Q12 of 28 Page 1

‘‘In the early decades after the Permanent Settlement, the zamindars regularly failed to pay the revenue demand.’’ In the light of this statement, examine its causes in detail.

OR


Examine the sources of livelihood of the Paharias (hillfolk) of Rajmahal hills. How did they respond to the coming of Santhals ?


The Permanent Settlement came into being in 1793, the British fixed certain revenues that each zamindar had to pay, if not paid their land was put for auction. The officials believed that a fixed revenue demand would provide security and assure improvement of estates by the zamindars. But in the early decades after the Permanent Settlement, the zamindars regularly failed to pay the revenue demand due to several factors:

• Initial demand was high, it was felt that because the demand was fixed, then the Company would never be able to claim a share of increased income from land when prices rose and cultivation expanded.


• The Permanent Settlement was introduced in 1790’s when agricultural produce was depressed. This made it difficult for ryots to pay their dues to zamindars. So, zamindars were unable to pay revenue to the Company.


• The revenue had to be paid punctually and can’t vary regardless of the harvest produced. And the Sunset law made it more difficult, according to which if the revenue was not paid by the sunset of a particular date, the land of the zamindar would be auctioned.


• It reduced the power of zamindar to collect rent from the ryot.


OR


The hill folks living around the Rajmahal Hills were known as the Paharias. They depended on forest produce and practised shifting cultivation. They harvested one patch of land by cutting bushes and burning the undergrowth. And then used the potash from the ash to enrich the soil and grow pulses and millets for consumption. They use that area till it loses its fertility and then move to a new area. They collect mahua(a flower) for food, silk cocoon for sale and wood for charcoal. The patches of grass covering the land provide pasture for the cattle.


Paharias were very apprehensive of the outsiders. The Santhals came pouring in Bengal in 1780s, hired by zamindars to reclaim their lands. The Santhals started cutting forests and ploughing land, growing cotton and rice and cutting timber in the lower slopes of Rajmahal hills. As the Santhals took over the lower slopes of the hills, Paharias started settling deeper in the Rajmahal hills as they refused to cut forest, touch plough and resisted the turbulence.


More from this chapter

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10

‘‘Non-Cooperation Movement unleashed a surge of popular action that was altogether unprecedented in colonial India.’’ Analyse the statement.

OR


Analyse Gandhiji’s activities in India during 1927 – 1931.


 11

Describe the relationship between the Alvars and Nayanars with the state and society. Also, describe the attitude of Alvars and Nayanars towards caste system.

OR


Describe the growth of Sufism in India from the eleventh century onwards.


 13

Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow :

Buddhism in practice


This is an excerpt from the Sutta Pitaka, and contains the advice given


by the Buddha to a wealthy householder named Sigala :


In five ways should a master look after his servants and employees ... by assigning them work according to their strength, by supplying them with food and wages, by tending them in sickness; by sharing delicacies with them and by


granting leave at times ...


In five ways should the clansmen look after the needs of samanas (those who have renounced the world) and Brahmanas: by affection in act and speech and mind, by keeping open house to them and supplying their worldly needs.


There are similar instructions to Sigala about how to behave with his parents, teacher and wife.


(13.1) How did Buddha give importance to conduct and values ?


(13.2) How can individual effort transform social relations ?


(13.3) Analyse the advice given by Buddha to Sigala for Samanas.


 14

Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow :

Cash or kind ?


The Ain on land revenue collection :


Let him (the amil-guzar) not make it a practice of taking only in cash but also in kind. The latter is affected in several ways. First, kankut: in the Hindi language kan signifies grain, and kut, estimates ... If any doubts arise, the crops should be cut and estimated in three lots, the good, the middling, and the inferior, and the hesitation removed. Often, too, the land taken by appraisement, gives a sufficiently accurate return. Secondly, batai, also called bhaoli, the crops are reaped and stacked and divided by agreement in the presence of the parties. But in this case several intelligent inspectors are required; otherwise, the evil-minded and false are given to deception. Thirdly, khet-batai, when they divide the fields after they are sown. Fourthly, lang batai, after cutting the grain, they form it in heaps and divide it among themselves, and each takes his share home and turns it to profit.


(14.1) Examine the term ‘kankut’.


(14.2) Explain ‘khet-batai’ as the system of collecting revenue.


(14.3) Examine the role of Amil-Guzar.