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The East India Company, made the Diwan of Bengal, faced challenges in maintaining revenue amidst an economic downturn. Initially focusing on trade, the Company struggled to balance high revenue demands with the welfare of local peasants and artisans, leading to drastic consequences, including famine. This prompted a shift in agricultural policies and revenue collection systems, like the Permanent Settlement and mahalwari system, while the cultivation of indigo shifted towards an exploitative model.
The section elaborates on the complexities faced by the East India Company after its appointment as Diwan in Bengal. While primarily viewing itself as a trading entity, the Company recognized the necessity of establishing a reliable system for revenue collection. The initial years showed that high demands on local cultivators resulted in severe economic downturns, leading to famine and a decline in agricultural productivity.
This section illustrates the systemic challenges within colonial revenue policy, emphasizing a shift in agricultural focus and the socio-economic impacts on Indian society.
Economic Exploitation: The Company's focus on profit led to severe hardship for local cultivators and artisans.
The Permanent Settlement: Introduced fixed revenues to zamindars, causing long-term neglect of land improvement.
Indigo Cultivation: Shifted to an exploitative contract system, resulting in social unrest.
In Bengal’s fields, crops would grow, / But taxes high caused peasants woe.
Once in Bengal, the Company came, / Seizing control, they played their game. / Profits grew while people cried, / A tale of greed where many died.
PEAR: Permanent settlement Fixed Amount, Revenue aimed but exploited people's plight.
The devastating famine in Bengal of 1770, which resulted in approximately ten million deaths.
The introduction of the nij and ryotwari systems as responses to the challenges posed by the Permanent Settlement.
Term: Diwan
Definition: A title for the chief financial administrator in a region, in this case, the East India Company in Bengal.
A title for the chief financial administrator in a region, in this case, the East India Company in Bengal.
Term: Zamindar
Definition: Landowners tasked with collecting taxes from peasants under the Permanent Settlement.
Landowners tasked with collecting taxes from peasants under the Permanent Settlement.
Term: Ryots
Definition: Peasant cultivators responsible for farming the land.
Peasant cultivators responsible for farming the land.
Term: Mahalwari System
Definition: An agrarian revenue system involving local village headmen and assessed based on village production.
An agrarian revenue system involving local village headmen and assessed based on village production.
Term: Nij Cultivation
Definition: Indigo production directly controlled and managed by planters.
Indigo production directly controlled and managed by planters.