Question 26 from UPSC CSE 2016 - Medieval
History

Question

With reference to the economic history of medieval India, the term 'Araghatta' refers to

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. waterwheel used in the irrigation of land

Strategy: Identify 'Araghatta' as a historical term related to medieval Indian economic history. Use direct factual recall to recognize it as an irrigation technology, specifically a water-lifting device. Select the answer that matches this definition and eliminate options describing unrelated concepts like bonded labour, land grants, or wasteland conversion.

Key Info: The term **'Araghatta'** (or sometimes 'Arhat' or 'Rahat' in later forms) refers to a **waterwheel or a water-lifting device** predominantly used for irrigation in ancient and medieval India.

*   **Origin and Mechanism:** The word 'Araghatta' has Sanskrit roots. It typically denotes a mechanical contrivance, often involving a chain of pots or buckets, rotated by animal power (e.g., oxen) or human effort, to draw water from wells, rivers, or canals to irrigate agricultural land.
*   **Historical Significance:** It was a crucial innovation that significantly boosted agricultural productivity and supported settled agriculture by enabling irrigation in regions with deeper water tables or seasonal water scarcity. Its widespread use is attested in ancient and medieval literature and archaeological findings.
*   **Evolution and Variants:** While 'Araghatta' is a general term for water-lifting wheels, more advanced versions, often termed the 'Persian wheel' (though its origin is debated, and it was significantly refined in India), became prominent during the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal periods. The basic concept of lifting water using a wheel and pots, however, existed much earlier in India.
*   **Economic Impact:** The 'Araghatta' played a vital role in the agrarian economy by facilitating intensive cultivation and supporting a larger population, thus contributing to the economic prosperity of various kingdoms throughout medieval India.

Answer

Option A: bonded labour

Answer

Option B: land grant made to military officers

Answer

Option D: wasteland converted to cultivated land