Chap 3 Life in Rural Areas Flashcards
When was the Permanent Settlement introduced?
1793 introduced by Lord Cornwallis
Explain the Permanent Settlement in brief.
The British wanted to gain an assured way of an income. The Zamindars were asked by the British to collect a fixed amount of land revenue from the peasants. It was introduced in Bengal and Bihar.
What were the features of the Permanent Settlement policy?
- The revenue collected from an area was fixed permanently and could not be altered or revised later.
- The local Zamindar was allocated a fixed amount of money which he had to collect from the peasants and had to pay before a certain date. He could keep the surplus amount if any but if he could not pay the amount, he would lose his zamindari rights.
How did the British gain profit from the Permanent Settlement policy?
This policy proved to be fruitful and rewarding for the British as it ensured them a fixed income without actually getting involved personally collecting revenue from the peasants. It also created a new social class among the people who were loyal to the British.
How did the Permanent Settlement affect the peasants?
The peasants suffered immensely under the Permanent Settlement policy. The peasants had to pay a high revenue which put them in an unfair situation. The Zamindars did not pay heed towards the peasants and only paid attention towards their own profits and maintaining their own zamindari rights. The Zamindars did not do any such work which could improve the fertility of the land. Hence the production declined and demand for revenue kept on rising. This forced the peasants to borrow money from the money lender in order to survive and suffice the basic necessities of life which put them in a worse situation.
Who introduced the Mahalwari System?
It was introduced by Holt Mackenzie.
Where was the Mahalwari System introduced?
Western Uttar Pradesh, parts of Madhya Pradesh and Punjab.
What were the Mahalwari system’s owners called?
The land was owned by a group of villages, called ‘mahals’.
Who was entrusted with the collection of money in the Mahalwari system?
The task of collecting money was entrusted to the headman of each mahal. The revenue here was not fixed and was revised frequently.
Who introduced the Ryotwari System?
It was introduced by Thomas Munro.
Where was the Ryotwari System introduced?
Parts of Madras and Bombay Presidencies.
Explain the features of the Ryotwari System.
The Company made a revenue policy in which they would be in direct contact with the peasants. The farmer was recognized as the owner of the land as long as he would pay the revenue. The revenue was fixed according to the fertility of the soil.
