Question 20 from UPSC CSE 2014 - Culture

Question

In medieval India, the designations 'Mahattara' and 'Pattakila' were used for

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. village officers

Strategy: Focus on the administrative context of medieval Indian rural society. Both 'Mahattara' and 'Pattakila' are recognized in inscriptions as key village functionaries—elders or heads—with roles in village governance, not in military, ritual, or craft domains. None of the other options relate to traditional rural office nomenclature.

Key Info: In medieval India, rural administration featured prominent local officers known as 'Mahattara' and 'Pattakila.'

- 'Mahattara' denotes 'village elder' or senior member of the village council, as found in Sanskrit and Prakrit epigraphic records from various regions, notably central and western India. These individuals acted as representatives of the village in dealings with state authorities and played a crucial part in village-level decision-making and dispute settlement.
- 'Pattakila' is a similar title, designating the chief or headman of a village or group of villages. Frequently referenced in inscriptions and copper plate grants, Pattakilas managed village land records, tax assessments, and local administration.

Both roles were central to local self-governance under various medieval Indian dynastic administrations, preceding and paralleling later positions like Patwari or Gram Pradhan. They did not denote military, priestly, or craft guild leadership functions.

Answer

Option A: military officers

Answer

Option C: specialists in Vedic rituals

Answer

Option D: chiefs of craft guilds