Consider the following statements:
A. Agraharam Grant of Land by ruler for religious purposes, particularly to Brahmins during Chola and Pallava Period.
B. Damin-i-Koh - Land demarcated in 1832 for Santhals.
Which of the following option is correct?

Question

Consider the following statements: 
A. Agraharam Grant of Land by ruler for religious purposes, particularly to Brahmins during Chola and Pallava Period. 
B. Damin-i-Koh - Land demarcated in 1832 for Santhals. 
Which of the following option is correct?

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 3:

Both statements A and B are historically accurate. Statement A refers to **Agraharam**, which was indeed a form of land grant given by rulers in South India for religious purposes, primarily to learned Brahmins (Brahmanas) as a means of royal patronage and to promote Vedic learning. This practice was widely prevalent and well-documented throughout the Pallava and Chola periods (c. 6th to 13th centuries CE) in the Deccan and Southern India. Such grants were tax-free and often meant the land was managed by the Brahmin donees, establishing centers of religious and cultural authority. Statement B correctly identifies **Damin-i-Koh** and its context. Damin-i-Koh, literally meaning "the skirt of the hills," was a large area in the Rajmahal Hills of present-day Jharkhand demarcated by the British colonial administration in 1832. This demarcation was carried out specifically to settle the Santhal community, who were encouraged to clear the forests and practice settled agriculture, intending to secure stable revenue from them. Since both historical statements are factual, the conclusion that both are correct is the right answer.

The incorrect option is 1:
This option suggests that only statement A is correct. While statement A is correct regarding Agraharam grants to Brahmins during the Pallava and Chola eras, this option incorrectly dismisses the accuracy of statement B. The British historical record clearly substantiates the demarcation of Damin-i-Koh in 1832 for Santhal settlement.

The incorrect option is 2:
This option suggests that only statement B is correct. Although statement B is correct, detailing the Damin-i-Koh land demarcation for the Santhals in 1832, this option ignores the historical validity of statement A. Agraharam grants are a fundamental part of the religious and political history of South Indian dynasties like the Pallavas and Cholas.

The incorrect option is 4:
This option suggests that both statements A and B are not correct. This is factually wrong because both terms—Agraharam and Damin-i-Koh—are accurately defined and contextualized in their respective historical periods (Pallava/Chola and British Colonial India, 1832).