The Institution of Slavery in Mithila
Summary
Surveying literary, epigraphic and colonial evidence, the article traces the history of slavery in Mithila from Vedic times to the 19th century. Early texts such as the Aitareya Brahmana and Dharmasutras describe dasas obtained through war, debt and self‑sale, and Buddhist Jataka tales portray household slaves performing domestic and agricultural labour. Categories of slaves are outlined—including hereditary slaves, purchased individuals, those who sought protection during famine and those captured in war—and their rights and restrictions are discussed. In medieval Mithila inscriptions, villages with attached slaves were granted to priests, while Mughal and early British sources note domestic slaves in wealthy households. Price data show that male slaves cost ten to twenty rupees and females five to fifteen. The author explains that although slavery declined under colonial reforms, it evolved into bonded labour and sharecropping rather than disappearing. The article argues that understanding these forms of servitude is essential for contextualising modern exploitative labour systems in northern India.
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Conclusion
The historical survey shows that slavery in Mithila evolved from patriarchal household servitude to more commercialised forms and then into bonded labour. Early categories of slaves—captives, debtors and self‑sold persons—persisted for centuries, and their treatment varied from integration into households to sale as property. Slavery declined only gradually with economic change and legal reforms, leaving behind serf‑like tenancy. Recognising this continuity helps explain present‑day labour exploitation and underscores the need to address its historical roots.