Q. With reference to the economic history of medieval India the term ‘Araghatta’ refers to
(a) bonded labour
(b) Land grants made to military officers
(c) Waterwheel used in the irrigation of land
(d) Wasteland converted to cultivated land
Ans: (c) Waterwheel used in the irrigation of land
Explanation: With reference to the economic history of medieval India, the term ‘Araghatta’ refers to (c) Waterwheel used in the irrigation of land.
An Araghatta was a type of water-lifting device used for irrigation purposes in medieval India. It consisted of a large wooden wheel with buckets attached to it. The wheel would be turned by the force of flowing water from a nearby source such as a river or canal, and the buckets would lift water from the source and pour it into a canal or channel for irrigation. The Araghatta played a crucial role in improving agricultural productivity by facilitating the irrigation of farmland, particularly in regions where water scarcity was a challenge.
