What was the ryotwari system? Why did the ryots turn violent? Give three reasons.

The new Land revenue system introduced in the Bombay Deccan came to be known as the Ryotwari system. According to this system, the revenue was directly settled with the ryot. There were no middle men. The average income from different types of soil was estimated. Thereafter, the revenue-paying capacity of the ryot was assessed and a proportion of it fixed as the share of the state. It was decided that the lands would be resurveyed after every 30 years and the revenue rates would be increased accordingly. Thus, in contrast to the Permanent Settlement, the revenue was no longer set to be permanent.

The three major reasons for the revolt were:

• With the end of the cotton boom, the ryots found themselves trapped into a vicious cycle of debt. Money lenders were no longer keen enough to extend credits to them.

• The revenue demand from the peasants was drastically increased. As a result, they again turned to moneylenders but were turned down. Instead, they demanded the repayments of the debt.

• Ryots were deeply enraged as the moneylenders neglected their plight and were thus insensitive to their needs. They also violated customary norms.