conclusion of the colonialism and the countryside
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Answer:
In India British rule was first of all established in Bengal.
Permanent settlement of land revenue was adopted in Bengal in 1793.
The economic measure adopted by the British government made India a consumer of goods manufactured in England.
By the end of the 18th century when zamindars were facing a crisis, A group of such peasants, on other hand, was consolidating their position in the villages.
With the emergence of the power of zamindars had considerably diminished. They did not surrender easily. So they devised many ways to withstand the pressure and keep their central focus on their zamindaris.
At the end of 18th century, the most adverse effect of the colonial rule fell on the economic condition of the peasants.
As a result of the British occupation of India the Indian economy faced disastrous consequences. To fulfil their vested interests, they shattered their tradition and structure of Indian economy.
Because of the decline of Indian industry, Indian weavers and craftswoman were completely made jobless. The industries in Surat, Dhaka, Murshidaabad, etc which were once flourishing were destroyed.
Historians like Percival Spear, P.E. Robat and R.C. Dutt have praised permanent settlement of land revenue, because
Government Income became stable
Administration became efficient
British rule got stable.
Permanent settlement of Revenue was also criticised on the basis of—
It did not proved beneficial for Zamindars.
It ingrained the interest of cultivators.
Burden of taxes fell on other classes.
Mahalwari system of land revenue was implemented in Punjab. The group of villages were called ‘Mahal’. So the system was known as Mahalwari system.
The objective of the Fifth Report was to restrain and control the activities of East India company in India.
The East India Company of England established its control in the countryside and implemented its revenue policies. In this chapter, we will discuss what these policies meant to people and how these changed the daily lives of people.
Bengal and the Zamindars:
Colonial rule was first established in Bengal. In Bengal, East India Company tried to reorder the rural society and establish new land rights and new revenue system.
There was an auction held at Burdwan (present day Bardhaman) in 1797, which was popularly known as Grand Public Event.
Company fixed the revenue and each zamindar was supposed to pay. This fixing of revenue was done under the Permanent Settlement and it become operational from year 1793.
The Zamindars who failed to pay the revenue, their estate was auctioned to recover the revenue. But sometimes it was found that the purchasers at auction were servants and agents of the zamindar himself, e.g. auction in Burdwan.
The Problem of Unpaid Revenue:
The British officials fell that agriculture, trade and the revenue resources of the state could be developed by encouraging investment in agriculture. This could be done by securing rights of property and permanently fixing the rates of revenue demand.
Company felt that when revenue will be fixed, it will provide opportunity to individual to invest in agriculture as a means of making profit and company will also be assured of regular flow of revenue.
After a prolonged debate amongst company officials, the permanent settlement was made with the rajas and taluqdars of Bengal.
Zamindars had several, sometimes even 400 villages under them.
Zamindars collected rent from the different villages, paid the revenue to the company, and retained the difference as his income.
Reasons for Non-Payment by Zamindars:
A number of reasons were responsible for non-repayment of revenue by zamindars which include that revenue demands were kept very high. It was imposed at a time when prices of agricultural produce was very low, so peasants found it difficult to pay.
Zamindars were also treated by strict laws i.e. the Sunset Law’, which was completely regardless of the harvest. According to this law, zamindars had to pay revenue by sunset of the specified date, otherwise zamindari was liable to be auctioned.
Besides these, permanent settlement and company reduced the power of Zamindars. Sometimes ryots and village headman-jotedar deliberately delayed the payments.
Limitations Imposed on Zamindars by the Company:
Zamindars were important for the company but it also wanted to control and regulate them, subdue their authority and restrict their autonomy.
Thus, the zamindars’ troops were disbanded, customs duties abolished and their ‘cutcheries’ (courts) brought under the supervision of a collector appointed by the company.
Zamindars lost their power to organise local justice and local police.
Over time zamindars were severely restricted and their powers were seized