Land system in the Tamil country is always a fascinating subject because of the vast data that are available in inscriptions. In this analytical work the author discusses the control exercised by the kings, feudatory chiefs and officials in the land administration. He also discusses the part played by the various local assemblies such as ur, nagaram and sabha. His study on the various aspects of the land system such as land yield, land use, taxes, exemptions and collection of taxes and the interpretations he offered to the various details embedded in the inscriptions are not only convincing but also interesting. The author also brings out the differences among the carious regions in the matter of land system-revenues, yields and he dwells at length the reasons for such variations. He also throws light on the role of the temples which came to possess large parcels of land and the conditions under which they administered these lands. The chapters on the land-prices, measuring rods, irrigation facilities give a comprehensive picture of the land-system that was prevalent in Tondaimandalam right from the age of the Pallavas.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR J. Sundaram
Dr. J. Sundaram obtained his Ph. D. from Delhi University. He was born in Sivaksai, Ramnad District on 14-4-1927. His first education was started at Mettur Dam and then he came to Chennai. He finished his M.A. in History from Presidency College. He was working as Senior Epigraphical Assisant at Ootacamund in the Office of the Government of India. Then he went to New Delhi there. For Some-time he was he was a Junior Research Officer in the Epigraphy. He wrote a narrative on the "Operation Shanti" (India Army on Peace Mission in Egypt in 1956-1967) which was published by the Ministry of Defence. Then finally he retired as the Senior Research Officer in the Ministry of Defence. After retiring, Dr. S.N. Prasad asked him to write three chapters about the South Indian Army to be included in the Encyclopedia of the Syria Army. He is now working for the Uttankita Vidya Aranya Trust at Mysore (Karnataka), initially inspired by the Paramacharyal of Kamakotipitham, Kanchipuram, (now he has attained siddhi), for publishing in series of volumes, all the inscriptions in Sanskrit those have been edited and dealt with in the various publications concerning this subject, so far.
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