Ruling The Countryside Flashcards
How did the company resolve its low revenue problem?
The permanent settlement system was introduced in 1793. Rajas and taulqdars were recognised as zamindars. The amount of revenue to be paid was fixed. Zamindars were to invest in improving the land in order to pay the taxes required by the EIC.
What was the problem in the permanent settlement system?
- Zamindars were not investing in the improvement of land as the revenue was too high and it was difficult for them to pay
- Anyone who lost failed to pay lost his zamindari.
- By the 1st decade of the 19th century, the situation improved and agriculture expanded, but the revenues collected was fixed, so the company didn’t profit.
- Zamindars didn’t have an interest in improving the land.
- The system only benefitted the zamindars as they were the ones who got the most profit.
- Cultivators found it hard to pay the rent and often had to get loans from money lenders.
Mahalwari System
Holt Mackenzie - 1882
Collectors went from village to village, inspecting land, measuring fields and recording the customs and rights of various groups. The estimated revenue of each plot within a village was added up to calculate the revenue each village (mahal) had to pay.
This was revised periodically and was not fixed.
The person who collected the revenue and payed it to the company was the village headman, rather than the zamindars.
Ryotwari System/Munro System
Thomas Munro and Captain Alexander Read
There was no middle man between the EIC and farmers, the taxes were directly collected.
The farmers were seen as landowners that could buy, sell or rent their land.
Thomas Munro believed he should act as a paternal figure protecting the Ryots under his charge.
How did the Munro system fail?
- Revenue officials set revenue too high, making farmers unable to pay the taxes.
- This led to farmers fleeing the countryside.
