An Auction in Burdwan
In 1797, a significant auction took place in Burdwan, where estates belonging to the Raja of Burdwan were to be sold due to large revenue arrears under the Permanent Settlement established in 1793. The East India Company (E.I.C.) had fixed revenue demands on zamindars, and those unable to meet these demands faced public auctions of their properties. This event was significant in understanding the dynamics of colonial rule in Bengal, as it illustrated how the zamindars, despite being in debt, were able to retain their estates through the collusion of servants and agents who purchased the lands fictitiously.
The section dives into the reasons for the Raja's failure to pay the revenue—specifically identifying the issues with the high revenue demands imposed by the E.I.C., which were set during a time of economic crisis in Bengal. This led to widespread discontent among zamindars, who began to devise strategies to maintain their power and ownership, even when their estates were technically sold. The auction reflects significant historical narratives about land ownership, colonial economic policies, and local resistance to authority, underscoring the contradictions of authority and loyalty in rural Bengal.