Question

Analyse the role of village artisans in Mughal India.

Describe the role of village artisans in the Mughal era.

Answer 1

1. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the settlements were home to many artisans. It is evident from Marathi records and British surveys that artisans constituted approximately 25% of the village’s total population in several settlements. There were moments when it was challenging to tell the artisans from the farmers.
2. The reason for this was that numerous organizations carried out both tasks. The farmers performed a wide range of other tasks, such as creating and repairing agricultural tools and designing textiles and ceramics. In addition to potters, the community also received services from ironsmiths, weavers, and barbers. In exchange for their services, they received either a plot of land or a portion of a crop.
3. Bengali zamindars, ironsmiths, weavers, and goldsmiths used to get daily stipends for food in exchange for their labour throughout the 18th century. The Jajmani System was its name.