Feudalism and Pakistan: Impact on Primary Education
Keywords:
Feudalism, Pakistan, Primary Education, Educational Inequality, Socio-Economic ReformsAbstract
This paper undertakes a comparative analysis of historical and contemporary feudal systems, contrasting the classic models of European and Japanese Feudalism (characterized by contractual fealty and military hierarchy, respectively) with the pervasive, exploitative structure of Pakistani Quasi-Feudalism. Defined by the monopoly of land and political influence held by a small percentage of dominant families, Pakistani feudalism sustains a complex hierarchy built on generational debt, dependence, and the subjugation of the peasantry, and crucially, this entrenched socio-economic and political fabric creates profound and systemic educational gaps. By synthesizing the legal challenges, cultural sustaining factors, and direct consequences on the peasantry, this work aims to highlight the urgent need for socio-economic reforms, with the concluding sections proposing actionable strategies for removing these systemic barriers and presenting a clear call to action to address educational inequality rooted in feudal practices.
References
Bloom, R. L., Crapster, B. L., et al. (n.d.). Medieval feudalism.
Bloom, R. L., Crapster, B. L., et al. (2009). Medieval feudalism. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1478-0542.2009.00610.x
Couldry, N., & Mejias, U. A. (n.d.). What’s the matter with privacy? Power and politics in the age of platforms. University of Copenhagen Research Portal.
Cronin, B. (n.d.). New trends in higher education: Can information professionals rise to the challenge? ScienceDirect.
Journal of Consumer Culture. (n.d.). https://doi.org/10.1111/ecca.12508
Journal of Oriental Studies. (2021). https://doi.org/10.26577/JOS.2021.v97.i2.09
Instituto de Investigaciones Jurídicas. (2019). https://doi.org/10.22201/iij.24484873e.2019.156.15169
SpringerLink. (n.d.). Feudalism: Reflections on a tyrannical construct’s fate.
Economic Theory. (n.d.). Feudal political economy.
Banaji, J. (1980). Was there feudalism in Indian history? The Journal of Peasant Studies.
Global Social Science Review. (n.d.). https://www.humapub.com/admin/alljournals/gssr/papers/8lTWbEEw6l.pdf
University of the Punjab. (n.d.). https://pu.edu.pk/images/journal/history/PDF-FILES/15_54_1_17.pdf
Scribd. (n.d.). Ancient India: A reappraisal. https://www.scribd.com/document/736044549
Naz, S., & Luqman, M. (2023). Feudalism in British India: Causes and consequences. Advances in Humanities and Social Sciences, 4(II). https://doi.org/10.35484/ahss.2023(4-II)69
Vajiram & Ravi. (n.d.). Permanent settlement. https://vajiramandravi.com/upsc-exam/permanent-settlement/
Amin, S., & Gillani, A. H. (2023). The feudal and political system in Pakistan: A historical analysis of South Punjab (1969–1990). Global Social Sciences Review, 8(1), 224–237. https://doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-I).21
Journal of Peasant Studies. (1981). https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03066158108438139
British Journal of Sociology of Education. (2022). https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01425692.2022.2035679
Pakistan Development Review. (n.d.). https://thepdr.pk/index.php/pdr/article/view/2956
Pakistan Social Sciences Review. (n.d.). https://pssr.org.pk/issues/v4/1/determinants-of-factors-influencing-dropout-in-public-primary-schools-in-rural-sindh.pdf
Journal of Business and Social Engineering Education. (n.d.). https://publishing.globalcsrc.org/ojs/index.php/jbsee/article/view/2280
Government of Punjab. (2014). Punjab Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2014.
Government of Punjab, School Education Department. (2024). Punjab Free and Compulsory Education Rules.
Government of Punjab, Schools Department. (2019). Punjab education sector plan 2019/20–2023/24.
Government of Pakistan. (2023). Pakistan education statistics 2022–23.
ASER Pakistan. (2023). Annual status of education report.
Government of Pakistan. (2024). National Education Policy Development Framework (NEP 2024).
Government of Sindh. (n.d.). https://sindheducation.gov.pk/
Reform Support Unit Sindh. (2019). Sindh education sector plan & roadmap 2019–24. https://www.rsu-sindh.gov.pk/contents/publications/SESP%26R%202019-24.pdf
Government of Sindh. (2018). Sindh Non-Formal Education Policy.
Government of Gilgit-Baltistan. (n.d.). Acts and legislation. https://gilgitbaltistan.gov.pk/pages/acts
UNDP. (2019). Study report. https://itacec.org/document/2019/september/UNDP_Study_Report_Ver_2.0.pdf
Scribd. (n.d.). Feudal system in Pakistan. https://www.scribd.com/document/337060603
The Friday Times. (2025). Pakistan’s landed elite choking progress with unchecked power and privilege.
House of Pakistan. (n.d.). Feudalism in educational institutes of Pakistan.
Global Social Sciences Review. (n.d.). The feudal and political system in Pakistan. https://www.gssrjournal.com/article/the-feudal-and-political-system-in-pakistan
Hamariweb. (n.d.). Feudalism in Pakistan. https://hamariweb.com/articles/58971
JSTOR. (n.d.). https://www.jstor.org/stable/30181126
Educationist. (n.d.). Feudalism in Pakistan: Unearthing the shadows of past.
J World Times. (n.d.). Feudalism in Pakistan.
Freethinker. (2024). The evils of feudalism in Pakistan.
ResearchGate. (n.d.). Feudal dominance in district Vehari.
Pakistan Social Sciences Review. (n.d.). Educational exclusion of children in Southern Punjab.
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Feudalism in Pakistan. Wikipedia.
ReliefWeb. (n.d.). These “ghost” schools are not for children.
Innovapath. (n.d.). https://innovapath.us/index.php/IN/article/view/9
Jahan-e-Tahqeeq. (n.d.). https://jahan-e-tahqeeq.com/index.php/jahan-e-tahqeeq/article/view/1471
