Ruling The Countryside Flashcards
Robert Clive accepted the Diwani Rights of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa in which year?
1765
What responsibility did the East India Company get after receiving the diwani rights ?
Administering land and organize it’s revenue resources
Why was the company unwilling to set up any regular system of assessment and collection?
It only saw itself as a trading company
What was the impact that occurred when the british were unwilling to set up any regular system of assessment and collection?
Impant on :
Artisans (low prices)
Peasants (high taxes)
Famine of 1770 (1/3rd pop. wiped out- 10 million)
When was Permanent Settlement System introduced?
1793
Explain Permanent Settlement
Zamindars were asked to collect tax from peasants and pay them to the British. The zamindars were given a part of the revenue.
Amount of revenue was fixed permanently.
Why was permanent settlement system introduced?
It would ensure a proper flow of revenue into the company’s coffers
It would encourage zamindars to invest in improving the land (because they got a part of the revenue.)
Problems with permanent settlement
The zamindars were unable to pay the high revenue
When the situation improved and the market grew; increasing the revenue, the zamindars lost interest in investing in the land.
Why did the peasants find the permanent settlement system oppressive?
High revenue
Problem with moneylenders
Rights on land was insecure
Who introduced permanent settlement?
Charles Cornwallis
Why was Mahalwari system introduced?
British needed more money to meet expenses
Who introduced Mahalwari System?
Holt Makenzie
What happened in Mahalwari system
Revenue was estimated by collectors and paid by village headmen.
Revenue was to be revised periodically
Where was mahalwari system introduced?
North-western provinces of Bengal.
Where was ryotwari/ munro system introduced
South Parts of India
Who tried Ryotwari system on a small scale?
Captain Alexander Read
Who developed Munro system?
Thomas Munro
Who were Ryots?
Small cultivators in South India
What happened in the Munro system?
Colonial officers collected tax directly from ryots
Why did Thomas Munro introduce the Munro system?
He thought that the British should act as a paternal father figure and protect the ryots from exploitation from zamindars.
Problem with Mahalwari and Ryotwari?
Too much taxation
On what crops did the company focus on in India
Indigo and Opium
Why was indigo produced in India and not in Britain?
India had a tropical climate.
What was the European substitute to Indigo?
Woad
Why was there demand for Indigo if Woad was availible?
Woad produced a dull color; while Indigo produced a vibrant blue color.
Why did Woad producers want heavy taxing on Indigo?
They feared competition from Indigo as it was more vibrant
Name the two systems for Indigo cultivation
Nij and Ryoti
What happened in Nij System?
Planters produced indigo in their own lands
What happened in Ryoti System?
Planters forced ryots into signing an agreement to grow indigo.
Problems with nij cultivation .
No one was willing to sell fertile land.
Conflict in acquisition of land
Availability of workers was low
Too much investment required
Problems with Ryoti System
Cycle of loans never ended for cultivators
Indigo consumed too much water, leaving none for rice cultivation
Reasons for blue rebellion
Peasants felt that they had the support of zamindars
They thought that the British government would support them
What made the ryots perceive as a sign of sympathy?
Lieutenant governor toured the region
What notice did Ashley Edens issue?
‘Ryots would not be compelled to accept indigo contracts’
Why was the indigo commission set up by the British
To make provisions for the ryots.
Demand for indigo was affected by _____.
Synthetic Dyes.
Champaran movement was against _____.
Indigo Planters in Bihar
