Question

Write a short note on condition of peasants under permanent settlement? (for 3 marks)

Answer 1

The condition of the peasants was miserable under the permanent settlement introduced by lord Cornwallis. The zamindars extracted too much amount of money from the peasants and thus they were not able to make their both ends meet. They had to face the tyranny of the zamindars and their condition became more worse during floods and famine.

Answer 2

Land Tenure System of the British was so vile that it shook the entire stable structure of Indianrural society. It's drastic effects on peasantry were:

1. Absentee landlords collected higher and irregular amounts of revenue to please the British, thus pushing peasants into poverty.

2. To make ends meet and pay regular revenue, peasants started selling/mortgaging their land to zamindars or moneylenders. They charged very high rates of interests and sometimes cheated the peasants over payment/non payment.

3. By the late Ryotwari settlement time, revenue was sometimes as high as 80% of total produce. This gradually made peasants mere labourers on their own sold/mortgaged land from its proud owners.

4. During times of natural calamities, they were given any facilities from govt as they used to get during the Mughal era like Taqavi and Sondhar, sometimes even tax exemptions.

Conclusion :-

Indian peasants faced heavy consequences due to permanent land settlement of British. The corrupt moneylenders, police and officials exploited peasants for higher revenue. Farmers became labourers on their own land due to sell/mortgage of their lands. Unemployment was rampant. Purchasing power of the society deteriorated. All this ultimately led to rural indebtedness and severe POVERTY!

Hope this helped