The term "jaghiredar" is a word in the Hindi language that refers to a landowner. It is spelled as "jaghiredar," with the emphasis on the second syllable (jag-hi-re-DAR). It is also written in the Devanagari script as जगीरदार. The word is composed of two parts: "jagir" (meaning land) and "dar" (meaning owner). The IPA phonetic transcription of "jaghiredar" is /d͡ʒəɡhiɾedaɾ/. In Hindi, the word is pronounced with a soft "d" sound, which is typically represented in IPA as [ð].
Jaghiredar is a term that originated in the Indian subcontinent during the Mughal era and refers to a system of land tenure prevalent at that time. It is a compound word, derived from the Persian words "Jagir" meaning land and "Dar" meaning holder. Therefore, jaghiredar can be translated as "holder of land" or "land grantee."
In the feudal system of the Mughal Empire, the ruler, usually the emperor, granted land to the nobles or military officers in return for their loyalty, military service, or administrative duties. These grants of land were known as "jagirs." The jaghiredar was the individual who was granted the jagir and became the holder of the land.
The jaghiredar had certain rights and responsibilities associated with the land. They were responsible for the management and administration of the jagir, including collecting revenues, maintaining law and order, and providing military support when required. In return, they were entitled to retain a portion of the revenues generated from the land for their own sustenance and to support their serving troops.
The jaghiredar system played a significant role in the socio-economic and political structure of the Mughal Empire. It helped maintain a hierarchical system, where power and wealth were concentrated in the hands of the nobility. However, the system also had inherent challenges such as corruption, exploitation of peasants, and frequent disputes over land rights.
In modern times, the jaghiredar system has faded away, but the term is still used to refer to the historical landholders of the Mughal period and their role in the feudal system.
The word "jaghiredar" is derived from the Persian language. "Jaghiredar" is composed of two Persian words: "jaghir", meaning land or estate, and "dar", meaning possessor or holder.
In the context of Indian history, particularly during the Mughal and British periods, a jaghiredar referred to someone who held a jaghir (also spelled as jagir). A jaghir was a type of land grant or estate that was granted by a ruler, often in return for military or administrative services rendered. The jaghiredar or jagirdar was the title given to the person who held the jaghir.
The word "jaghiredar" was absorbed into various Indian languages, including Urdu and Punjabi, through their historical interactions with Persian culture and administration.