3. Ruling the Countryside
The chapter explores the establishment of British colonial rule in the Indian countryside, focusing on the economic and administrative transformations that occurred post the East India Company's appointment as the Diwan of Bengal. It discusses the revenue systems like the Permanent Settlement and the Mahalwari system, the introduction and impact of cash crops like indigo, and the resulting struggles of peasants under these exploitative systems, culminating in the Indigo Rebellion and subsequent movements for reform.
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What we have learnt
- The East India Company was appointed as the Diwan of Bengal, becoming the primary financial administrator of the region.
- The Permanent Settlement and the Mahalwari system were major revenue systems implemented by the Company, each with its own set of challenges.
- The demand for crops like indigo led to oppressive practices, inciting peasants to revolt and seek autonomy.
Key Concepts
- -- Diwani
- The appointment of the East India Company as the chief financial administrator of Bengal, allowing it to control revenue collection.
- -- Permanent Settlement
- A revenue system established in 1793 that fixed the payment of revenue for zamindars permanently, leading to various social and economic problems.
- -- Mahalwari System
- A revenue collection system introduced in 1822 where village headmen collected assessed revenue from cultivators, aiming for more periodic adjustments.
- -- Indigo
- A cash crop grown extensively in Bengal for its dye, which became a major point of conflict between peasants and planters due to exploitative practices.
- -- Indigo Rebellion
- A revolt by ryots in 1859 against the oppressive indigo cultivation system, reflecting broader resistance to colonial agricultural practices.
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