THEME – 10
COLONIALISM AND THE COUNTRYSIDE
Exploring official archives
Key concepts in nutshell- Bengal- Establishment of colonial rule- New land revenue, Auction system under Warren Hastings, 1793 Permanent Revenue settlement in Bengal by Lord Cornwallis 10/11th part of produce - British, 1/11th part of produce to zamidars
- Crises in village economy, revenue demand of the state was fixed.
- The rise of the Jotedars, Their land was cultivated through share croppers.
- Resistance of Zamindars, their land was auctioned frequently.
- The fifth report- report submitted to British parliament 1813.
- The Hoe and the Plough- Shifting agriculture, expensive of village economy.
- Paharias - hunters food gathers connected with forests, invaded settled farmers 1770
- Santhals- settled in Bengal- practiced cultivation; land demarcated to them known as Damin-i-Koh.
- Conflicts with unsettled Paharias- 1850- they resisted the British- Santhals revolt.
- Revolt in the Bombay and Deccan- 1875.
- Burning of account book of money lenders and shop keepers
- New revenue System- Ryotwari system in Bombay Deccan- Direct settlement, land assessed for 30 years subject to periodic revision.
- Experience of injustice by peasants.
OTQ (1 MARKS)
Ans. Gonernment of Bombay set up commission of enquiry to investigate causes of deccan riots.
Q.2. When did limitation law passed by British ?
Ans. 1859
Q.3. Who were Paharias?
Ans. Paharias were hill folk.
Q.4. Who were Jotedars?
Ans. Jotedar were located in village and exercise direct control over a considerable section of poor villagers.
Q.5. What was the British policy towards Pahariyas?
Ans. In 1770 the British embarked upon a brutal policy of extermination hunting Pahariyas down and killing them.
Q.6. What were Paharias livelihood?
Ans. Subsisting on forest produce and practicing shifting cultivation.
Q.7. Why did Zamidar defaulted at payment?
Ans. The initial demand was very high. This was because it failed.
S. A. (3 Marks)
Ans. Agricultural products prices were very low. The East India Company had fixed high amount of revenue.
Q.9 What steps were taken by East India Company to control the Zamindars?
Ans.
(1) The troops of Zamindars were disbanded;
(2) The courts were brought under the control of British collectors.
Q.10. How did Jotdars resist Zamindars?
Ans.
(1) They prevented Zamindars from performing their duties;
(2) They mobilized riots against Zamindars.
Q.11 When and who introduced permanent settlement?
Ans. In 1793, Lord Cornwallis introduced permanent settlement.
Q.12 what were the demerits of ryotwori system?
Ans. The land revenue was very high. To pay land revenue was compulsory.
Q.13 what was fifth report?
Ans.The fifth report was submitted to the British Parliament in 1813 about administrative activities of the East India Company.
Q.14 Examine the policies adopted by the British towards Paharias during 18th century.
Ans.
(1) Firstly British adopted policy of extermination.
(2) Augustus Cleveland, the collector of Bhagalpur proposed policy of pacification.
(3) Under policy of pacification Paharia chiefs was to ensure proper conduct of their men.
(4) Paharia went into mountains and deep forests and continued their war against outsiders.
Q.15. What was Damin-i-Koh? Why did Santhals resist against Britishers during 18th century.
Ans. Damin-i-Koh was a large area given by British to Santhals. The colonial government had imposed heavy taxes on their land. The money lenders were charging high rates of interest and snatching their lands. The Zamindars asserted control over their land.
Q.16 How did the Zamindars manage to retain control over their Zamindaris?
Ans.
(1) Benami sales enabled the estate to be sold at a low price back to the Zamindar.
(2) New Zamindars were attacked by former Zamindars.
(3) The ryots resisted the entry of outsiders.
(4) Some Zamindaris were declared property of ladies.
Q.17 Why Jotedar were more powerful than Zamindar?
Ans.
(1) The Jotedar had vast area of land.
(2) He was a local moneylender.
(3) He was local trader.
(4) The Jotedar lived in the village.
(5) He would not allow Zamindar to perform his duties.
Q.18. How did American civil war affect the lives of ryots in India?
Ans.
(1) Traders of the Bombay persuaded farmer for growing more cotton.
(2) Money lenders were ready for long term loans.
(3) Cotton productive area doubled between 1860-1864.
(4) The government started to collect more land revenue from peasants.
(5) Only rich farmers gained profit.
Q.19 What are the problems of using official sources in writing about the history of peasants?
Ans.
(1) The official sources reflect official concerns and interpretation of events.
(2) The government was not ready to admit that discontent was because of government action.
(3) Official reports must be verified with evidence gathered from newspapers, unofficial records, legal records and oral sources.
Q.20. What were the reason of the rise of Jotedar? Describe it.
Ans.
I. By the early 19th century Jotedar had aquaired vast area of land sometime as much as several thousand acres.
II. They controlled local trade as well as money lending exercising immense power over poorer cuiltivators of the region.
III. Jotedar were located in village and exercise direct control over a considerable section of poor villagers.
IV. When the Estate of Zamindars were auctioned for failure to make revenue payment Jotedar were often amongst the purchasers.
Q21. Why did Zamidar default at payment? Discuss it.
Ans.
(i) The initial demand was very high this was because it was failed if the demand was fixed for all time to come the Company would never be able to claim a share of increased income from land when prices grows and cultivation expanded to minimize this anticipated loss , the company paid the revenue demand high.
(ii) This high demand was imposed in 1790s a time when the prices of agriculture produce were depressed making it difficult for Ryot to pay their dues to the zamindar.
(iii) The revenue was invariable regardless of harvest and had to be paid punctually.
(iv) Permanent settlement initially limited the power of Zamindar to collect the rent from the Ryot and managed its zamindari.
Q.22 . Why did deccan riots commission formed? Write their report.
Ans.
(i) Gonernment of Bombay set up a commission of enquiry to investigate causes of Deccan riots.
(ii) The commission produced a report that was presented to british parliament in 1878.
(iii) It held enquires in the district where the riots spread, recorded statement of riots and eyewitness.
Q23. Examine the impact of limitation law passed by British in 1859.
Ans. 1859 British passed a limitation law that stated that loan bond signed between money lender and Royt would have validity for three years which check the accumulation of interest over time. The moneylender however turned around a law for forcing the ryot to sign to new bond every three years; money lenders used variety of other means to short change the ryot; they refuse to give receipt when loan repaid, entered fictitious figures in bond, acquired the harvest at low prices and ultimately took over peasants property.
Q.24. Who were Paharias? What were their livelihood?
Ans. Paharias were hill folk. they lived around the Rajmahal Hills, subsisting on forest produce and practicing shifting cultivation. They cleared patches of forest by cutting bushes and burning the undergrowth. On the patches, enriched by the potash from the ash, the Pahariyas grew a variety of pulses and millets for consumption.
Q.25. What was the British policy towards Pahariyas? Write any two points.
Ans.
(ii) The commission produced a report that was presented to british parliament in 1878.
(iii) It held enquires in the district where the riots spread, recorded statement of riots and eyewitness.
Q23. Examine the impact of limitation law passed by British in 1859.
Ans. 1859 British passed a limitation law that stated that loan bond signed between money lender and Royt would have validity for three years which check the accumulation of interest over time. The moneylender however turned around a law for forcing the ryot to sign to new bond every three years; money lenders used variety of other means to short change the ryot; they refuse to give receipt when loan repaid, entered fictitious figures in bond, acquired the harvest at low prices and ultimately took over peasants property.
Q.24. Who were Paharias? What were their livelihood?
Ans. Paharias were hill folk. they lived around the Rajmahal Hills, subsisting on forest produce and practicing shifting cultivation. They cleared patches of forest by cutting bushes and burning the undergrowth. On the patches, enriched by the potash from the ash, the Pahariyas grew a variety of pulses and millets for consumption.
Q.25. What was the British policy towards Pahariyas? Write any two points.
Ans.
(i) In 1770 the British embarked upon a brutal policy of extermination hunting Pahariyas down and killing them.
(ii) By the 1780s Augustus Cleveland the collector of Bhagalpur proposed a policy of pacification. Pahariya Chiefs were given an annual allowence and made responsible for proper conduct of their men. They were expected to maintain order in their locality.
Q.26. In what ways was the livelihood of the Paharias different from that of Santhals?
Ans .
(1) The Paharias practiced shifting cultivation and lived on forest production. The Santhals practised settled-cultivation.
(2) The agriculture of the paharias depended on hoe. Santhals practised with plough.
(3) Besides agriculture the forest products too were means of livelihood of the Paharias. The Santhals gave up life of mobility and had started settled cultivation.
(4) The Paharias were intimately related to the forest because of their occupations. The Santhals were settled in a specific region.
(5) The Paharias regularly raided plains for food, power and tax. The Santhals had friendly relations with British, moneylender and traders.
(6) The Paharias liked to gather forest produce for selling in the market but Santhals did not like it.
Q.27. What explains the anger of the Deccan ryots against the moneylenders?
Ans.
(1) Ryotwari settlement of land revenue was direct revenue settlement of government with ryot.
(2) The peasants were in need of money for many purposes.
(3) Once they got entangled in the clutches of Sahukar, it became very difficult for them to get them self free from it.
(4) Being unable to return back the loan to the moneylender, they had no choice but to give up all their possessions.
(5) They took land on rent and animals on hire from Sahukar.
(6) The Sahukars would not give receipts when loans were repaid.
(7) Fictitious figures were entered in the bonds.
(8) Peasants’ harvest was procured at low prices.
(9) The government increased the land revenue from 50 to 100 percent.
(10) After American civil war, moneylenders refused to extend advances.
(11) The moneylender started renewing the bond every three years.
Q.28. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below;
On 16 May, 1875 the district magistrate of Poona wrote to the police commissioner:
On arrival at Supa on Saturday May 15, learnt of the disturbance. One house of a money lender was burnt down; about a dozen were forcibly broken into and completely gutted of their content. Account papers, bonds, grains, country cloth were burnt in the street where heaps of ashes are still to be seen. The chief constable apprehended 50 persons. Stolen property worth Rs. 2000 was recovered. The estimated loss is over Rs. 25000. Moneylenders claim is over 1 lakh.
(I) Where and how did the Deccan riots start?
Ans. The riot started from Supa, a large village in Poona district. It was market centre where many shopkeepers and moneylenders lived. On 12 May, 1875 riots from the surrounding rural areas attacked the shopkeepers and demanded their bahikhatas and debt bonds. They burnt the khatas and looted grain shops.
.
(II) What steps did the British take to quell the revolt?
Ans. The British established police station in the village. Reinforcements were rushed to the Deccan. 95% people were arrested and many were convicted.
(III) State two reasons why peasants revolted?
Ans. High revenue demand and rigid system of collection angered the peasants, the moneylenders manipulating laws and forging accounts.
Q29. How did zamindar of Bengal succeed to save their zamindaries during auction?Explain it.
Ans (i) Numerous purchasers came to the auction and estate were sold to highest bidder. Many of purchasers turned out to be servants and agent of Rajas who had bought the land on behalf of their masters
(ii) Over 95% of sale at the auction was fictitious the Rajas state had been publically sold but he remained in control of his Zamindari.
(iii) When a part of state was auctioned zamindars’ men bought property, out bidding other purchasers. Subsequently they refused to pay of money, so that state had to be re sold. Once again it was bought by Zamindar’s agent, once again the purchase money was not paid, once again there was an auction. At last the state was sold at low price back to zamindar’s men.
(iv) When people from outside, the Zamindari bought an Estate at an auction, they could not always take possession. Sometimes even the Ryot resisted entry of outsiders.
(v) Many Rajas transferred some of his zamindaries to his mother. Since company had decreed that property of women could not be taken over.
(vi) By the above methods rajas succeed to save their zamindaries during auction at British time.
Q30. Give the account of Buchanan in detail. Why did East India Company appoint him as surveyor? Explain it.
Ans
(i) Buchanan was the employee of East India Company and he marched every where with draftmen, surveyors.
(ii) Buchanan had specific instructions about what he had to look for and what had to record according to company need because company wanted to exploit Indian resources.
(iii) Buchanan was extra ordinary observer. He observed the stones and rocks, different strata and layers of soil he searched for minerals, iron, mica granite and saltpeter.
(iv) Buchanan wrote how the land could be transformed and made more productive.
(v) What craft could be cultivated, which trees cut down and which ones grown.
(vi) Buchanan vision and Priorities different from those of the local inhabitants, his assessment of what was necessary was set by the commercial concerned of the company.
(vii) He was inevitably critical of life style of forest dwellers and felt that forest land to be turned into agricultural lands. He gave the details of santhal life style.
(viii) Company wanted to consolidated its power and expanded its commerce by natural resources it could control. Hence company appointed Buchanan survey the natural resources of India in Rajmahal hills.
Q31. Who were Santhal ? why did they revolt against british.
Ans.
I. Santhal were the tribals residing foothill of rajmahal. By 1832 a large areas of land was demarcated as damin-I koh.
II. The Land to santhal stipulated that at least one – tenth of the area was to cleared and cultivated within ten years .
III. Cultivation expanded, an increased volume of revenue flowed into company,s coffers.
IV. The santhals soon founded that the land they had bought under cultivation was slipping away from their hands. The state was leving heavy taxes on the land that the santhal cleared.
V. Moneylender (dekus) were charging them high rate of interest and taking over the land when land debt remained unpaid..
VI. Zamindar were asserting control over Damin area.
VII. By the 1850s Santhal thought that time had come to rebel against zamindars, moneylender, and colonial state. Siddhu Manjhi and Kanhu were revolt leaders of Santhal community.
VIII. Revolt begin in 1855 and Santhal attacked on British, Dikus, moneylender and killed so many Britishers.
IX. But British crushed the revolt brutally by killing, hanging Santhal leaders and Santhal people.In 1856 Santhal pargana was created, carving out 5500 sq miles from the districts of Bhagalpur and Birbhum.
1. On clearance and settled cultivation
Passing through one village in the lower Rajmahal hills, Buchanan wrote:
The view of the country is exceedingly fine, the cultivation, especially the narrow valleys of rice winding in all directions, the cleared lands with scattered trees, and the rocky hills are in perfection; all that is wanted is some appearance of progress in the area and a vastly extended and improved
cultivation, of which the country is highly susceptible. Plantations of Asan and Palas, for Tessar (Tassar silk worms) and Lac, should occupy the place of woods to as great an extent as the demand will admit; the remainder might be all cleared, and the greater part cultivated, while what is not fit for the purpose, might rear Plamira (palmyra) and Mowa (mahua).
Q(i) Mention about Buchanan’s opinion of how the land of Rajmahal hills could be made more productive.
Ans- Plantations of Asan and Palas, for Tessar (Tassar silk worms) and Lac; while what is not fit for the purpose, might rear Plamira (palmyra) and Mowa (mahua).
Q(ii) How were Buchanan’s vision and priorities on development different from the local inhabitants? Explain.
Ans- Buchanan’s assessment of what was necessary was shaped by the commercial concerns of the Company and modern Western notions of what constituted progress. He was inevitably critical of the lifestyles of forest dwellers and felt that forests had to be turned into agricultural lands.
Q(iii) Explain how the inhabitants of the Rajmahal hills felt about Buchanan’s ideas of production.
Ans-The experience of pacification campaigns and memories of brutal repression shaped the perception of British infiltration into the Rajmahal area. Every white man appeared to represent a power that was destroying their way of life and means of survival, snatching away their control over their forests and lands. People were hostile, apprehensive of officials and unwilling to talk to them. In many instances they deserted their villages and absconded.
(ii) By the 1780s Augustus Cleveland the collector of Bhagalpur proposed a policy of pacification. Pahariya Chiefs were given an annual allowence and made responsible for proper conduct of their men. They were expected to maintain order in their locality.
L. A. (8 Marks)
Ans .
(1) The Paharias practiced shifting cultivation and lived on forest production. The Santhals practised settled-cultivation.
(2) The agriculture of the paharias depended on hoe. Santhals practised with plough.
(3) Besides agriculture the forest products too were means of livelihood of the Paharias. The Santhals gave up life of mobility and had started settled cultivation.
(4) The Paharias were intimately related to the forest because of their occupations. The Santhals were settled in a specific region.
(5) The Paharias regularly raided plains for food, power and tax. The Santhals had friendly relations with British, moneylender and traders.
(6) The Paharias liked to gather forest produce for selling in the market but Santhals did not like it.
Q.27. What explains the anger of the Deccan ryots against the moneylenders?
Ans.
(1) Ryotwari settlement of land revenue was direct revenue settlement of government with ryot.
(2) The peasants were in need of money for many purposes.
(3) Once they got entangled in the clutches of Sahukar, it became very difficult for them to get them self free from it.
(4) Being unable to return back the loan to the moneylender, they had no choice but to give up all their possessions.
(5) They took land on rent and animals on hire from Sahukar.
(6) The Sahukars would not give receipts when loans were repaid.
(7) Fictitious figures were entered in the bonds.
(8) Peasants’ harvest was procured at low prices.
(9) The government increased the land revenue from 50 to 100 percent.
(10) After American civil war, moneylenders refused to extend advances.
(11) The moneylender started renewing the bond every three years.
Q.28. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below;
On 16 May, 1875 the district magistrate of Poona wrote to the police commissioner:
On arrival at Supa on Saturday May 15, learnt of the disturbance. One house of a money lender was burnt down; about a dozen were forcibly broken into and completely gutted of their content. Account papers, bonds, grains, country cloth were burnt in the street where heaps of ashes are still to be seen. The chief constable apprehended 50 persons. Stolen property worth Rs. 2000 was recovered. The estimated loss is over Rs. 25000. Moneylenders claim is over 1 lakh.
(I) Where and how did the Deccan riots start?
Ans. The riot started from Supa, a large village in Poona district. It was market centre where many shopkeepers and moneylenders lived. On 12 May, 1875 riots from the surrounding rural areas attacked the shopkeepers and demanded their bahikhatas and debt bonds. They burnt the khatas and looted grain shops.
.
(II) What steps did the British take to quell the revolt?
Ans. The British established police station in the village. Reinforcements were rushed to the Deccan. 95% people were arrested and many were convicted.
(III) State two reasons why peasants revolted?
Ans. High revenue demand and rigid system of collection angered the peasants, the moneylenders manipulating laws and forging accounts.
Q29. How did zamindar of Bengal succeed to save their zamindaries during auction?Explain it.
Ans (i) Numerous purchasers came to the auction and estate were sold to highest bidder. Many of purchasers turned out to be servants and agent of Rajas who had bought the land on behalf of their masters
(ii) Over 95% of sale at the auction was fictitious the Rajas state had been publically sold but he remained in control of his Zamindari.
(iii) When a part of state was auctioned zamindars’ men bought property, out bidding other purchasers. Subsequently they refused to pay of money, so that state had to be re sold. Once again it was bought by Zamindar’s agent, once again the purchase money was not paid, once again there was an auction. At last the state was sold at low price back to zamindar’s men.
(iv) When people from outside, the Zamindari bought an Estate at an auction, they could not always take possession. Sometimes even the Ryot resisted entry of outsiders.
(v) Many Rajas transferred some of his zamindaries to his mother. Since company had decreed that property of women could not be taken over.
(vi) By the above methods rajas succeed to save their zamindaries during auction at British time.
Q30. Give the account of Buchanan in detail. Why did East India Company appoint him as surveyor? Explain it.
Ans
(i) Buchanan was the employee of East India Company and he marched every where with draftmen, surveyors.
(ii) Buchanan had specific instructions about what he had to look for and what had to record according to company need because company wanted to exploit Indian resources.
(iii) Buchanan was extra ordinary observer. He observed the stones and rocks, different strata and layers of soil he searched for minerals, iron, mica granite and saltpeter.
(iv) Buchanan wrote how the land could be transformed and made more productive.
(v) What craft could be cultivated, which trees cut down and which ones grown.
(vi) Buchanan vision and Priorities different from those of the local inhabitants, his assessment of what was necessary was set by the commercial concerned of the company.
(vii) He was inevitably critical of life style of forest dwellers and felt that forest land to be turned into agricultural lands. He gave the details of santhal life style.
(viii) Company wanted to consolidated its power and expanded its commerce by natural resources it could control. Hence company appointed Buchanan survey the natural resources of India in Rajmahal hills.
Q31. Who were Santhal ? why did they revolt against british.
Ans.
I. Santhal were the tribals residing foothill of rajmahal. By 1832 a large areas of land was demarcated as damin-I koh.
II. The Land to santhal stipulated that at least one – tenth of the area was to cleared and cultivated within ten years .
III. Cultivation expanded, an increased volume of revenue flowed into company,s coffers.
IV. The santhals soon founded that the land they had bought under cultivation was slipping away from their hands. The state was leving heavy taxes on the land that the santhal cleared.
V. Moneylender (dekus) were charging them high rate of interest and taking over the land when land debt remained unpaid..
VI. Zamindar were asserting control over Damin area.
VII. By the 1850s Santhal thought that time had come to rebel against zamindars, moneylender, and colonial state. Siddhu Manjhi and Kanhu were revolt leaders of Santhal community.
VIII. Revolt begin in 1855 and Santhal attacked on British, Dikus, moneylender and killed so many Britishers.
IX. But British crushed the revolt brutally by killing, hanging Santhal leaders and Santhal people.In 1856 Santhal pargana was created, carving out 5500 sq miles from the districts of Bhagalpur and Birbhum.
SOURCE BASED QUESTION
Passing through one village in the lower Rajmahal hills, Buchanan wrote:
The view of the country is exceedingly fine, the cultivation, especially the narrow valleys of rice winding in all directions, the cleared lands with scattered trees, and the rocky hills are in perfection; all that is wanted is some appearance of progress in the area and a vastly extended and improved
cultivation, of which the country is highly susceptible. Plantations of Asan and Palas, for Tessar (Tassar silk worms) and Lac, should occupy the place of woods to as great an extent as the demand will admit; the remainder might be all cleared, and the greater part cultivated, while what is not fit for the purpose, might rear Plamira (palmyra) and Mowa (mahua).
Q(i) Mention about Buchanan’s opinion of how the land of Rajmahal hills could be made more productive.
Ans- Plantations of Asan and Palas, for Tessar (Tassar silk worms) and Lac; while what is not fit for the purpose, might rear Plamira (palmyra) and Mowa (mahua).
Q(ii) How were Buchanan’s vision and priorities on development different from the local inhabitants? Explain.
Ans- Buchanan’s assessment of what was necessary was shaped by the commercial concerns of the Company and modern Western notions of what constituted progress. He was inevitably critical of the lifestyles of forest dwellers and felt that forests had to be turned into agricultural lands.
Q(iii) Explain how the inhabitants of the Rajmahal hills felt about Buchanan’s ideas of production.
Ans-The experience of pacification campaigns and memories of brutal repression shaped the perception of British infiltration into the Rajmahal area. Every white man appeared to represent a power that was destroying their way of life and means of survival, snatching away their control over their forests and lands. People were hostile, apprehensive of officials and unwilling to talk to them. In many instances they deserted their villages and absconded.
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