Choudhury

Choudhury (variously spelt in different areas: Chaudhri, Chaudhari, Chaudhury, Chaudhary) a Sanskrit and Hindi term literally meaning 'a holder of four', the explanation of which is obscure. In some traditions the term is said to derive from a title for a military commander controlling four different fighting forces, namely navy, cavalry, infantry, and elephant corps. From Sanskrit čatus- ‘four-way’, ‘all-round’ + dhurīya ‘undertaking a burden (of responsibility)’ (Sanskrit dhura ‘burden’). The earliest references are from the 16th century.

In some parts of India, a Choudhury was a headman of a village or headman of a profession or trade in town. In Cuttack, Choudhury was a revenue officer of a district. Choudhurys of Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana are mostly Jats. Under Ala ud din Khilji, a Choudhury was a revenue officer next to muqaddam.

During Mughal times there were three superior classes of landholders: Choudhury, zamindar and taluqdar. Choudhury in late Mughal times was taken as next to zamindar in rank though socially a Choudhury was considered superior to a zamindar. "Roy Choudhury" was used by zamindars of Bengal.

See also