COLONIALISM AND THE COUNTRYSIDE

Question 1

1. PERMANENT SETTLEMENT WAS MADE WITH THE RAJAS AND TALUQDARS OF BENGAL.
2. THEY WERE NOW CLASSIFIED AS ZAMIDARS, AND THEY HAD TO PAY THE REVENUE DEMAND THAT WAS FIXED IN PERPETUITY.
3. IN TERMS OF THIS DEFINITION, THE ZAMIDARS WAS NOT A LANDOWNER IN THE VILLAGE, BUT A REVENUE COLLECTOR OF THE STATE.
   TRUE/ FALSE.

Answer 1

1. TRUE
2. TRUE
3. TRUE.

Question 2

REASONS WHY ZAMIDARS DEFAULTED ON PAYMENTS IN PERMANENT SETTLEMENT SYSTEM?

Answer 2

ZAMIDARS REGULARLY FAILED TO PAY THE REVENUE DEMAND AND UNPAID BALANCE ACCUMULATED BECAUSE
1. INITIAL DEMANDS WERE VERY HIGH.
2. HIGH DEMAND WAS IMPOSED IN THE 1790s, A TIME WHEN THE PRICES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE WERE DEPRESSED.
3. THE REVENUE WAS INVARIABLE, REGARDLESS OF THE HARVEST, AND HAD TO BE PAID PUNCTUALLY.
SUNSET LAW- IF PAYMENT DID NOT COME IN BY THE SUNSET OF THE SPECIFIED DATE, THE ZAMIDARI WAS LIABLE TO BE AUCTIONED.
4. PERMANENT SETTLEMENT INITIALLY LIMITED THE POWER OF THE ZAMIDAR TO COLLECT RENT FROM THE RYOT AND MANAGE HIS ZAMIDARI.

Question 3

1. THE COMPANY HAD RECOGNIZED THE ZAMIDARS AS IMPORTANT, BUT IT WANTED TO CONTROL AND REGULATE THEM, SUBDUE THEIR AUTHORITY AND RESTRICT THEIR AUTONOMY.
2. THE ZAMIDARS TROOPS WERE DISBANDED, CUSTOMS DUTIES ABOLISHED AND THEIR CUTCHERIES (COURTS) BROUGHT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A COLLECTOR APPOINTED BY THE COMPANY.
3. ZAMIDARS LOST THEIR POWER TO ORGANISE LOCAL JUSTICE AND THE LOCAL POLICE.
   TRUE/FALSE.

Answer 3

1. TRUE
2. TRUE
3. TRUE.

Question 4

TERM AMLAH MEANING IN MODERN INDIA?

Answer 4

AT THE TIME OF RENT COLLECTION, AN OFFICER OF THE ZAMIDAR USUALLY THE AMLAH CAME AROUND TO THE VILLAGE.

Question 5

WHO WERE JOTEDARS AND MANDALS?

Answer 5

RICH RYOTS AND VILLAGE HEADMAN.

Question 6

WHY ZAMIDARS COULD NOT PROSECUTE DEFAULTERS EASILY?

Answer 6

BECAUSE THE JUDICIAL PROCESS WAS LONG DRAWN.

Question 7

FRANCIS BUCHANAN’S SURVEY OF DINAJPUR DISTRICT IN NORTH BENGAL GAVE US AN ACCOUNT OF JOTEDARS. WHO WERE JOTEDARS AND HOW THEY TROUBLED ZAMIDARS?

Answer 7

1. RICH PEASANTS (JOTEDARS) CONTROLLED LOCAL TRADE AS WELL AS MONEYLENDING.
2. EXERCISED IMMENSE POWER OVER THE POORER CULTIVATORS OF THE REGION.
3. WITHIN THE VILLAGES, THE POWER OF JOTEDARS WAS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THAT OF ZAMIDARS.
4. UNLIKE ZAMIDARS WHO OFTEN LIVED IN URBAN AREAS, JOTEDARS WERE LOCATED IN THE VILLAGES AND EXERCISED DIRECT CONTROL OVER A CONSIDERABLE SECTION OF POOR VILLAGES.
5. THEY PREVENTED ZAMIDARI OFFICIALS FROM EXECUTING THEIR DUTIES.

Question 8

WHO WERE HAOLADARS AND GANTIDARS?

Answer 8

JOTEDARS WERE MOST POWERFUL IN NORTH BENGAL.
IN SOME PLACES THEY WERE CALLED HAOLADARS AND ELSEWHERE GANTIDARS OR MANDALS.

Question 9

WHO WERE ADHIYARS OR BARGADARS?

Answer 9

A LARGE PART OF THE JOTEDARS LAND WAS CULTIVATED THROUGH SHARECROPPERS (ADHIYARS OR BARGADARS) WHO BROUGHT THEIR OWN PLOUGHS, LABOURED IN THE FIELD, AND HANDED OVER HALF THE PRODUCE TO THE JOTEDARS AFTER THE HARVEST.

Question 10

TERM POTTAHS IN HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA?

Answer 10

DEEDS OF CONTRACT.

Question 11

ZAMIDARS WAYS OF SURVIVING FROM AUCTION OF THEIR ESTATES?

Answer 11

THE AUTHORITY OF THE ZAMIDARS IN RURAL AREAS, HOWEVER DID NOT COLLAPSE.
1. FICTIOUS SALES
2. RAJA OF BURDWAN, TRANSFERRED SOME OF HIS ZAMIDARI TO HIS MOTHER SINCE PROPERTY OF WOMEN WOULD NOT BE TAKEN OVER.
3. HIS AGENTS MANIPULATED THE AUCTIONS.

Question 12

TERM PROJA MEANING IN HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA?

Answer 12

SUBJECTS.

Question 13

WHEN DID THE ZAMIDARS ACTUALLY COLLAPSED?

Answer 13

DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION OF THE 1930s THAT THEY FINALLY COLLAPSED AND THE JOTEDARS CONSOLIDATED THEIR POWER IN THE COUNTRYSIDE.

Question 14

WHICH MAHARAJA HELPED BRITISH DURING THE SANTHAL REBELLION AND THE 1857 REVOLT?

Answer 14

MAHARAJA MEHTAB CHAND.

Question 15

WHO WAS THE MAHARAJA OF THE BURDWAN WHEN THE PERMANENT SETTLEMENT WAS IMPOSED?

Answer 15

MAHARAJA TEJCHAND.

Question 16

IN WHICH YEAR THE FIFTH REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION AND ACTIVITIES OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY IN INDIA WAS PRESENTED TO THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT?

Answer 16

1813.

Question 17

FRANCIS BUCHANAN WAS A PHYSICIAN. HE WAS A SURGEON TO WHICH GOVERNOR GENERAL OF INDIA?

Answer 17

LORD WELLESLEY.

Question 18

DURING HIS STAY IN CALCUTTA FRANCIS BUCHANAN ORGANIZED A ZOO WHICH CAME TO BE KNOWN AS THE?

Answer 18

CALCUTTA ALIPORE ZOO.

Question 19

WHAT IS AQUATINT?

Answer 19

AQUATINT IS A PICTURE PRODUCED BY CUTTING INTO A COPPER SHEET WITH ACID AND THEN PRINTING IT.

Question 20

1. PAHARIAS REGULARLY RAIDED THE PLAINS WHERE SETTLED AGRICULTURISTS LIVED.
2. THE ZAMIDARS ON THE PLAINS HAD TO OFTEN PURCHASE PEACE BY PAYING A REGULAR TRIBUTE TO THE HILL CHIEFS.
3. TRADERS SIMILARLY GAVE A SMALL AMOUNT TO THE HILL FOLK FOR PERMISSION TO USE THE PASSES CONTROLLED BY THEM.
   TRUE/FALSE.

Answer 20

1. TRUE
2. TRUE
3. TRUE.

Question 21

WHO PROPOSED THE POLICY OF PACIFICATION?

Answer 21

1780s, AUGUSTUS CLEVELAND, THE COLLECTOR OF BHAGALPUR.

Question 22

WHAT WAS THE POLICY OF PACIFICATION?

Answer 22

1. PAHARIA CHIEFS WERE GIVEN AN ANNUAL ALLOWANCE AND MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROPER CONDUCT OF THEIR MEN.
2. THEY WERE EXPECTED TO MAINTAIN ORDER IN THEIR LOCALITIES AND DISCIPLINE THEIR OWN PEOPLE.
3. AS THE PACIFICATION CAMPAIGNS CONTINUED, THE PAHARIAS WITHDREW DEEP INTO THE MOUNTAINS, INSULATING THEMSELVES FROM HOSTILE FORCES, AND CARRYING ON A WAR WITH THE OUTSIDERS.

Question 23

DID PAHARIA CHIEFS ACCEPTED THE POLICY OF PACIFICATION?

Answer 23

1. MANY PAHARIA CHIEFS REFUSED THE ALLOWANCES UNDER THE POLICY.
2. THOSE WHO ACCEPTED, MOST OFTEN LOST AUTHORITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

Question 24

HOW DID THE BRITISH SUBDUE THE PAHARIAS?

Answer 24

1. SANTHALS HAD BEGUN TO COME INTO BENGAL AROUND THE 1780s. ZAMIDARS HIRED THEM TO RECLAIM LAND AND EXPAND CULTIVATION, AND BRITISH OFFICIALS INVITED THEM TO SETTLE IN THE JANGAL MAHALS.
2. HAVING FAILED TO SUBDUE THE PAHARIAS AND TRANSFORM THEM INTO SETTLED AGRICULTURISTS, THE BRITISH TURNED TO SANTHALS.
3. THE PAHARIAS REFUSED TO CUT FORESTS, RESISTED TOUCHING THE PLOUGH, AND CONTINUED TO BE TURBULENT.

Question 25

BY 1832, A LARGE AREA OF LAND WAS DEMARCATED AS ________. THIS WAS DECLARED TO BE THE LAND OF THE SANTHALS.

Answer 25

DAMIN-I-KOH.

Question 26

WHAT DID THE LAND GRANT TO THE SANTHALS STIPULATED?

Answer 26

1. THE LAND GRANT TO THE SANTHALS STIPULATED THAT AT LEAST ONE-TENTH OF THE AREA WAS TO BE CLEARED AND CULTIVATED WITHIN THE FIRST TEN YEARS.
2. THE TERRITORY WAS SURVEYED AND MAPPED.
3. ENCLOSED WITH BOUNDARY PILLARS, IT WAS SEPARATED FROM BOTH THE WORLD OF THE SETTLED AGRICULTURISTS OF THE PLAINS AND THE PAHARIAS OF THE HILLS.

Question 27

WHY DID THE SANTHALS REVOLTED?

Answer 27

1. LAND THAT THEY BROUGHT WAS SLIPPING AWAY FROM THEIR HANDS.
2. STATE WAS LEVYING HEAVY TAXES ON LAND THAT THE SANTHALS HAD CLEARED.
3. MONEYLENDERS (DIKUS) WERE CHARGING THEM HIGH RATES OF INTEREST AND TAKING OVER THE LAND WHEN DEBT REMAINED UNPAID.
4. ZAMIDARS WERE ASSERTING CONTROL OVER THE DAMIN AREA.

Question 28

WHEN WAS THE SANTHAL PARGANA CREATED?

Answer 28

AFTER THE SANTHAL REVOLT (1855-56) THAT THE SANTHAL PARGANA WAS CREATED, CARVING OUT 5500 SQUARE MILES FROM THE DISTRICTS OF BHAGALPUR AND BIRBHUM.

Question 29

REVOLT OF 1875 IN THE DECCAN BEGAN FROM WHICH PLACE?

Answer 29

SUPA, A LARGE VILLAGE IN POONA (PUNE) DISTRICT.
ON 12 MAY 1875, RYOTS ATTACKED THE SHOPKEEPERS, DEMANDING THEIR BAHI KHATAS (ACCOUNT BOOKS) AND DEBT BONDS.
BURNT THE KHATAS AND LOOTED GRAIN SHOPS, AND IN SOME CASES SET FIRE TO THE HOUSES OF SAHUKARS.
EVERYWHERE THE PATTERN WAS THE SAME.

Question 30

WHY PERMANENT SETTLEMENT WAS RARELY EXTENDED TO ANY REGION BEYOND BENGAL?

Answer 30

1. AFTER 1810, AGRICULTURAL PRICES ROSE, INCREASING THE VALUE OF THE HARVEST PRODUCE, AND ENLARGING THE INCOME OF THE BENGAL ZAMIDARS.
2. SINCE THE REVENUE DEMAND WAS FIXED UNDER THE PERMANENT SETTLEMENT, THE COLONIAL STATE COULD NOT CLAIM ANY SHARE OF THIS ENHANCED INCOME.
3. OTHER REASONS WERE THE RICARDIAN IDEAS.

Question 31

TERM RENTIER MEANING IN HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA?

Answer 31

RENTIER IS A TERM USED TO DESIGNATE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON THE RENTAL INCOME FROM PROPERTY.

Question 32

WHAT WERE THE RICARDIAN IDEAS?

Answer 32

• ACCORDING TO RICARDIAN IDEAS, A LANDOWNER SHOULD HAVE A CLAIM ONLY TO THE AVERAGE RENT THAT PREVAILED AT A GIVEN TIME.
• WHEN THE LAND YIELDED MORE THEN THIS AVERAGE RENT, THE LANDOWNER HAD A SURPLUS THAT THE STATE NEEDED TO TAX.
• IF THE TAX WAS NOT LEVIED, CULTIVATORS WERE LIKELY TO TURN INTO RENTIERS, AND THEIR SURPLUS INCOME WAS UNLIKELY TO BE PRODUCTIVELY INVESTED IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE LAND.

Question 33

THE REVENUE SYSTEM THAT WAS INTRODUCED IN THE BOMBAY DECCAN CAME TO BE KNOWN AS THE?

Answer 33

RYOTWARI SETTLEMENT.

Question 34

FEATURES OF RYOTWARI SYSTEM?

Answer 34

1. THE REVENUE WAS DIRECTLY SETTLED WITH THE RYOT.
2. THE AVERAGE INCOME FROM THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF THE SOIL WAS ASSESSED AND A PROPORTION OF IT FIXED AS THE SHARE OF THE STATE.
3. THE LANDS WERE RESURVEYED EVERY 30 YEARS AND THE REVENUE RATES INCREASED.
4. WHEN SOMEONE FAILED TO PAY, HIS CROPS WERE SEIZED AND A FINE WAS IMPOSED ON THE WHOLE VILLAGE.

Question 35

COTTON SUPPLY ASSOCIATION WAS FOUNDED IN BRITAIN IN WHICH YEAR?

Answer 35

1857.

Question 36

MANCHESTER COMPANY WAS FORMED IN WHICH YEAR?

Answer 36

1859.

Question 37

TERM SOWKARS IN HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA?

Answer 37

SHAHUKARS, A MONEYLENDER AND A TRADER.

Question 38

WHAT WAS THE LIMITATION LAW?

Answer 38

IN 1859 THE BRITISH PASSED A LIMITATION LAW THAT STATED THAT THE LOAN BONDS SIGNED BETWEEN MONEYLENDERS AND RYOTS WOULD HAVE VALIDITY FOR ONLY THREE YEARS.
THIS LAW WAS MEANT TO CHECK THE ACCUMULATION OF INTEREST OVER TIME.

Question 39

WAS LIMITATION LAW OF 1859 SUCCESSFUL IN CHECKING THE ACCUMULATION OF INTEREST OVER TIME?

Answer 39

1. THE MONEYLENDERS, HOWEVER, TURNED THE LAW AROUND, FORCING THE RYOT TO SIGN A NEW BOND EVERY THREE YEARS.
   WHEN A NEW BOND WAS SIGNED, THE UNPAID BALANCE- THAT IS, THE ORIGINAL LOAN AND THE ACCUMULATED INTEREST- WAS ENTERED AS THE PRINCIPAL ON WHICH A NEW SET OF INTEREST CHARGES WAS CALCULATED.
2. THEY REFUSED TO GIVE RECEIPTS WHEN LOANS WERE REPAID, ENTERED FICTITIOUS FIGURES IN BONDS, ACQUIRED THE PEASANTS HARVEST AT LOW PRICES, AND ULTIMATELY TOOK OVER PEASANTS PROPERTY.
3. DEEDS AND BONDS APPEARED AS SYMBOLS OF THE NEW OPPRESSIVE SYSTEM.