Question

1. Why was the jotedar a powerful figure in many areas
of rural Bengal?​

Answer 1

Jotedars were rich peasants in Bengal.The Jotedars controlled trade and commerce including money lending business at the local level. In order to weaken the Zamindars, Jotedars would mobilise ryots not to pay or delay payment towards land revenue.

Answer 2

Jotedars were rich peasants in Bengal. They owned big plots of land sometimes running into thousand of acres of land. They controlled local trade and commerce including the money lending business.
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