WBBSE Solutions For Class 8 History Chapter 4 Nature Of Colonial Economy Topic A Agriculture In Colonial Period

Chapter 4 Nature Of Colonial Economy Topic A Agriculture In Colonial Period Descriptive Questions

Question 1. Discuss the system of Permanent Settlement briefly.
Answer: Permanent Settlement:-

Lord Cornwallis, who succeeded Hastings as the Governor General, wanted to make a permanent arrangement. He collected all the details about revenue and introduced ‘the Dahsala’, ‘Permanent Settlement’ systems in 1879 with the consent of the landlords.

WBBSE Solutions For Class 8 History Chapter 4 Nature Of Colonial Economy Topic A Lord Cornwaills

System Of Permanent Settlement-

1. Terms:

  1. In the system of Permanent Settlement, it was decided that
  2.  Zamindars would enjoy the ownership rights over their land hereditarily,
  3.  they would be able to purchase new lands through auction,
  4. 3. they would have to pay a fixed amount of revenue to the government
  5.  if any Zamindar failed to deposit the stipulated revenue by sunset on a particular date, his land would be confiscated and new arrangements would be made for it,
  6. the government and the Zamindars would be entitled to 90% and 10% of the revenue respectively,
  7. the rate of revenue would be decreased in case of a natural disaster.

2. Area of implementation:

The Permanent Settlement system was implemented on an experimental basis in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. Later on, it was implemented in parts of Varanasi, North West India, and Madras.

WBBSE Class 8 Colonial Agriculture Notes

3. Results:

  • The Board of Directors in London expected that the Permanent Settlement system would foster the development of agriculture, industry, trade, and commerce and make the farmers happy and prosperous.
  • However, the situation was completely different. There were, of course, some immediate benefits but these were mainly enjoyed by the British and their puppet landlords.
  • The evil effects were more in number and their burden had to be borne mainly by the farmers of Bengal.

Read and Learn More WBBSE Solutions For Class 8 History

Question 2. Discuss the demerits of the Permanent Settlement.
Answer: Permanent Settlement Introduction:

Lord Cornwallis introduced the Permanent Settlement system on March 22, 1793. It had more demerits than merits. So historian T.R. Holmes has referred to it as a ‘sorrowful mistake’.

Demerits Of Permanent Settlement-

  1. Increase in rate of revenue:
    • The revenue was determined without measuring the land and without assessing the quality or productivity of the land. So the rate of revenue was quite high in most cases.
  2. The deficit in government’s income:
    • Since the revenue to be paid to the government was fixed, the Zamindars increased their income in various ways but the government’s income remained less.
  3. Harmful for farmers:
    • The farmers were greatly harmed by this system and were completely at the mercy of the landlords.
      Eviction of farmers from their lands was a daily occurrence.
  4. Emergence of middlemen:
    • When the Zamindars divided their lands into smaller parts and gave them on lease or ‘Lara’, many ‘ljaradars’ and middlemen emerged and oppression and tyranny over the subjects increased.
  5. Auction of land:
    • If a Zamindar failed to deposit his revenue by the sunset of the assigned day, then his land was confiscated and auctioned by enforcing the ‘Sunset Law’.
    • In this way, many aristocratic landlords lost their lands.
  6. The emergence of a new class of landlords:
    • Many urban traders and money lenders purchased land on auction to become permanent landowners. They wanted to collect revenue by hook or crook.
    • Thus a new class of Zamindars appeared in Bengal who could not contribute anything to the development of agriculture.

Question 3. Give an account of the Ryotwari system.
Answer: Ryotwari system Introduction:

  • The direct settlement of land between the Company and the ryots (farmers) of South India is known as the Ryotwari System.
  • This system was introduced in 1820 in Bombay and South India (except Madras Presidency) under the initiative of Elphinstone and Sir Thomas Munro respectively.
  • The system was implemented in Madurai, Canvera, Kurvool, Raipur, Coimbatore, and Chilingput in South India.

1. Ryotwari system Terms and Conditions:

  1. An agreement was made between the Company and the farmers that the farmers would get occupancy rights or use rights over the land in return for a fixed revenue to be paid to the Company.
  2. The revenue would be increased after 20-30 years through discussion.
  3. 45-50 part of the total produce was ascertained as the payable revenue.
  4.  The land was divided into 9 parts through a land survey and according to the productivity of the land.
  5. The farmers had occupancy rights but no ownership rights.
  6. The farmers would be liable to pay the revenue even in case of natural disasters like floods, drought, or crop failure.

Wbbse Solutions For Class 8 History Chapter 4 Nature Of Colonial Economy Poor Cultivators Society of Bengal

Important Definitions Related to Colonial Agriculture

Ryotwari system Results:

1. Ryotwari system Merits:

  • The administrative complications and misunderstanding regarding land decreased as a direct relationship was established between the government and the ryots.
  • There were no intermediaries or middlemen in this system and so the farmers got rid of all exploitations and tortures.
  • Since there were no landlords the farmers could not be evicted and so they could rely on the land for their survival.
  • The ryots were unable to hire bonded laborers in many cases and so the bonded labor system went out of practice.

2. Ryotwari system Demerits:

  • The Company officials directly oppressed the farmers
  • Since the ryots had no ownership rights they had to pay rent to the company for their tenancy the rate of rent was too high, the peasants were not left with enough money to earn a living throughout the year after paying off the rent.

Class 8 WBBSE History Question Answer

Question 4 Give an account of the Mahalwari system.
Answer: Mahalwari system Introduction:

  • The Mahalwari system was a changed form of the Zamindari system.
  • It was called so because the arrangement was made with a village or a mahal instead of an individual farmer or a Zamindar.
  • This system was implemented in 1822 in the Ganga Valley region of North Western Province and Madhya Pradesh.

Mahalwari System

1. Mahalwari system Terms and conditions:

According to this system,

  1. the revenue was determined on a village or a mahal after measuring the land.
  2. The villagers had to pay the revenue collection.
  3. The individual farmers paid their share of revenue to the village chief who then deposited it into the government treasury.
  4. The revenue was determined according to the productivity of the land.
  5. There were no intermediaries or middlemen.
  6. The agreement was made for 20-30 years.

2. Mahalwari system Motives:

The motives behind introducing the system were

  1. The government wanted to increase its income in the future;
  2. The company also wanted to do away with intermediaries.
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3. Mahalwari system Drawbacks:

The Mahalwari system had some demerits. Some of them were

  1. The farmers had no ownership rights over the land;
  2. The misery of the farmers increased and the livelihood of their families was greatly hampered;
  3. Though there were no middlemen in the village the chiefs resorted to corruption and nepotism;
  4.  If any farmer failed to pay his dues on time it had to be paid by other farmers or they would lose the land.

Question 5. Write the results of the peasant revolts of the Deccan or the Deccan Riots of 1875.
Answer: Deccan Riots of 1875 Introduction:

The revolt of the peasants of Poona and Ahmadnagar of the Deccan in 1875 is known as the Peasant Revolt of Deccan or ‘The Deccan Riot’.

Results Of The Deccan Riots-

1. Appointment of Deccan Riots Commission:

  • Though the riots were not exactly anti-British, yet they terrified the British government. So the Deccan Riots.
  • A commission was appointed in 1876 to investigate the causes of the revolts and to find out the solutions.

2. Implementation of the Deccan Agriculturists Relief Act:

  • The Deccan Agriculturists Relief Act was passed in 1879 based on the recommendation of the Deccan Riots Commission.
  • This Act prohibited arresting peasants for non-payment of debt.
  • Bans were put on the transfer of land or taking loans. Arrangements were also made to examine the validity of the documents of the money lenders properly.

3. Safeguard peasants’ interest:

  • Old loan agreements (Takkavi) between the farmers and the money lenders were canceled.
  • Again, the agricultural implements that the Mahajans had given to the farmers instead of interest need not be returned.

Impact of British Policies on Indian Agriculture

Question 6. Discuss the effects of British revenue policy on Indian society.
Answer: 

WBBSE Solutions For Class 8 History Chapter 4 Nature Of Colonial Economy Topic A

Chapter 4 Nature Of Colonial Economy Topic A Agriculture In Colonial Period Short Analytical Type Questions

Question 1. What is meant by Permanent Settlement?
Answer: Permanent Settlement:-

  • Permanent Settlement is a system in which the landlords could get hereditary rights on their land instead of a fixed rent that was to be paid to the Company.
  • This system was implemented by Cornwallis in Bengal on March 22, 1793.
  • It was introduced in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa on an experimental basis and the actual intention was to consolidate the colonial according to the productivity of the village’s economy.

Zamindari System Explained

Question 2. What were the results of the Sunset Law?
Answer: Results Of The Sunset Law:-

1. Effacement of aristocratic Zamindars:

Many aristocratic Zamindars lost their lands due to the implementation of the Sunset Law.

2. Emergence of new Zamindar merchants:

The merchants’ officials of both the company and the landlords, the money lenders, and other rich people began to buy lands of the aristocrats in the auctions and became landlords.

Thus a new class of landlords emerged in society as a consequence of the ‘Sunset Law’.

Examples of Peasant Movements Against Colonial Policies

Question 3. What is meant by the Ryotwarl system?
Answer: Ryotwarl System:-

  • In the Ryotwari system, the rent or the revenue was collected directly from the farmers (ryots).
  • This system was introduced in South and South West Asia on the recommendations of English officials like Thomas Munro, John Reed, and Elphinstone.

Question 4. Mention two differences between the Permanent Settlement and the Ryotwari system.
Answer:

Differences Between The Permanent Settlement And The Ryotwari System:-

Wbbse Solutions For Class 8 History Chapter 4 Nature Of Colonial Economy Q4 Permanent Settlement and Ryotwari System

Commercialization of Agriculture in Colonial India

Question 5. What is meant by the Mahalwari system?
Answer: Mahalwari System:-

  • A ‘mahal’ refers to a group of villages. These villages paid their revenue collectively through a group of people who represented the villagers.
  • The agreement was made between the company and the mahal for 20-30 years and the revenue was determined according to the productivity of the villages concerned.
  • This system was called the Mahalwari system and was introduced in northwest and central India.

Question 6. Mention two differences between the Ryotwari and Mahalwari systems
Answer:

Differences Between The Ryotwari And Mahalwari Systems:-

Wbbse Solutions For Class 8 History Chapter 4 Nature Of Colonial Economy Q6 Ryotward and Mahalwari System

Question 7. What is meant by the Bhaiyachari system?
Answer: Bhaiyachari System

Introduction:

The Bhaiyachari system was introduced in Punjab in 1824 under the initiative of Elplinstone and Mackenzie.

1. Terms and conditions:

  1.  Separate land agreements would be made with individual farmers.
  2. The revenue would be determined in consultation with the farmers, the public representatives, and the collectors.
  3. The revenue would be deposited in the government treasury by the village chief or a respectable person.
  4.  The rate of revenue would increase after a few years.

2. Drawbacks:

  1. Though the income of the Zamindars increased, the amount of revenue collected by the Company did not increase much.
  2. The Company took advantage of the provision of increasing revenue after a gap of a few years. This made the farmers bankrupt and increased their misery.

Key Agricultural Products During Colonial Rule

Question 8. What is meant by the Mahajani system?
Answer: Mahajani System:-

  • During colonial rule, the farmers had to pay revenues at high rates even during famines, floods, or any other natural disaster.
  • Therefore, they were compelled to borrow money from the money lenders at a high rate of interest.
  • These money lenders or Mahajans exploited the farmers dishonestly and illegally. This system was called the Mahajani system.

Question 9. What is meant by the ‘Dadan’ system?
Answer: Dadan System:-

  • After the Battle of Plassey the East India Company paid the weavers in advance to cultivate cash crops like indigo.
  • Now the weavers could not sell any product to anybody else except the British company.
  • They were compelled to sell the products to the Company at a low rate after accepting the advance payment. This system was called ‘Dadan’.

Question 10. What is the Amini Commission?
Answer: Amini Commission:-

  • The commission appointed by Warren Hastings in 1776 to make a detailed investigation into the effectiveness of the existing land revenue system, was known as the Amini Commission.
  • The task of the commission was to determine the rate of revenue according to the fertility of the land, to collect the revenue, and to improve the condition of the peasants.

Question 11 What do you understand by the Pattani system?
Answer: Pattani System:-

  • The Zamindars used to divide their holdings into smaller parts and transfer it to another person in exchange for a fixed rent.
  • This system is called Pattani and its pioneer was Tej Chandra, the Zamindar of Burdwan.

Question 12 What is meant by the Tenancy Act?
Answer:

Tenancy Act:-

  • The British Government passed the Tenancy Act in 1886 to, protect the peasants from the inhuman torture of the Zamindars.
  • The ryots or the farmers were given tenancy rights on their land and they could not be evicted without the order of the court.
  • The Zamindars were also instructed to give sufficient reasons for increasing the revenue.

Conceptual Questions on Agricultural Stagnation in India

Question 13 How did the British try to control the Deccan Riots?
Answer:

British Try To Control The Deccan Riots:-

1. Deccan Riots Commission:

The British government appointed the Deccan Riot Commission in 1876 to find out the causes and solutions of these riots.

2. Deccan Agriculturist’s Relief Act:

  • The Deccan Agriculturist’s Relief Act was passed in 1879 on the recommendation of the Deccan Riots Commission.
  • This Act safeguarded the farmers from being arrested for non-payment of debt. Moreover, arrangements were also made to examine the documents of the Mahajans.

Practice Questions on Colonial Agricultural Policies

Question 14 What is garden farming?
Answer:

Garden Farming Introduction:

The garden crops included tea, indigo, jute, and cotton. The plantation industry or garden farming grew around these crops under European initiative.

1. Development of garden farming:

  • Tea was the most important garden product. This industry grew up in Assam, Bengal, South India, and Himachal Pradesh.
  • However, the tea plantations were chiefly owned by the Europeans and they sent the profit to their own countries.
  • So the Indians did not benefit from plantation industries.

Question 15. What was the impact of the commercialization of agriculture on Indian farmers?
Answer:

Impact Of The Commercialization Of Agriculture On Indian Farmers:-

There was a negative impact on agriculture the commercialization of
farmers.

1. Discrimination in society:

Only the rich farmers could avail of the irrigation facilities since they could pay high taxes for using the canal water.

2. Loss for farmers:

  • The agricultural output was dependent on the investment of capital and market demand. Since the farmers could not arrange for the necessary capital,
  • they received no profit and the profit went to the investors. Thus the farmers incurred heavy losses.

WBBSE Chapter 4 Nature Of Colonial Economy Topic A Agriculture In Colonial Period State Whether The Following Statements Are True Or False

Question 1. The Panchsala system was introduced by Warren Hastings.
Answer: True

Question 2. Amini Commission was formed by Lord Dalhousie.
Answer: False

Question 3. The Eksala system was introduced by Cornwallis.
Answer: False

Question 4. Cornwallis introduced the system of Permanent Settlement.
Answer: True

Question 5. Cornwallis Introduced The Sunset Act
Answer: True

Question 6. The Ryotwari system was implemented in 1821.
Answer: False

Question 7. The Ryotwari system was introduced by Alexender Read.
Answer: True

Question 8. The Dahsala System was introduced by . Bentinck.
Answer: False

Question 9. The Mahalwari system was introduced by Elphinston.
Answer: True

Question 10. The Permanent Settlement system is a modified form of the Dahsala system.
Answer: True

Class 8 WBBSE History Question Answer

Question 11. The Ryotwari system was an agreement between the farmer and the British Government.
Answer: True

Question 12. The Mahalwari system was an agreement between the native villages and the British Government.
Answer: True

Question 13. Agriculture was the main basis of the Indian economy during the Company’s rule.
Answer: True

WBBSE Chapter 4 Topic A Agriculture In Colonial Period Fill In The Blanks By Selecting The Appropriate Expressions From The Brackets

Question 1. The panchsala system was introduced in __________ (1772/1774/1776).
Answer: 1772

Question 2. The Amini Commission was formed in __________ (1772/1776/1780).
Answer: 1776

Question 3. The Eksala system was introduced in __________ (1772/1774/1777).
Answer: 1777

Question 4. The Permanent Settlement was introduced in __________ (1772/1774/1793).
Answer: 1793

Question 5. The Ryotwari system was introduced in __________ (western/south/northern) part of India.
Answer: South

Question 6. The Mahalwari system was introduced in __________ (Uttar Pradesh/Madhya Pradesh/Punjab)
Answer: Uttar Pradesh

Question 7. The Bhaiyachari system was prevalent in __________ (Punjab/Uttar Pradesh/Maharashtra).
Answer: Punjab

WBBSE Chapter 4 Nature Of Colonial Economy Topic A Agriculture In Colonial Period Answer In A Complete Sentence

Question 1. Who started the Ijaradari system in Bengal?
Answer: Warren Hastings started the baradari system in Bengal.

Question 2. When was the Permanent Settlement introduced in India?
Answer: The Permanent Settlement was introduced in India in 1793.

WBBSE Class 8 History Chapter 8 Question Answer

Question 3. Introduced Settlement? the Permanent
Answer: Lord Cornwallis introduced the Permanent Settlement.

Question 4. Who introduced the Mahalwari system in India?
Answer: Holt Mackenzie introduced the Mahalwari system in India.

Question 5. State the difference between the Ryotwari and the Mahalwari system.
Answer: In the Ryotwari system, the settlement was made directly between ryot or peasant and the Company, whereas in the Mahalwari system, the settlement was made between Zamindar or pradhan of the mahal (collection of several villages) and the Company.

Question 6. What is ‘abwab’?
Answer: In the Permanent Settlement system, several illegal taxes were extracted from the peasants, which is known as ‘abwab’.

Question 7. Which act is passed by the colonial administration as a result of the Deccan riot?
Answer: After the Deccan riot, the colonial administration passed the Agriculturalist Relief Act in 1879 to lessen the burden of loans on the peasants.

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