Ghatwals and Mulraiyats

Ghatwali was a feudal tenure/jagir for quasi-military services, they found in West Bengal, Jharkhand & Bihar states of India. The ruling chiefs of these jagir were known as Ghatwals. They were responsible for maintaining safety, security, and law enforcement in their estate{{Cite web |url=https://www.uea.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.54596.LATEST!7.forest%20tenures%20in%20west%20bengal.pdf |title=Forest Tenures in the Jungle Mahals of South West Bengal |access-date=8 August 2014 |archive-date=10 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810045940/https://www.uea.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.54596.LATEST!7.forest%20tenures%20in%20west%20bengal.pdf |url-status=dead }} using a force of archers and Berkandazes.{{cite web |first= |title=Rani Sonabati Kumari vs State Of Bihar, Patna High Court Case |url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/341109/}}

History

=Ghatwals Mahal=

Rent-free lands given to the ghatwals by the Rajas of Bishnupur from time to time came to be known as Ghatwali lands.

=Ghatwali system=

After the 1810 revolt led by Baijnath Singh of Dampara, which prompted the deployment of military forces, the Ghatwali system in Jaibalea, Bishnupur, was dismantled by East India Company. In its place, new police stations were established across various estates, and the daroga police system was reinstated.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=24NDAAAAYAAJ&q=Baijnath+dampara |title=India's Struggle for Freedom: Role of Associated Movements |date=1985 |publisher=Agam Prakashan |language=en}}

=Birbhum estate=

The Deoghar subdivision consisted of 53 Ghatwalis among which the largest were Rohini, Pathrol, Baman-ganwa, Kukraha, Garsara, Teor and Burhe.{{cite book |last1=Herbert H. Heard. |first1=J.P |title=Ghatwali and Mulraiyati Tenure |date=1900 |page=4}}

The Deoghar ghatwali were formed under the Birbhum Raj in the 18th century to defend against the invasion of Marathas and neighbouring rulers.{{cite book |last1=Herbert H. Heard. |first1=J.P |title=Ghatwali and Mulraiyati Tenure |date=1900 |page=4}}

=Kharna estate=

Kharna estate was another prominent ghatwali in Kharagpur Raj.{{cite journal |title=Babu Ananda Rai vs Tikait Kali Prasad |journal=Privi Council Cases}}{{cite web |title=Babu Ananda Rai vs Tikait Kali Prasad Singh |url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/472868/}}

=Kharagdiha estate=

The Kharagdiha gadis were earlier on ghatwali tenure, but when Captain Cammec found these Malik of the gadis prominent in their country, these gadis were permanently settled slowly after 1793. The ghatwals of Kharagdiha became the Zamindars and Rulers of their respective estates.{{cite book |title=Hazaribagh District Gazetteer}} Some of the prominent Khargdiha gadis were Gadi Palganj, Koderma, Goranjee, Gadi Ledo and Gadi Sirsia.

Mulraiyati

Mulraiyati was another feudal tenure for revenue collection found in the district of Santhal Parganas. A Mulraiyat is a settlement holder whose rights are transferable and attachable. The tenure in its special form arose in 1877. It is peculiar to the Deoghar subdivision alone in the Santhal Parganas. The name "mul raiyat" was a term invented in 1877, during the Ashley Eden's government (later K.C.S.I).{{cite book |last1=Herbert H. Heard. |first1=J.P |title=Ghatwali and Mulraiyati Tenure |date=1900 |page=15}} The mulraiyats have been used interchangeably with pradhans and mustajirs as they collected rent from ordinary raiyats as intermediaries, but the mulraiyats enjoyed superior rights and privileges on their estates.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

Both Ghatwali and Mulraiyati estates historically passed from father to firstborn son (primogeniture). Along with Zamindars, these tenure holders formed the Aristocracy of Bihar. Ghatwali tenure was abolished in 1952 along with Zamindari.{{cn|date=January 2025}}