rahdari

Trevor planned to remit the Rs. 7,292 in rahdari or transit taxes paid on foreign goods moving through Arghandeh, which was in keeping with Burnes's desire to have the customs house in Kabul serve as the sole point of collecting such fees.

Connecting Histories in Afghanistan: Market Relations and State Formation on a Colonial Frontier 2008

Exported Afghan fruit paid rahdari at two stations between Kabul and Ghazni.

Connecting Histories in Afghanistan: Market Relations and State Formation on a Colonial Frontier 2008

In addition to eliminating the various rahdari tolls in favor of a single tax collected in Kabul, Burnes planned to collect taxes on an increasing volume of textiles moving from South to Central Asia, and on the large amounts of opium, horses and gold currencies moving the opposite direction through the capital city.

Connecting Histories in Afghanistan: Market Relations and State Formation on a Colonial Frontier 2008

Note 2: See Chapter 3 for more on Burnes's attempt to eliminate rahdari collection outside of Kabul. back

Connecting Histories in Afghanistan: Market Relations and State Formation on a Colonial Frontier 2008

For example, for fruit rahdari was trifurcated according to the kind of fruit being transported, by what means of animal carriage, and whether the state or "chiefs and villagers" along the routes collected the dues.

Connecting Histories in Afghanistan: Market Relations and State Formation on a Colonial Frontier 2008

Although it restricted the right of local authorities outside of Kabul to collect rahdari in conformity with Burnes's wishes, Trevor's plan opted to farm out the revenue derived from the movement of foreign fruit through Arghandeh, which deprived the customs house of that revenue as planned by Burnes.

Connecting Histories in Afghanistan: Market Relations and State Formation on a Colonial Frontier 2008

Burnes's reforms consisted mainly of eliminating rahdari or transit taxes collected outside of Kabul on foreign goods moving through the country.

Connecting Histories in Afghanistan: Market Relations and State Formation on a Colonial Frontier 2008

Such a change was in keeping with the colonial agenda of reducing rahdari tolls collected outside Kabul (see earlier). back

Connecting Histories in Afghanistan: Market Relations and State Formation on a Colonial Frontier 2008

Burnes intended to centralize the collection of transit duties or rahdari on the movement of foreign goods through the country at the Kabul customs house.

Connecting Histories in Afghanistan: Market Relations and State Formation on a Colonial Frontier 2008

Village fort-holders (foujdars) and other local notables claiming dues along routes of passage (rahdari) were among the groups most displaced by the colonial reforms and the revenue-farming arrangements they entailed.

Connecting Histories in Afghanistan: Market Relations and State Formation on a Colonial Frontier 2008