Question

With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct?

• A. It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.
• B. It was totally absent in the Madhya Pradesh and Kathiawar region of the Gupta Empire.
• C. The forced labourer was entitled to weekly wages.
• D. The eldest son of the labourer was sent as the forced labourer.

Answer 1

The correct option is A It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.

Vishti was considered as a source of income for the state, a sort of tax by the people. Junagarh inscription mentions Vishti as one form of tax, which indicates that it was extracted from Gujarat and Malwa region.

Anyone could be sent as a labourer for Vishti, not necessarily the eldest son of the labourer. The forced labourers were not entitled to any weekly wages.