Analyze the structural evolution of the Janmi-Kanam-Verumpattam land tenure system in medieval Kerala: 1. The 'Kanam' tenure represented a traditional leasehold right where the tenant paid a stipulated share of produce and an advance security deposit to the Janmi landlord. 2. This system was entirely a creation of British colonial revenue settlements and had no precedent in the pre-Portuguese feudal structure of Kerala. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

💡 Solution & Explanation

The Kanam tenure was an indigenous customary leasehold arrangement in medieval Kerala where the tenant held occupancy rights and paid a share of produce along with an advance security deposit called Kanartham to the Janmi landlord. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Janmi-Kanam system evolved from ancient feudal, temple, and royal land-grant traditions centuries before British administrative settlements. In historical examinations, understanding pre-colonial agrarian relations helps analyze subsequent peasant rebellions against landlord oppression.