Ruling the Countryside - Long Answer Questions
The Mughal emperor appointed the East India Company as the Diwan of Bengal.
Introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793. Rajas and taluqdars were recognized as zamindars. They collected rent from peasants and paid a *fixed* revenue to the Company.
The revenue was fixed so high that zamindars found it difficult to pay. If they failed, they lost their zamindari. Also, they didn't invest in land improvement.
Devised by Holt Mackenzie (1822) in North Western Provinces. The village (Mahal) was the unit. Revenue was estimated and revised periodically (not fixed). Village headman collected it (not zamindar).
In the South, there were no traditional zamindars. Captain Alexander Read and Thomas Munro made settlements directly with the cultivators (ryots). Revenue was fixed after surveying fields.
The British forced farmers to grow them. Opium for China trade, Indigo for dyeing cloth in Europe.
It produced a rich blue colour. European woad produced a pale, dull blue. Indian indigo was preferred by Italian, French, and British manufacturers.
The planter produced indigo in lands he directly controlled (owned or rented). Problem: required large compact blocks of land and many ploughs.
The planters forced ryots to sign a contract (satta). They gave loans/seeds. The ryot grew indigo but got a very low price and entered a debt cycle.
In March 1859, ryots in Bengal refused to grow indigo. They attacked factories. It was a massive revolt against the oppressive indigo system.
He wrote the play 'Nil Darpan' highlighting the plight of indigo planters.
Mahatma Gandhi visited Champaran (Bihar) in 1917 and led a movement against the indigo planters there.
After the Blue Rebellion, planters were kicked out of Bengal. They moved to Bihar. Synthetic dyes (late 19th cen) also hit the business.
Crops grown for sale/export rather than own consumption (Tea, Coffee, Indigo, Jute, Sugarcane).
To buy goods in India, maintain troops, and build forts/offices in Calcutta.
Extreme scarcity of food. The Bengal famine of 1770 killed 10 million people (1/3rd population).
The village headman collected revenue.
Planters needed thousands of ploughs at the exact same time when peasants needed them for their rice fields.
Set up by the government after the rebellion. It found planters guilty of using coercion and declared ryots could refuse to grow indigo in future.
A unit of measurement of land.
Ruling the Countryside - Important Facts
Diwani allowed Company to use Bengal's revenue.
Previously, EIC imported gold/silver to buy goods.
Cornwallis introduced Permanent Settlement (1793).
Holt Mackenzie devised Mahalwari System (1822).
Thomas Munro developed Ryotwari System.
Indigo gives a rich blue colour.
Woad is a plant used for violet/blue dye.
Morris cotton print used Indian indigo.
Nij and Ryoti were two systems of indigo.
Ryots were given cash advances (loans).
Indigo has deep roots, exhausting soil.
Rice could not be sown after indigo.
Blue Rebellion started in March 1859.
Gomasthas were agents of planters.
Lathiyals were strongmen of planters.
Ashley Eden (Magistrate) supported ryots.
Queen Victoria issued a proclamation.
Indigo production collapsed in Bengal.
Synthetic dyes were invented in late 19th century.
Mahatma Gandhi visited Champaran in 1917.
Famine of 1770 was devastating.
Company became the chief financial administrator.
Artisans deserted villages due to low prices.
Agricultural production was in decline.
Zamindars lost lands via auction.
Jotedars were rich peasants.
Ryot implies Peasant.
Mahal implies Village.
Plantation is a large farm.
Caribbean islands also grew indigo.
French grew indigo in St Domingue.
Slave revolt in St Domingue (1791).
Begar is forced labour.
Vat is a fermenting vessel.
Beater was a worker using a paddle.
Testing indigo involved magnesium powder.
Commission held planters guilty.
Missionaries supported the ryots.
Calcutta educated elite supported the rebellion.
Revenue was the main obsession of Britian.
Land revenue systems shaped rural life.
Debt trap was common.
Famines recurred frequently.
Opium War with China.
Sugar, Cotton, Tea were also forced.
Assam tea gardens used indentured labour.
Sharecroppers were also exploited.
Revolts showed the power of peasants.
Ruling the Countryside - Important Dates/Terms
EIC gets Diwani
Bengal Famine
Permanent Settlement
Blue Rebellion
Champaran Movement