Zaildar

The position was quite important as it extended the influence of the colonial state right into the villages.[5] It also reinforced the already dominant social status of the Zaildar with the official government sanction.[2] The Zaildar exercised tremendous authority among the villagers, many of whom looked to him for patronage and assistance, and he alone possessed the power of threats and blandishment within his Zail.[2]

Zails were established and demarcated by the District collector or (also called Deputy Commissioner) during the land revenue settlement exercise. Settlement officer, with advice from the District collector and by the final approval of the state's Financial Commissioner,[1] appointed a Zaildar to each Zail on either (a) hereditary basis, (b) for one life or (c) a fixed tenure,[1] who were equivalent to the Chaudharis (feudal zamindars) of earlier times and were hand-picked by the higher authorities, who based their decision on issues such as caste or tribe, local influence, extent of landholding, services rendered to the state by him or his family, and personal character and ability.[5]^(pp97–98)[2][6] A Zaildar when once appointed should only be removed from office for misconduct or neglect, removal on account of old age or disability caused by an accident is a harsh punishment, in such cases he can continue to operate through a representative.[7]

"The introduction of the zaildari agency into any district must be approved by the local Government [Deputy Commissioner]. Any subsequent increase or decrease in the number of zaildars can be made under the orders of the Financial Commissioner, provided the percentage of the land revenue assigned for their emoluments is not exceeded ... No attempt should be made to fix the limits of zails, but the tribal organization and other important families of the tract should be explained in such detail as is necessary to enable Government to judge whether the agency should be introduced. Any proposals to appoint inamdars [also called safedposh] may be made in the same report. The opinions both of the Settlement Officer and of the Deputy Commissioner should be given. The report should be submitted to Government through the Commissioner and the Financial Commissioner, each of whom should record his views on the proposal made in it."

— Punjab Settlement Manual, 1930 (point 578, page 272).[1]

Zaildars were essentially revenue minister and representatives of the British Empire who enjoyed remuneration for their duties, life grants of either fixed amount[8] or grant equal to one per cent of the revenue of their zails from the assessment of any single village that they chose.[9] Some of the responsibilities of the Zaildar corresponded to the responsibilities that fell under the Deputy Commissioner [such as the revenue collection, mutations, local governance issues, related dispute resolution, etc] and other duties corresponded with the responsibilities that fell under the Settlement officer [such as the revenue settlement, reassessments, preparation of maps, etc].[1] Some of dignified zaildars were

• Sardar.Joginder Singh Batth Zaildar of village Nahar majra of Karnal district (Nowadays currently in kurukshetra district )
• Ch.Pritam Singh Zaildar of village Thol of Karnal district(at present Kurushetra)
• Ch. Ahmad Khan Tarar Lambardar ,Safaidposh & Zaildar was of phalia zail based in 36 village (Phalia distt Gujrat)
• Ch.BARU SINGH ZAILDAR zaildar from village pattikalyana panipat district.
• Nawab Abdullah Virk Zaildar from Poul Bagh, Gurdaspur and His Eldest Son Ch.Qadir Baksh Virk zaildar in Mandi Dhaban Singh (Safdarabad now), Sheikhupura.
• CH.Hansraj Gurjar Zaildar of 25 villages,his son is Ch.Krishnpal Gurjar MoS(2020).
• CH.Tirkha Ram gurjar zaildar,his son is Chaudhary Narain Singh Gurjar former Dy.CM UP.
• Abdul Aziz Tarar. He belongs to Vanike Tarar, district Hafizbad, Punjab, Pakistan.
• Khan Sahib Ghulam Ahmed Khan Zaildar of Village Soita, Jalandhar. He was son of Khan Bahadur Alam Khan (owner of 12,000 acres) and grandson of Khan Bahadur Ghulam Haider Khan (Chief of Sherwani Tribe) [10][11]
• Ch. Sohrab Khan was Zaildar of Mewat Area in Haryana Badgujar Pall (Singaria)

* S.Hari Singh Zaildar of village Kardhan of Ambala

• S.Attar Singh Zaildar of muktsar zail zaildar of muktsar distt country side urban area national freedom fighter
• Malik Amir Khan was Zaildar of Dholar zail based on 09 villages of Talagang Distt Kamalpur
• Sansar Chand was Zaildar of Rahon and Nawanshahar region in Punjab
• Mian Hussain Muhammad Pirzada of district Vehari.
• Khan Bahadur Khan Mohammad Azeem Khan, zaildar of present day Hazro, Attock District
• Mian Mangal Singh Chandel was Zaildar of Naina Devi Dhar in present day Bilaspur Himachal.
• Ali Muhammad Malik (influential landlord),Zaildar of present day village Muradabad, Muzaffargarh District
• Ch.Shankar das Zaildar of Arnia Jammu ( J & K ) Owner of 1500 acres .

In addition to these life inams, or grants, there were some Safedposhi grants of a semi-hereditary nature enjoyed by some of the leading agricultural families. They were semi-hereditary because one of the conditions of the grant was that on the death of an incumbent, his successor should, if possible, be a member of the same family.[9] If, however, there was no fit member of the same family, the grant could be awarded to some deserving Zamindar of the same tribe, who was not already in the enjoyment of such a grant.

Post Indian independence in 1947, the system of Zails, Zaildars and Safedposh continued to exist till 1962 by CM P.S Kairon on the demand of his minister and MLAs because Police and Tehsil officers give more weight to their opinion so this created a awkward situation of undermining the elected MLAs over hereditary post of Zaildars.[12]

Zaildar, a book was written by the Kapur Singh Ghuman in 1972.[13] Punjabi movies with Zialdar title include Zaildar (1972), Nikka Zaildar (2016), "Nikka Zaildar 2" (2017).[14] Popular Punjabi singer Geeta Zaildar uses it as his surname.