zemindar
Definition
- Noun:
- Landholder in India: "zemindar" (also spelled "zamindar") historically refers to a person who owned or managed large tracts of land in the Indian subcontinent, particularly during the Mughal Empire and British colonial period. These individuals were responsible for collecting taxes from peasants and remitting a portion to the ruling authority.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The zemindar controlled several villages and collected revenue for the British East India Company. (A landholder managing tax collection.)
- After the land reforms, many zemindars lost their estates to tenant farmers. (Historical landholders whose power diminished.)
Advanced Usage
- "Zemindari system": The administrative and revenue system based on zemindars, where they acted as intermediaries between the government and cultivators.
- The zemindari system was abolished in India after independence in the 1950s. (The system of landholding and tax collection.)
Variants and Related Words
Zamindar (noun): an alternative spelling of "zemindar," more commonly used in modern historical contexts.
- The zamindar's duties included maintaining law and order in his district. (A landholder with administrative responsibilities.)
Zemindari (adjective or noun): relating to the office or system of a zemindar.
- The zemindari rights were transferred to the government after the reform. (Pertaining to the landholder's authority.)
Synonyms
- Landlord: a person who owns land and rents it to others.
- Feudal lord: a historical term for a landholder with authority over peasants in a feudal system.
- Tax farmer: a person who collects taxes on behalf of a government in exchange for a fee.
Related Idioms
- "Live like a zemindar": to live a life of luxury and authority, often without much personal effort.
- After winning the lottery, he began to live like a zemindar, spending money freely and managing his estate. (To enjoy a comfortable, privileged lifestyle.)