In medieval India, the designations ‘Mahattara’ and ‘Pattakila’ were used for
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2014 Prelims]
(a) military officers
(b) village headmen
(c) specialists in Vedic rituals
(d) chiefs of craft guilds
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
- During medieval India, the titles ‘Mahattara’ and ‘Pattakila’ were used to refer to village headmen, who were the leaders of their respective communities and held most of the land in the village.
- The term ‘Mansab’ referred to a military rank bestowed by the Mughal emperor, while ‘Prathama-kulika’ denoted the chief craftsmen.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
