Old land records from Bihar and Jharkhand can contain words that are unfamiliar to today’s readers. Terms such as gair mazarua aam, gair mazarua khas, bakasht, shikmi rayat and istamrari may appear in a khatiyan, cadastral map, rent record, settlement paper or family deed. Understanding them helps you read a document more carefully—but a word in an old record should never be treated as a final legal decision about ownership.
This Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary explains important historical revenue vocabulary in plain English, with common Hindi spellings, practical examples and steps for checking the original record. It is designed for readers researching ancestral land, old khatiyans and records written in Kaithi or other historical scripts.
Important: spellings and meanings can vary by district, survey period and document type. For present-day decisions, compare the old entry with current official records and seek advice from the relevant revenue office or a qualified property lawyer.
Kaithi Land Revenue Terms: Quick Reference to Bihar Revenue Meanings
| Term | Common Hindi form | Plain-English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Gair Mazarua Aam | गैर मजरुआ आम | Land historically described as being for common or public use |
| Gair Mazarua Khas / Malik | गैर मजरुआ खास / मालिक | A historical classification associated with land not recorded as an ordinary raiyat holding; context matters |
| Bakasht | बकास्त | A historical land-tenure or cultivation classification, with legal meaning depending on the record and applicable law |
| Shikmi / Shikmi Raiyat | शिकमी / शिकमी रैयत | A term used in some records for a subordinate or derivative tenancy/occupancy relationship; verify locally |
| Istamrari | इस्तमरारी | Generally associated with a permanent or continuing tenure or revenue arrangement in historical usage |
| Raiyat | रैयत | A cultivator or tenant recognised under the relevant tenancy and revenue context |
| Khatiyan | खतियान | A record-of-rights or survey record containing details about holdings and recorded interests |
| Khata | खाता | An account or holding identifier in the relevant record |
| Khesra | खेसरा | A plot number used to identify a parcel in a revenue record or map |
| Mauza | मौजा | A revenue village or survey unit |
1. Kaithi Land Revenue Terms: Gair Mazarua Aam meaning
Gair Mazarua Aam is commonly used for land recorded as being for common or public use. Historical examples can include village paths, grazing areas, ponds, burial grounds or other shared spaces, depending on the record and local context. The Bihar Revenue and Land Reforms Department’s published glossary describes this category in terms of land used by the community rather than an ordinary private raiyat holding.
In everyday language, the word aam means common or general. But do not decide a parcel’s status from the label alone. The record may be old, the spelling may differ, and the plot may have been affected by later survey entries, settlement proceedings, acquisition, court orders or other official action.
Example: if an old khatiyan labels a plot as Gair Mazarua Aam, treat that as a signal to investigate its recorded classification and public-use history. Do not assume that a private sale deed automatically proves the seller could transfer it.
2. Kaithi Land Revenue Terms: Gair Mazarua Khas Bihar meaning
Gair Mazarua Khas, sometimes written with the word Malik, is another historical classification found in Bihar land records. It is not interchangeable with Gair Mazarua Aam. Older revenue terminology often used the distinction to describe different kinds of land that were not recorded as ordinary tenant holdings.
Many simplified online explanations state that Gair Mazarua Khas land was retained by a former intermediary or landlord and later vested in the State under land-reform law. That historical summary is not enough to determine the present legal status of an individual plot. The original entry, applicable law, settlement history and subsequent official orders must be reviewed together. The Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary is only the first step in that review.
If this phrase appears in your family’s record, note the exact spelling, khata and khesra numbers, survey year and remarks column. Then compare the old record with the latest available Record of Rights and any relevant orders from the Circle Office or other competent authority.
3. Kaithi Land Revenue Terms: Bakasht land meaning
Bakasht is a significant term in Bihar’s land and tenancy history. Its meaning is connected with land described as being under the cultivation or possession of a proprietor or tenure-holder in historical revenue and tenancy contexts. The precise definition depends on the applicable law and the period in which the entry was made. This is why the Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary describes historical context rather than making a title determination.
Bakasht land also appears in the history of agrarian disputes and the end of the zamindari system. Historical records and legal texts do not always use the word in exactly the same way, so it is risky to reduce it to a simple label such as “private land” or “government land.” The word alone does not settle who owns a parcel today.
When you encounter Bakasht in a khatiyan, look for the name of the recorded person, the tenure details, the rent or revenue column, remarks, survey date and later changes. Cross-check the entry against current records and official orders before relying on it for a purchase, inheritance claim or mutation application. That is the safest way to apply the Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary to a real record.
4. Kaithi Land Revenue Terms: Shikmi Rayat or Shikmi Raiyat meaning
Shikmi and Shikmi Raiyat are terms encountered in some historical tenancy records. In broad usage, shikmi can refer to a subordinate, derivative or secondary tenancy relationship, while raiyat refers to a cultivator or tenant in the relevant legal setting. However, local practice and the governing tenancy law matter; the phrase should not be interpreted without reading the surrounding entry.
Check whether the document names a principal raiyat, an under-tenant, a rent obligation, a period of cultivation or a particular right. Also check whether the entry is in the original survey khatiyan, a later revisional survey record, a rent roll or a private document. These are not necessarily equivalent forms of evidence. Use the Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary to identify terms, then compare the underlying documents.
If the term affects a family dispute or an ownership question, preserve a readable copy of the whole page rather than just a cropped word. The column headings, adjacent names and remarks may change how the entry should be understood. Keep the Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary beside the original page as a reading aid, not as a legal ruling.
5. Kaithi Land Revenue Terms: Istamrari land meaning
Istamrari is a historical revenue and tenure term generally associated with permanence or a continuing arrangement. In older records, the term may describe a tenure or revenue relationship, but its exact implication can depend on the estate, settlement, document date and legal framework.
Do not automatically translate Istamrari as “absolute ownership” or assume that it removes every later legal restriction. Read the complete phrase and determine whether the document refers to tenure, rent, a grant, an estate or another arrangement. A single word rarely provides the whole legal picture.
For research, record the original spelling in the script used by the document, a transliteration, the document’s date and the name of the office or authority associated with it. These details make it easier to ask a revenue official or legal researcher a precise question. The Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary can help you prepare that question clearly.
6. Kaithi Land Revenue Terms: Other Useful Revenue Vocabulary
Raiyat
A raiyat is generally a cultivator or tenant recognised under the relevant tenancy framework. The legal rights attached to that status depend on the applicable law and the historical facts; the word should not be treated as a universal synonym for modern registered owner. The Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary keeps historical meanings separate from present-day title questions.
Khatiyan or Record of Rights
A khatiyan is a survey or record-of-rights document. It can contain recorded names, holding details, plot references, land classification and other information. Old khatiyans may be handwritten and may use Kaithi or another script. Learn more in our Kaithi Script Guide and our guide to reading a Kaithi khatiyan. These linked guides complement the Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary with script-reading support.
Khata and Khesra
A khata identifies an account or holding in the relevant record, while a khesra identifies a plot. They are related identifiers, not synonyms. The exact way they are displayed can differ across record types and survey periods. These identifiers help readers use the Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary in context. See our explanation of Mauza, Khata, Khesra and Thana numbers. Together, these identifiers help readers use the Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary in context.
Mauza
A mauza is a revenue village or survey unit used to organise records and maps. A mauza boundary or name may not correspond exactly to a modern panchayat or everyday village boundary.
Jamabandi
Jamabandi is a revenue register or record used in the relevant state system to show recorded holdings and associated revenue details. A Jamabandi entry is important to check, but it should be considered alongside deeds, survey records, mutation orders and other relevant documents.
Mutation or Dakhil-Kharij
Mutation, often called dakhil-kharij, is the process of updating revenue records after a transaction, inheritance or another recognised event. A mutation entry is not a substitute for examining the underlying title documents and applicable law. This distinction is repeated in the Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary because it is important for readers.
Abadi, Parti and other land descriptions
Older records may also include words describing settlement, habitation, cultivation or land use. Their meaning can change with regional usage and the column in which they appear. The Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary therefore treats context as essential. Read the heading and surrounding entries before translating any term.
7. How to read an old Bihar or Jharkhand land entry
- Identify the record. Note whether you are reading a cadastral survey khatiyan, revisional survey record, map, rent register, deed or court order.
- Write down the location. Record the district, subdivision, anchal or circle, mauza and thana details where shown.
- Copy the identifiers accurately. Preserve the khata and khesra numbers exactly as written. Old numerals and handwriting can be misread.
- Read the column heading. A term in a land-classification column may mean something different from the same word in a remarks or rent column.
- Keep the full context. Record the name, tenure, rent details, marginal notes and adjoining entries rather than interpreting a single word in isolation.
- Compare survey periods. Check whether later survey records or official orders changed the entry, and document the dates of the records you compare.
- Verify through official channels. Use the Bihar Bhumi portal and the official Record of Rights service as starting points, then contact the relevant revenue office if the online entry is missing, unclear or disputed.
8. Where to verify current records in Bihar
For current information, start with the official Bihar Bhumi portal. The portal provides revenue services and publishes a Revenue Glossary. You can also consult the official Bihar Record of Rights search to locate available record details by area and identifiers. Use the Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary to understand vocabulary, then verify the parcel through official records.
The Department’s Revenue Glossary Terms PDF is a useful starting point for checking official terminology, including Bakasht and Gair-Mazrua categories. It is a reference for vocabulary, not a parcel-specific ownership certificate. Always check whether a current entry, order or court decision applies to your land. Read the Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary alongside the official reference. The Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary should be read alongside this official reference.
Online records may be incomplete, difficult to read or inconsistent with older documents. If the plot is involved in a sale, inheritance, boundary dispute, government-land concern or litigation, obtain certified copies where appropriate and consult the competent revenue authority or a qualified lawyer. Use the Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary for orientation, not as a substitute for professional review.
9. Common mistakes when interpreting revenue terms
- Assuming a label proves ownership: a historical classification is one part of the evidence, not necessarily the final legal answer.
- Mixing up Aam and Khas: the terms are distinct and should not be used interchangeably.
- Ignoring the survey year: an old cadastral entry and a later revisional survey entry may differ for reasons that require investigation.
- Using a machine translation alone: OCR or automatic translation can misread Kaithi handwriting, abbreviations and old numerals.
- Checking only one record: compare the khatiyan, map, current revenue entry, deed and relevant orders as appropriate.
- Assuming Bihar and Jharkhand use every term identically: historical terminology overlaps, but local records, laws and administrative practices may differ.
10. Kaithi Land Revenue Terms: Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gair Mazarua Aam mean in Bihar?
It generally refers to land historically recorded for common or public use. The specific parcel’s current status must be verified from the complete record and relevant official orders. This distinction is explained in the Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary.
What is the difference between Gair Mazarua Aam and Gair Mazarua Khas?
Gair Mazarua Aam is commonly associated with community or public use, while Gair Mazarua Khas or Malik is a distinct historical classification. Do not infer present ownership from the term alone. The Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary explains why the original record and its date matter.
Does Bakasht mean that the land is privately owned?
Not by itself. Bakasht has a specific historical and legal context. The applicable law, record date, subsequent entries and official orders must be considered. This caution also applies when using the Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary for research.
What does Shikmi Raiyat mean in an old khatiyan?
It can refer to a subordinate or derivative tenancy relationship in some historical records. The exact meaning depends on the local usage, legal context and surrounding entries. For that reason, the Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary recommends checking the full page.
What does Istamrari mean in old land records?
It is generally associated with a permanent or continuing tenure or revenue arrangement in historical usage. Read the complete entry before deciding what rights it describes.
Can I rely on this glossary to buy land?
No. Use a glossary to understand terminology, not as a substitute for title verification. Before buying, check the relevant deed chain, current records, survey map, mutation history, encumbrances and any disputes with appropriate professional help. Treat the Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary as background reading only.
Conclusion
This Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary is a starting point for decoding historical land vocabulary used in Bihar and parts of Jharkhand. Gair Mazarua Aam, Gair Mazarua Khas, Bakasht, Shikmi Raiyat and Istamrari are terms with historical context, and their meaning depends on the record, date, location and applicable law.
For reliable research, preserve the original wording, compare the complete entry with current official records and avoid making ownership decisions based on one label. If the record affects a transaction or legal claim, ask the relevant revenue office or a qualified property lawyer to review the documents. This is the responsible way to apply the Kaithi Land Revenue Terms glossary.