What is "saranjamdar"

A Saranjam is a non-hereditary grant of land for maintenance of troops or for military service found among the Maratha community in Maharashtra and the former Maratha occupied regions of India, including territories in present-day Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. The grant was bestowed by a king or regional ruler. The Saranjam system is related to the Jagir system. The land was mostly in the form of a rural Watan (rights given in reward for previous service or merit) or Jagir, its owner being entitled to extract revenue from the villages included in the area. Saranjamdar was the title given to the landlord or holder of a Saranjam. Usually it was bestowed on that person for heroic deeds in the military field, thus most Saranjamdars were former military officers.