The correct answer is: a) British and peasants.
Zamindars were a class of hereditary landholders in India who were responsible for collecting taxes from peasants and then paying a portion of those taxes to the British East India Company. They were often seen as intermediaries between the British and the peasants, and they played a significant role in the British colonial administration of India.
Option b) is incorrect because princely states were independent kingdoms that were not directly ruled by the British. Option c) is incorrect because local rulers were often in conflict with the British, and they did not typically act as intermediaries between the two groups. Option d) is incorrect because merchants and artisans were not typically involved in the colonial administration of India.
The zamindars were a powerful and influential class in India, and they played a significant role in the history of the country. They were often seen as oppressors of the peasants, and they were a major source of resentment against the British colonial government. However, they also played a vital role in the administration of the country, and they helped to maintain order and stability.