Question

4. How far were British agrigarian and tribal policies responsible for widespread discontentment in India? Explain with the help of examples.
​

Answer 1

Answer:

Yes, it is true that British agrarian and tribal policies were responsible for widespread discontentment in India. It is because of the following reasons:

• Tribal chief always remained a main member of the tribe. They enjoyed considerable authority like economic power, had the right to control and manage the territories. But when British interfered in their matters, the power of the chiefs got reduced. They lost their administrative powers and had to follow the rules laid down by the British. They were also asked to pay tribute to the British and to control their people. Even the agrarian policies of the British to cultivate commercial crops led to the widespread discontentment among the peasants.

• They introduced land settlements so that they can fix the revenue and decided the right of each individual. This way they indirectly affected the tribal lives. They introduced ryotwari system, mahalwari system, etc. which was the trick of the British to get higher profits and revenue. This led to the disaffection among the people.

• Britishers introduced forest laws that controlled the forest land, declared reserved forests and declared forests as state property. All this affected the tribal lives as they were completely depended on the forests for food and livelihood. Even when Britishers decided to expand their trade, came to the forest to buy forest produce, offered cash loans and also demanded wages.

All these British agrarian and tribal policies were responsible for widespread discontentment in India.