Vatandar

The Vatandar, or Watandar (Hindi: वतनदार) is an Indian term meaning "landholder". The title was given to landowners, particularly in Maharashtra.

The vatandar generally owned a plot of land or vatan/watan worked by the local people, who were dependent on the vatandar for their subsistence. In some cases, vatan land and the title vatandar were awarded to an individual by a higher ruler as reward for meritorious service.

The grant of a watan plot differed from the grant of an inam and a person might hold either or both. While a watan was a hereditary rent-free grant to a village resident in lieu of services that the resident was expected to perform for the village on an ongoing basis, an inam was granted in recognition of past service to the state, usually but not always in relation to the military. A watan grant continued for as long as its holder had the confidence of the village community, whilst an inam grant, which might also take the form of a share of village land revenues, was held in perpetuity.

As a title

 * Koli: Vatandar, or Watandar is a title of the Kolis who were Vatandar in Maratha Empire and "landholder Kolis".
 * Mahar: the Vatandar title also used by Mahars of Maharashtra but they received the payments from chief for their services as Vatandar.
 * Brahmin: the Brahmins were Vatandar under rulers but they were hereditary priest for their rulers and received the Vatan for their duties as Family priest.