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Questions and Answers
What was the primary intention behind the Permanent Settlement introduced by Lord Charles Cornwallis in 1793?
What was the primary intention behind the Permanent Settlement introduced by Lord Charles Cornwallis in 1793?
The zamindars had more power under the traditional system of collecting land taxes than they did after the Permanent Settlement.
The zamindars had more power under the traditional system of collecting land taxes than they did after the Permanent Settlement.
False
What was a significant consequence of the Permanent Settlement for the Bengal peasantry?
What was a significant consequence of the Permanent Settlement for the Bengal peasantry?
Denial of property rights in land.
What was the status of cultivators under zamindari rule?
What was the status of cultivators under zamindari rule?
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The British government aimed to curb the _________ and corrupt activities of the private British East India Company.
The British government aimed to curb the _________ and corrupt activities of the private British East India Company.
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All tenants had the right to freely sell their occupancy rights.
All tenants had the right to freely sell their occupancy rights.
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Which of the following statements best describes the impact of the Permanent Settlement on agricultural development?
Which of the following statements best describes the impact of the Permanent Settlement on agricultural development?
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Match the following terms with their descriptions:
Match the following terms with their descriptions:
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Who dominated the zamindari class during the early colonial period?
Who dominated the zamindari class during the early colonial period?
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The ____ system was not significantly changed under colonial rule.
The ____ system was not significantly changed under colonial rule.
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Match the following groups with their characteristics:
Match the following groups with their characteristics:
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The executive, judiciary, and police were structured to support the operation of the Permanent Settlement.
The executive, judiciary, and police were structured to support the operation of the Permanent Settlement.
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What significant change did colonial rule bring about in the social structure?
What significant change did colonial rule bring about in the social structure?
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The system of revenue collection and landownership introduced by Lord Cornwallis was modeled primarily on the British _________.
The system of revenue collection and landownership introduced by Lord Cornwallis was modeled primarily on the British _________.
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The majority of cultivators under Hindu zamindars were also Hindus in the western delta.
The majority of cultivators under Hindu zamindars were also Hindus in the western delta.
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What did the new elite establish alongside their Western lifestyle?
What did the new elite establish alongside their Western lifestyle?
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Study Notes
The Permanent Settlement and the Bengal Peasantry
- The British East India Company's rule was regulated by the British Parliament in 1773, transforming the company into an instrument of British foreign policy.
- Lord Cornwallis's Permanent Settlement (Landlease Act) of 1793 was introduced to regulate the activities of British agents and impose a system of revenue collection and landownership.
- The Permanent Settlement replaced traditional land tax collection, which involved Zamindars as revenue collectors and local magistrates, with a system where Zamindars were granted the status and rights of landlords.
- Revenue-collecting rights were auctioned to the highest bidders, regardless of their knowledge of rural conditions or agricultural management skills.
- This led to absentee landlordism, stagnation in agricultural development, and a breakdown in the traditional link between Zamindars and peasants.
- The Zamindars became the mainstay of colonial control and extraction, with other administrative aspects, like the judiciary and police, integrated to support the Permanent Settlement.
- The system remained with modifications until the 1950s, significantly shaping social and economic relations in the Bengal delta.
- The Permanent Settlement denied Bengali peasants any property rights in land; previously, both peasant producers and landlords had complex and locally variable property rights.
- Under the new system, landlords were granted absolute ownership rights, allowing them to freely sell, mortgage, or gift their land.
- Cultivators became tenants with the right to work the land only if they regularly paid rent. They could only transfer their occupancy right by inheritance, not by sale.
- Many tenants did not acquire occupancy rights, resulting in a growing number of tenants-at-will who could be evicted by landlords at any time.
- This dominance of Zamindars in rural Bengal was facilitated by significant benefits they received from the colonial state, including patronage and wealth acquisition.
- The composition of Zamindari gentry evolved, with Hindus increasingly dominating, particularly in the eastern delta, where many Muslim cultivators existed.
- In the western delta, both Zamindars and cultivators were primarily Hindu, leading to distinct regional patterns.
The Economic and Social Impact of Colonial Rule in India
- A new elite emerged with a Western lifestyle, adopting the English language and attending English schools.
- They established new towns and urban amenities with segregated suburbs and housing for themselves.
- Their habits were emulated by the professional elite, including lawyers, doctors, teachers, journalists, and businessmen.
- Within this elite group, old caste barriers were eased, and social mobility increased.
- The majority of the population did not experience significant changes under colonial rule.
- The British educational effort was limited, resulting in few changes in village society, the caste system, the position of untouchables, the joint family system, or production techniques in agriculture.
- The most significant change introduced by the British was the replacement of the warlord aristocracy with an efficient bureaucracy and army.
- Traditionally, the East India Company paid its servants modest salaries, allowing them to supplement their income through other means.
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Description
Explore the intricacies of the Permanent Settlement introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793 and its impact on the Bengal peasantry. This quiz delves into how the changes in landownership and revenue collection reshaped traditional agricultural practices and contributed to the emergence of absentee landlordism. Test your knowledge of these pivotal developments in colonial India.
