      7. 2005
        The ghazi (itinerant warlord) and the mirza (respectable rooted gentry of the zamindari class) co-existed in the Mughal polity.
        Modern Asian Studies vol. 39 504

zamindari, n. & adj. was revised in June 2018.

zamindari, n. & adj. was last modified in December 2024.