There were three different kinds of people living in most villages in the northern part of India. They were: 1. Gram Bhojaka: The village headman was known as the Gram Bhojaka. The post was usually hereditary. They were the largest landowners. 2. Grihapatis: Independent farmers were known as Grihapatis. Most of these were smaller landowners. 3. Karmakara: Men and women who did not own land and had to earn a living working on the fields owned by others or working as slaves to others were called as the dasas or karmakaras.