Zamindari was a land revenue system in India during the British colonial period, where landowners, known as zamindars, were responsible for collecting taxes from the peasants who worked the land. The zamindars would then pay a portion of these taxes to the British government. This system often led to exploitation, as zamindars could impose high taxes on farmers, making it difficult for them to sustain their livelihoods. The Zamindari system was officially abolished in India after independence in 1947, as part of land reforms aimed at redistributing land and reducing the power of large landowners. This change was intended to empower small farmers and promote agricultural productivity.