With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct?

Correct Option: It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.

Detailed Explanation:

During the Gupta period in ancient India, unpaid forced labour was known as Vishti.

Here are the key historical details regarding Vishti:

1. Tax in the form of Labour: Vishti was viewed as a regular source of income for the state and was treated as a form of tax paid directly by the ordinary subjects/people to the king or local authorities.

2. Prevalence: Epigraphic evidence, including royal copper-plate inscriptions from regions such as Madhya Pradesh and Kathiawar (Gujarat), explicitly mentions Vishti as an obligation attached to land grants. Therefore, it was actively practiced in these regions, making the claim of its total absence incorrect.

3. Nature of Labour: Forced labourers were not entitled to regular weekly wages, as Vishti was by definition forced, unpaid service rendered to the king, administration, or army during tours and campaigns.

4. Customary Rules: There was no specific rule or restriction dictating that only the eldest son of a family had to be sent for forced labour.

Thus, the statement that Vishti was considered a source of income for the State and a sort of tax paid by the people is correct.