With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct?
- It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.
- It was totally absent in the Madhya Pradesh and Kathiawar regions of the Gupta Empire.
- The forced labourer was entitled to weekly wages.
- The eldest son of the labourer was sent as the forced labourer.
Explanation
Option (a) is correct
- The Gupta period witnessed an increase in land taxes but a decrease in trade and commerce taxes (such as shulka or tolls). The period from the 4th to the 8th century was one of agricultural expansion. Due to the practice of granting lands to brahmanas (brahmadeyas, agraharas or shasanas) and to some other officers, vast areas of virgin land were brought under cultivation and major improvements were made in the existing methods of production (such as use of iron plough shear, irrigation and preservation of cattle wealth) to attain higher yield.
- The king collected taxes varying from one-fourth to one-sixth of the produce. Two new agricultural taxes that appear in Gupta inscriptions are uparikara (probably a tax imposed on temporary tenants) and udranga (its exact nature is not clear, but might be water tax or a sort of police tax). There is also mention of vata-bhuta tax, which probably refers to cesses for the maintenance of rites performed for the winds and spirits, and halirakara, probably plough tax. In addition to these taxes, peasants were subjected to vishti (forced labour) to serve the royal army and officials (also a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people).
