Zaildar was the title of the grand jagirdars (landlords) of the area, who were in charge of a Zail which was an administrative unit of group of villages during the Sikh Empire, British Indian Empire in Punjab and Dogra dynasty rule in Jammu and Kashmir (princely state). The Settlement Officer, with the advice of the Deputy Commissioner, was responsible for appointing Zaildars from amongst the men of the tribe or the area, thus reinforcing his preexisting social authority with the official sanction as the representative of the government.[1][2] Each Zail was an administrative unit, extending between 40 and 100 villages.[3]: p xxv Each village was headed by the Lambardar who was assisted by the Safedposh Zamindars (influential landlords or white collar gentry) of the village.[2][1] Zaildars were the revenue-collecting officers also responsible for maintaining law and order. The Lambardar and Safedposh assisted the Zaildar. The Zaildar in turn assisted the Deputy Commissioner.[2] The Zaildar was more influential than the Lambardar (village head) because a Zail included several villages.[4]
- ^ a b 1930, Punjab Settlement Manual, Punjab Government publications, point 235 and 578-282 on page 115, 272-273.
- ^ a b c Tan Tai Yong, 2005, "The Garrison State: The military, government and society in Colonial Punjab, 1849 - 1947.", SAGE Publications, page 118-119, ISBN 0761933360.
- ^ The Indian Making of mewat, Ismail khan, Permanent Black
- ^ Rajit K. Mazumder, 2003, "The Indian Army and the Making of Punjab.", Permanent Black, page 97, ISBN 8178240599.
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