Loading PDF...
Chapter Analysis
Intermediate12 pages • EnglishQuick Summary
This chapter explores how the East India Company established its rule over the Indian countryside, focusing on revenue collection and crop production strategies. It discusses the Diwani rights granted to the Company in 1765, leading to new revenue systems like the Permanent Settlement and Mahalwari system. The chapter also details the impact of these systems on peasants, zamindars, and the economy, including the famines and rebellions that ensued. The role of indigo cultivation and the subsequent 'Blue Rebellion' illustrate the oppressive agricultural practices enforced by the British.
Key Topics
- •Diwani rights and sovereignty
- •Permanent Settlement and its effects
- •Mahalwari and Ryotwari systems
- •Indigo cultivation and its impacts
- •Revenue policies under the British
- •Agrarian distress and famines
- •The Blue Rebellion against indigo planters
Learning Objectives
- ✓Understand the mechanisms of British revenue systems in India.
- ✓Analyze the economic impacts of colonial agricultural policies.
- ✓Identify the causes and consequences of agrarian rebellions.
- ✓Evaluate the social and political implications of Diwani rights.
- ✓Examine the role of indigo in colonial economy and resistance movements.
- ✓Discuss the challenges faced by Indian peasants under British rule.
Questions in Chapter
Match the following: ryot, mahal, nij, ryoti
Page 37
Fill in the blanks: (a) Growers of woad in Europe saw __________ as a crop which would provide competition to their earnings.
Page 37
Describe the main features of the Permanent Settlement.
Page 37
How was the mahalwari system different from the Permanent Settlement?
Page 37
Give two problems which arose with the new Munro system of fixing revenue.
Page 38
Why were ryots reluctant to grow indigo?
Page 38
What were the circumstances which led to the eventual collapse of indigo production in Bengal?
Page 38
Additional Practice Questions
What were the main features of the Ryotwari system and how did it impact the Indian peasants?
mediumAnswer: The Ryotwari system involved direct settlement between the British government and the peasants (ryots), bypassing zamindars. The peasants' holdings were assessed individually, and they were liable for tax payment directly to the state. This system made the ryots more vulnerable to high revenue demands, leading to debt and hardship.
Discuss the economic impacts of indigo cultivation on Bengal’s agrarian society.
hardAnswer: Indigo cultivation prioritized export-oriented farming over subsistence farming, leading to food shortages as fertile lands were used for indigo instead of food crops like rice. The exploitative contracts further impoverished farmers, trapping them in cycles of debt.
Explain the reasons behind the failure of the Permanent Settlement system.
mediumAnswer: The Permanent Settlement failed due to the high revenue demands that zamindars could not meet without investing in land improvements. As the revenue was fixed permanently, zamindars had little incentive to improve productivity, causing financial strain and leading to widespread agricultural decline.
Analyze the role of the Indigo Commission in addressing the issues faced by indigo peasants.
mediumAnswer: The Indigo Commission criticized the planters' coercive practices and declared indigo cultivation unprofitable for peasants. It advised ryots to complete existing contracts but allowed them the freedom to refuse indigo cultivation in the future, easing some of the oppressive conditions.
How did the 'Blue Rebellion' reflect the socio-political environment of the time?
hardAnswer: The 'Blue Rebellion' was a reaction to the exploitative indigo cultivation system. It highlighted the widespread agrarian discontent and local support for the peasants, as even zamindars opposed planter dominance, indicating a larger resistance to colonial economic policies.