Lakhiraj (rent-free grant)

Lakhiraj (rent-free grant) an Arabic term for rent-free land granted as a mark of favour to a subject by a superior landholder or the sovereign. Lakhiraj land or lands exempted from rent was an important characteristic of the Mughal constitution. During Hindu period also, there was a system of nishkar or rent-free lands granted to people favoured by the royalties for various reasons. The maintenance of religious establishments, educational institutions, shrines and temples etc. was considered to be the state responsibilities from very ancient times. Under the Mughals, the tradition attained its peak. According to the AMINI COMMISSION (1776), a significant part of revenue lands of the empire was assigned to the lakhirajdars of various denominations. In government documents the lakhiraj lands were recorded then as baze zamin or miscellaneous lands.
Attempts were made to resume baze zamins from the beginning of the British rule. The nature of the colonial state was inconsistent with the lakhiraj system. But stiff opposition from the grantees persuaded the government to revise its original policy and resume only those lands to rental which were proved to be alienated illegally. According to the Regulations XIX and XXXVII of 1793, all lakhirajdars were required to produce their sanads for verification and registration with the district collector's office. In 1822, the government resolved to make a survey of all illegally alienated lands and resume them to state ownership. The drive for the resumption of lakhiraj land led to a large-scale cancellation of lakhiraj sanads, which were mostly held by the Muslims. The drive ended in 1840 and since that time no rent-free land, unless claimed by any successor, was ever resumed by government.
Lakhiraj lands include pirottar or lands for maintenance of sufi establishments, brahmottar or lands for maintenance of Brahmanical establishments, aima or lands for charity organisations, cheragi or lands for upkeeping shrines, madat-i-mas or lands for the support of educational and benevolent institutions. According to law, the successors to the lakhiraj lands can enjoy them but cannot transfer them without a sanction from the government. Though lakhiraj lands were rent-free, every district collectorate maintains detailed records of such land in a series called B-Register, which records the latest incumbents of the lakhiraj rights. During British and Pakistan(East Bengal) periods, all lakhiraj grants were looked after by the Court of Wards, which used to manage a grant if its holders were in conflict as regards their individual rights and obligations.

RaniBhabani

Rani Bhabani (1716-1795) ZAMINDAR of Rajshahi. She was famous for her sagacity, generosity and extensive social works. Born in a respectable Brahmin family of Bogra, her father's name was Atmaram Chowdhury. On the death of her husband Raja Ramkanta in 1748 she became the dejure zamindar of Rajshahi. She managed the vast Rajshahi zamindari most efficiently and effectively for over four decades maintaining cordial relationships with the NAWABs of Bengal. Her veteran and faithful diwan Dayram greatly assisted her in running the zamindari. HOLWELL, while describing the RAJSHAHI RAJ in his days, eulogises Rani Bhavani and asserts that the stipulated annual rent of the estate to the crown was 70 lakh of sicca rupees, the real revenues being about one crore and a half.
Rani Bhabani ran the vast zamindari with tact and tenacity during the most critical and transition period of the EAST INDIA COMPANY's administration. She lived a very austere and religious life but her generosity knew no bounds. She gave large portion of her zamindari to the Brahmins as Lakhiraj (rent free lands) for their maintenance and other charitable activities. Writing in the Rajshahi Gazette O'Malley mentioned that the Rani established about 380 shrines, guesthouses etc, built many temples in different parts of the country and endowed money and lands. She constructed a big road that runs from Natore to Bhawanipur in Bogra and is still called Rani Bhabanir Jangal. Besides numerous tanks and sarais were built with her money. Doctors were entertained to give medical relief to the poor in different village and her charity extended to the animal world. She was a great patron of Hindu learning and bestowed large endowment for the spread of education. Rani Bhabani died at Baranagar at the age of 79.