Understanding land grant and land assignment system of early Assam (4th to 13th Century A.D.)

Abstract

Land grants were a common phenomenon in early Assam like other parts of India. The kings and rulers of ancient India as well as Assam donated lands to the Brahmanas, religious institutions etc. They recorded these donations in the from copper plates and stone slabs, and some concrete materials. There were also traditions to assigned land s to the officers in lieu of salary their service to the state, known as land assignments. The donor grants land for his own spiritual welfare and also for that of his ancestors and family members. The donated lands were revenue free. In this paper an attempt has been made to trace the beginning and subsequent development of land-grant system in early Assam and its’ socio-economic and political implications. Both the primary and secondary sources have been used. The former includes review of inscriptions and the secondary sources are the review of related literature of the present topic.)