Abstract
In the pre-independence period, Gujarat the Rayatwari system was predominant in the presidencies where land rights were with the tillers, who were subjected to regular payment of revenue. Tenants in Gujarat and Saurashtra were mostly Patidars by caste. They had become politically powerful by the time of Independence due to participation in the Indian freedom movement under Gandhi. Since they were the beneficiaries of reforms, they had enacted progressive laws., land reforms have met with mixed success in achieving equitable distribution of land. The intermediaries between the state and the actual tillers have been removed, but efforts to provide land to the tiller have not been successful even though the distribution of land has become a little less unequal. Although the number of tenants has come down, unwritten contractual arrangements have increased. Thus, large-scale concealed tenancy still exists. So is the case with reverse tenancy-leasing-out land by marginal and small farmers to medium and large farmers, incidents which have increased in recent time.