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Archiver > INDIA-ROYALTY > 2007-10 > 1191353841


From: akshay chavan <>
Subject: Re: [INDIA-ROYALTY] Zamindari Abolition
Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2007 12:37:21 -0700 (PDT)
In-Reply-To: <470230ac.0216300a.0452.1887@mx.google.com>


Hi
I think my initial comparison was wrong. I do accept
that there were no "expropriations" but there was
punitive taxation. Most of the great british estates
was dismantled due to death duties etc.... Most of the
great country houses have now become museums or
hotels. Even in germany, I think only the Thuns Und
Taxis family retains its vast holdings, who are more
darbhanga style industrialist-zamindars than proper
zamindars.

Indian zamindars cannot be compared to the polished
English lords, the hard working Junker aristocrats of
germany or the immensly wealthy and cultured
Austo-hungarian magnates. I think they were more like
middle level russian magnates in late 19th century.

--- Gregor Roy Chowdhury <> wrote:

>
>
> Just a small remark. Western Europe (Germany,
> France, Italy...etc) did not
> have any 'expropriations', no "punitive" taxation
> ...etc. If properties were
> sold, at the choice of the owner and obviously
> according to market value.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
> [mailto:] On
> Behalf Of akshay chavan
> Sent: 01 October 2007 19:50
> To:
> Subject: [INDIA-ROYALTY] Zamindari Abolition
>
> Hi
> No. I think Privy Purse case was a "political
> publicity stunt" by congress party. Zamindari
> abolition was very progressive legislation.
>
> The only thing said about zamindari legislation
> could
> be that compensations were not properly paid. I too
> agree with this. But Zamindari "HAD" to be
> abolished.
> It was exceptionally exploitative and brutal system.
> India would not have prospered with the Zamindari
> system.
>
> Even UK, with its constitutional rule and all ,
> has
> abolished "Zamindari" through "punitive" taxation
> and
> death duties. Germany, France, Spain etc... had done
> the same. Most of the big land owning magnates in UK
> have sold or given away a lot of thier lands and
> country estates.
>
> Privy purse was a ridiculously small amount. 4
> crores
> i think. It did not have same national consequences
> as
> zamindari abolition.
>
> Privy Purse abolition did not make any positive
> difference to anyone but zamindari abolition
> improved
> lives of lakhs of people.
>
>
> --- Raja <> wrote:
>
> > Do you see abolition of zamindari and privy purses
> > have a common
> > econo-political reason?
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:
> > [mailto:] On
> > Behalf Of Mandeep Singh Bajwa
> > Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2007 8:18 AM
> > To:
> > Subject: Re: [INDIA-ROYALTY] Fwd: Re: Marwar
> > folklore
> >
> > At the level of national leaders such petty
> emotions
> > play no role in
> > developing policy.
> >
> > Land reforms were the need of the hour in the
> early
> > 50s. There was no way
> > such a large chunk of the population could be kept
> > alienated from the land
> > which they cultivated. As for Pakistan their
> plight
> > is to be seen for
> > itself. Do we want to be in the same boat ?
> >
> > Mandeep
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "pabitra saha" <>
> > To: <>
> > Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2007 12:04 PM
> > Subject: Re: [INDIA-ROYALTY] Fwd: Re: Marwar
> > folklore
> >
> >
> > > Another theory says that it was a act of
> feminine
> > jealousy, as Indira felt
> >
> > > belittled by royal graces of Gayatri Devi and
> > personality of Vijaya Raje.
> > > Anyway, without going into moral and ethical
> > issues of privy purses, the
> > > legal issue ( still pending in International
> Court
> > of Justice, The Hague)
> > > is that ruling party has no right to undo a
> > promise given by previous
> > > Govt.
> > >
> > > Zamindari was a similar act of treason by Govt.
> > of India. Bangladesh did
> > > the same few decades later. It is only the
> > Pakistan Govt., which has not
> > > indulged in the breach of right to property
> which
> > is a fundamental right
> > > in Constitution of India but transgressed more
> > often than not, by so
> > > called "leaders" in India.
> > >
> > > P.K.Saha
> > >
> > > dy of the message
> >
> >
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>
>
>
>
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