Syed Nauman Tauqir – MA IV RURAL SOCIOLOGY Assignment 1

Is the feudal land structure a major part of the problems faced by

rural inhabitants?

The feudal prototype in Pakistan consists of landlords with large joint families
possessing hundreds or even thousands of acres of land. They seldom make
any direct contribution to agricultural production. Instead, all work is done by
peasants or tenants who live at subsistence level.

The landlord, by virtue of his ownership and control of such vast amounts of
land and human resources, is powerful enough to influence the distribution
of water, fertilizers, tractor permits and agricultural credit and, consequently
exercises considerable influence over the revenue, police and judicial
administration of the area. The landlord is, thus, lord and master. Such
absolute power can easily corrupt, and it is no wonder that the feudal system
there is humanly degrading.

The system induces a state of mind which may be called the feudal
mentality. This can be defined as an attitude of selfishness and arrogance on
the part of the landlords. It is all attitude nurtured by excessive wealth and
power, while honesty, justice, love of learning and respect for the law have
all but disappeared. Having such a mentality, when members of feudal
families obtain responsible positions in civil service, business, industry and
politics, their influence is multiplied in all directions. Indeed the worsening
moral, social, economic and political crisis facing this country can be
attributed mainly to the powerful feudal influences operating there.

Almost half of Pakistan's Gross National Product and the bulk of its export
earnings are derived primarily from the agricultural sector controlled by a
few thousand feudal families. Armed with a monopoly of economic power,
they easily pre-empted political power.

To begin with, the Pakistan Muslim League was almost wholly dominated by
feudal lords such as the Zamindars, Jagirdars, Nawabs, Nawabzadas and
Sardars. Pakistan's major political parties are feudal-oriented, and more than
two-thirds of the National Assembly (Lower House) is composed of this class.
Besides, most of the key executive posts in the provinces are held by them.

The feudal land structure has been present since Pakistan's inception.

The influence of feudalism has been most predominant in the political

Syed Nauman Tauqir – MA IV RURAL SOCIOLOGY Assignment 1

sphere. Pakistan's administrative and political agencies are almost totally

controlled at the higher echelons by feudal lords. Just as the salt in Pakistan's
soil has retarded the growth of crops and vegetables, the feudal influence in
the country's political soil has hindered the growth of democracy.

The relationship between the feudal mentality and the authoritarian

tendency in Pakistan's political life is not difficult to perceive. Where feudal
lords occupy positions as political executives, they tend to consider the
country as their property and the citizens as their subjects.

Authoritarianism is thus entrained in the feudal personality and is as

essential to the feudal system as oxygen is to human life. Freedom of
thought and intellect, and freedom of speech and expression, invariably lead
to the exposure of social inequities and injustices, mobilise public opinion
and generate movements for establishing an egalitarian order.

Therefore, the first target of any feudal regime is the suppression of the
press and academic institutions so as to give the regime the freedom to
control, influence and manipulate to their own ends. A feudal regime,
ultimately, may be conceived of as a regime of intellectual tyranny.

The political power of the feudal class is derived from their economic power,
while their political power enables them to consolidate and expand their
economic power. This combination has given them control over national
affairs and enabled them to thwart democracy in maintaining their
hegemony.