💥Join UPSC 2027,2028 Mentorship (June Batch) + Access XFactor Notes & Microthemes PDF

In medieval India, the designations ‘Mahattara’ and ‘Pattakila’ were used for

In medieval India, the designations ‘Mahattara’ and ‘Pattakila’ were used for

(a)

military officers

(b)

village officers

(c)

specialists in Vedic rituals

(d)

chiefs of craft guilds

Answer:

(b)

Non-traditional

Explanation

Statement a is incorrect: Military officers in medieval India were known by titles such as senapati, nayaka, amirs, not Mahattara or Pattakila. Statement b is correct: Both Mahattara and Pattakila were designations for village-level officers/elders. They were responsible for administration, revenue collection, and maintaining law and order in villages. These terms occur frequently in inscriptions of early medieval India (esp. Deccan and South India). Statement c is incorrect: Specialists in Vedic rituals were called purohitas, ritviks, acharyas, not these designations. Statement d is incorrect: Chiefs of craft guilds were known as sreshthis, nagaramukhyas, jettis, not Mahattara or Pattakila.