British Agrarian Policy: 58 flashcards
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1. What was the primary motive behind the British introduction of new agrarian policies in India?
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To maximize land revenue collection and secure a stable income for the East India Company and later the British Crown.
2. Name the three major land revenue systems introduced by the British in India.
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Permanent Settlement (Zamindari), Ryotwari System, and Mahalwari System.
3. Who introduced the Permanent Settlement and in which year?
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Lord Cornwallis in 1793.
4. In the Permanent Settlement, who was recognized as the owner of the land?
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The Zamindars (landlords).
5. What was the fixed revenue demand in the Permanent Settlement?
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The revenue was fixed permanently, meaning it would not change over time.
6. What was the consequence for Zamindars if they failed to pay the fixed revenue?
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Their lands were auctioned and they could lose their Zamindari rights.
7. In the Ryotwari System, who was directly responsible for paying land revenue?
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The individual cultivator (ryot).
8. Which regions were primarily under the Ryotwari System?
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Madras Presidency, Bombay Presidency, and parts of Assam and Coorg.
9. Who introduced the Ryotwari System in Madras?
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Thomas Munro.
10. What was a major drawback of the Ryotwari System for the cultivators?
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The revenue demand was very high and subject to frequent revision, leading to heavy indebtedness.
11. In the Mahalwari System, what was the unit of revenue settlement?
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The Mahal (village or estate).
12. Who were responsible for paying land revenue in the Mahalwari System?
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The village community collectively, through its headman or lambardar.
13. Which regions were primarily under the Mahalwari System?
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North-Western Provinces, Central Provinces, and parts of Punjab.
14. What was the 'Sunset Law' in the context of the Permanent Settlement?
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If the Zamindar did not pay the revenue by sunset of a fixed date, his lands would be auctioned.
15. What was the impact of the Permanent Settlement on the Zamindars?
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Many old Zamindars lost their lands, while a new class of loyal landlords emerged.
16. What was the impact of British agrarian policies on the Indian peasantry?
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Peasants were subjected to high revenue demands, leading to indebtedness, land alienation, and poverty.
17. What was the 'Commercialization of Agriculture' under the British?
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A shift from subsistence farming to cash crop production for the market, such as indigo, cotton, and opium.
18. What was the impact of commercialization of agriculture on food security in India?
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It reduced the area under food crops, leading to frequent famines and food shortages.
19. What was the 'Deccan Riots' of 1875 a result of?
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The oppressive practices of moneylenders under the Ryotwari System, which led peasants to revolt.
20. What was the 'Permanent Settlement' also known as?
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The Zamindari System.
21. What was the main feature of the Mahalwari System regarding revenue revision?
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The revenue was to be revised periodically, not permanently fixed.
22. What was the 'Ryotwari System' also known as?
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The Munro System.
23. What was the 'Mahalwari System' also known as?
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The Village System or the Joint Village System.
24. What was the main objective of the British land revenue systems?
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To generate maximum revenue for the Company and later the Crown, and to create a loyal class of landlords.
25. What was the 'Permanent Settlement' in terms of revenue demand?
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The revenue demand was fixed permanently and could not be increased.
26. What was the 'Ryotwari System' in terms of revenue demand?
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The revenue demand was based on the actual produce and was revised periodically.
27. What was the 'Mahalwari System' in terms of revenue demand?
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The revenue demand was calculated for the entire Mahal and was revised periodically.
28. What was the impact of British agrarian policies on Indian agriculture?
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They led to stagnation, decline in productivity, and increased vulnerability to famines.
29. What was the 'Permanent Settlement' introduced to achieve?
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To create a stable and loyal class of landlords who would act as a buffer between the British and the peasants.
30. What was the 'Ryotwari System' introduced to achieve?
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To eliminate intermediaries and establish a direct relationship between the state and the cultivator.
31. What was the 'Mahalwari System' introduced to achieve?
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To simplify revenue collection by making the village community collectively responsible.
32. What was the 'Permanent Settlement' in terms of land ownership?
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It made the Zamindars the hereditary owners of the land.
33. What was the 'Ryotwari System' in terms of land ownership?
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It recognized the cultivator as the owner of the land as long as he paid the revenue.
34. What was the 'Mahalwari System' in terms of land ownership?
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It recognized the village community as the owner of the land.
35. What was the 'Permanent Settlement' in terms of revenue collection?
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The Zamindars were responsible for collecting revenue from the peasants and depositing it with the government.
36. What was the 'Ryotwari System' in terms of revenue collection?
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The cultivators paid revenue directly to the government.
37. What was the 'Mahalwari System' in terms of revenue collection?
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The village headman or lambardar collected revenue from the community and deposited it with the government.
38. What was the 'Permanent Settlement' in terms of its impact on agriculture?
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It led to the exploitation of peasants by Zamindars and stagnation in agriculture.
39. What was the 'Ryotwari System' in terms of its impact on agriculture?
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It led to heavy indebtedness of peasants and land alienation to moneylenders.
40. What was the 'Mahalwari System' in terms of its impact on agriculture?
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It led to the breakdown of the village community and increased burden on the peasants.
41. What was the 'Permanent Settlement' in terms of its impact on the Zamindars?
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It created a class of absentee landlords who lived in cities and had little interest in agriculture.
42. What was the 'Ryotwari System' in terms of its impact on the cultivators?
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It made the cultivators directly responsible for revenue, leading to their exploitation by the state.
43. What was the 'Mahalwari System' in terms of its impact on the village community?
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It weakened the traditional village community and its collective decision-making.
44. What was the 'Permanent Settlement' in terms of its impact on the British?
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It provided a stable and predictable source of revenue for the British.
45. What was the 'Ryotwari System' in terms of its impact on the British?
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It allowed the British to extract more revenue by revising the demand periodically.
46. What was the 'Mahalwari System' in terms of its impact on the British?
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It was easier to administer as it dealt with the village community as a whole.
47. What was the 'Permanent Settlement' in terms of its legacy?
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It created a class of landlords who became a major social and political force in colonial India.
48. What was the 'Ryotwari System' in terms of its legacy?
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It led to the emergence of a class of rich peasants and moneylenders who dominated rural society.
49. What was the 'Mahalwari System' in terms of its legacy?
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It contributed to the disintegration of the traditional village community and the rise of individual ownership.
50. What was the 'Permanent Settlement' in terms of its impact on the peasants?
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Peasants were left at the mercy of Zamindars who extracted high rents and illegal dues.
51. What was the 'Ryotwari System' in terms of its impact on the peasants?
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Peasants were burdened with high revenue demands and had to borrow from moneylenders, often losing their land.
52. What was the 'Mahalwari System' in terms of its impact on the peasants?
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Peasants were collectively responsible for revenue, so if one failed, others had to pay, leading to conflicts.
53. What was the 'Permanent Settlement' in terms of its impact on the economy?
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It led to the stagnation of agriculture and the drain of wealth from rural to urban areas.
54. What was the 'Ryotwari System' in terms of its impact on the economy?
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It led to the commercialization of agriculture and the growth of a market economy.
55. What was the 'Mahalwari System' in terms of its impact on the economy?
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It led to the diversification of agriculture and the growth of trade in agricultural produce.
56. What was the 'Permanent Settlement' in terms of its impact on society?
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It created a hierarchical society with Zamindars at the top and peasants at the bottom.
57. What was the 'Ryotwari System' in terms of its impact on society?
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It led to the rise of a class of independent cultivators and the decline of traditional intermediaries.
58. What was the 'Mahalwari System' in terms of its impact on society?
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It led to the breakdown of the traditional village community and the rise of individualism.
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