Ruling the Countryside Class 8 History | NCERT | CBSE | Class 8 History Chapter 3

Summary

This video script delves into the East India Company's transformation of Bengal's economy post-1765, as it became the chief financial administrator. It highlights the company's revenue collection methods, the introduction of the Permanent Settlement under Lord Cornwallis, and its adverse effects on zaminders, farmers, and the company itself. The script also discusses alternative systems like the Mahalwari and Ryotwari, and the forced cultivation of indigo leading to the Blue Rebellion. The video concludes with the government's response to the indigo crisis and the end of indigo production in Bengal.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The East India Company was appointed as the Divan of Bengal in 1765, with Robert Clive accepting the title on its behalf. This role made the company the chief financial administrator of the region.
• 💼 As the Divan, the company had the power to collect revenue and decide on the products to be purchased and sold, aiming to maximize revenue and acquire cotton and silk cloth cheaply.
• 💡 The company financed its purchase of goods in Bengal through the revenue collected there, rather than importing gold and silver from Britain.
• 🌾 The Bengal economy faced a deep crisis, with the famine of 1770 causing significant damage and prompting the company to consider improving agriculture to stabilize revenue.
• 📈 In 1793, the company introduced the permanent settlement system under Lord Cornwallis, which fixed land revenue and made zaminders responsible for collecting it from peasants.
• 📉 The permanent settlement had adverse effects, as zaminders were not interested in improving land, leading to reduced crop production and difficulty in paying the fixed revenue.
• 🌾 The company's expectation that the permanent settlement would encourage investment in land improvement did not materialize, and the system ultimately proved unhelpful.
• 🌱 The Mahalwari system, introduced by Halt Mackenzie in 1822, collected land revenue from farmers through village headmen, treating the entire village as one unit and revising the revenue periodically.
• 🌳 The Ryotwari system, established by Sir Thomas Monroe, regarded peasants or cultivators as landowners, with the company making direct revenue settlements with them and conducting careful surveys of their fields.
• 🔵 The East India Company expanded indigo cultivation in India to meet the growing demand in Europe, especially in Britain, where indigo was used in the textile industry.
• 💢 The Indigo Rebellion in 1859 arose from peasants refusing to pay rents to planters and grow indigo, leading to attacks on indigo factories and eventually the end of indigo cultivation in Bengal.

Q & A

When was the East India Company appointed as the Divan of Bengal?

The East India Company was appointed as the Divan of Bengal on 12th August 1765.

What was the primary role of the East India Company as the Divan of Bengal?

As the Divan of Bengal, the East India Company became the chief financial administrator of the territory, responsible for collecting revenue and handling the revenue administration.

How did the East India Company finance the purchase of goods in Bengal before 1765?

Before 1765, the East India Company purchased goods in India by importing gold and silver from Britain.

What was the impact of the revenue collection methods implemented by the East India Company on the Bengal economy?

The revenue collection methods implemented by the East India Company led to a deep crisis in the Bengal economy, with the famine of 1770 causing the death of about 10 million people and severely damaging the economy.

What was the main purpose of introducing the permanent settlement system under the reign of Lord Cornwallis?

The main purpose of introducing the permanent settlement system was to ensure a regular flow of revenue into the company and to encourage the zaminders to invest in improving the land.

What were the negative effects of the permanent settlement on zaminders and farmers?

The permanent settlement had adverse effects on zaminders as they were not interested in improving the land, leading to reduced crop production and difficulty in paying the high fixed revenue. Farmers were forced to pay high rents and often had to take loans, leading to eviction when they failed to pay.

What was the mahalwari system introduced by Col. Mackenzie in 1822?

The mahalwari system was a revenue collection method where land revenue was collected from the farmers by the village headmen on behalf of the whole village, treating the entire village as one unit for the payment of land revenue. The revenue was not fixed permanently and was to be revised periodically.

What was the main issue with the indigo cultivation system in India?

The main issue with the indigo cultivation system was that it was not profitable for the cultivators. They were often trapped in a cycle of loans and faced reduced fertility of the land after indigo harvest, making it unsuitable for rice cultivation.

What was the Blue Rebellion of 1859 in Bengal?

The Blue Rebellion of 1859 in Bengal was a rebellion against the indigo planters where many peasants refused to pay rents to the planters and to grow indigo. They also attacked indigo factories, leading to significant changes in the indigo cultivation system.

How did the British government respond to the Blue Rebellion and its impact on indigo cultivation?

In response to the Blue Rebellion, the British government set up the Indigo Commission to inquire into the system of indigo production. It declared that indigo cultivation was not profitable for the cultivators, hence they could refuse to produce indigo in the future. This led to the end of indigo production in Bengal and a shift to Bihar.