With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct?
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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 regions 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: It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.
Option a is the correct answer.
In the Gupta period vishti or forced labour became a source of state income and was looked upon as a sort of taxation paid by the people. So it finds frequent mention along with other taxes in the Gupta inscriptions. The donees were not only provided with land and villages along with right to various taxes, they were also given the right to forced labour. This shows that forced labour was probably more common than in the earlier period. Most of the inscriptions referring to Vishti come from Madhya Pradesh and Kathiawar regions may suggest this practice was more prevalent in these areas.