Question

Examine Bernier's opinion on the question of land ownership in Mughal India and how were the western economists influenced by Bernier's description?

Hint:

Bernier's writings played a key role in shaping Western ideas about land ownership and its impact on economic development in India.

Answer 1

François Bernier, a French traveler who visited India during the Mughal Empire, wrote about his observations on land ownership in India in his book Travels in the Mughal Empire. His views on land ownership and the Mughal agrarian system were influential in shaping Western perspectives of India.
- Bernier's Opinion on Land Ownership:
According to Bernier, land ownership in Mughal India was very different from European systems. In India, the concept of private land ownership was not as firmly established as in Europe. Instead, land was considered to belong to the state, and peasants were given rights to cultivate land in exchange for taxes. The Mughal emperor owned all the land, and the zamindars (landlords) were merely revenue collectors for the state.
- Influence on Western Economists:
Bernier's description of land ownership in Mughal India had a significant impact on Western economists, particularly those studying agrarian economies. His view of state-controlled land led some Western thinkers, such as Adam Smith and David Ricardo, to contrast it with European systems of private land ownership. They used Bernier's description to argue that the lack of private land ownership in India might have contributed to inefficiencies in the agricultural sector and economic stagnation.
In conclusion, Bernier's observations on land ownership contributed to the development of Western economic theories and provided a foundation for future studies on agrarian systems in colonial and post-colonial contexts.