Question

With reference to forced labour(Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct?

(a) It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.

(b) It was totally absent in the Madhya Pradesh and Kathiawar regions of the Gupta Empire.

(c) The forced labourer as entitled to weekly wages.

(d) The eldest son of the labourer was sent as the forced labourer.

Answer 1

(a) It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.

Forced labour (Vishti) became more common than before in this Gupta period. The fact that it is mentioned along with the taxes in the land grant inscriptions suggest that Vishti was considered as source of income for the state, a sort of tax paid by the people. The fact that most of the inscriptions referring to Vishti come from Madhya Pradesh and Kathiyawar regions may suggest this practice for more prevalent in this areas.