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NCERT Class 12 History Chapter 10 Colonialism and The Countryside
Also, you can read the NCERT book online in these sections Solutions by Expert Teachers as per Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Book guidelines. CBSE Class 12 History Solutions are part of All Subject Solutions. Here we have given NCERT Class 12 History Part – I: Themes in Indian History, History Part – II: Themes in Indian History, History Part – III: Themes in Indian History. NCERT Class 12 History Chapter 10 Colonialism and The Countryside Notes, NCERT Class 12 History Textbook Solutions for All Chapters, You can practice these here.
Colonialism and The Countryside
Chapter: 10
| THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY (PART – III) |
TEXTUAL QUESTIONS ANSWER
1. Why was the jotedar a powerful figure in many areas of rural Bengal?
Or
Explain how the powers of jotedars within a village, was more effective than that of zamindars.
Ans: When zamindars were in crisis in the eighteenth century, a group of rich peasants consolidated its position in the villages of Bengal. This class of rich peasants came to be known as jotedars. They had a control over vast areas of land. Sometimes they had even a control on tany thousand acres of land. They even – controlled local trade and moneylending. They exercised immense power over the poor cultivators of the region. They had even become more powerful than the zamindars. The following reasons were responsible for their strong position:
(i) They lived in villages. So they had a lot of influence on many villagers.
(ii) They opposed the efforts of the zamindars to increase the jama of the village.
(iii) They mobilised ryots to deliberately delay payments of revenue to the zamindars.
(iv) They controlled the local trade and moneylending.
(v) They had a control over several areas of land. They even purchased land when the estates of the zamindars were being auctioned for failure to make payment of the revenue.
2. How did zamindars manage to retain control over their zamindaris?
Or
Explain two strategies devised by the zamindars of Bengal to survive the pressure of high revenue demand auction of their land.
Ans: The zamindars adopted various means and measures to establish their control over their zamindaris.
These included the following:
(i) They adopted the strategy of fictitious sale of land. When a part of their estate was auctioned, their men bought the property by giving higher bids than others. Later on they refused to pay up the purchase money. So there was again auction. The same process of purchase was repeated. At last the state felt exhausted. It sold the estate at a low price again to the zamindar.
(ii) They created hurdles in the possession of the land if anyone from outside the zamindari bought an estate at an auction.
(iii) They transferred some of the estates in the name of women as the property of women could not be taken over.
(iv) The Lathyals of the former zamindars San sometimes attacked the new buyers.
(v) Sometimes the ryots also resisted the entry of purchasers from outside.
3. How did the Paharias respond to the coming of outsiders?
Ans: The Paharias response:
(a) The settling of the Santhals on the peripheries of the Rajmahal hills were initially resisted by the Paharias.
(b) But ultimately they were forced to withdraw deeper into the hills.
(c) They were now confined to the more barren and rocky upper hills. This severely affected their lives.
(d) Their economy was dependent on shifting cultivation which was no longer feasible leading to their impoverishment.
(e) As forests began to be cleared to facilitate cultivation the Paharia hunters also faced problems.
Thus the lifestyle of the Paharias underwent a great change with the coming of the outsiders.
4. Why did the Santhals rebel against British rule?
Or
Examine the causes of Santhal rebellion against money lenders, zamindars and the colonial state.
Or
What was Damin-i-Koh ? Why did Santhals resist Britishers during 18th century? Give three reasons.
Ans: Damin-i-Koh: In 1882 the British had given a piece of land to the Santhals. This land was given in the foot-hills of Rajmahal. This land was demarcated as Damin-i-Koh and declared as the land of the santhals. The Santhals were allowed to live on this piece of land, practise agriculture and flourish as peasants over this land.
(a) But the Santhals gradually became dissatisfied. They found they were not getting their due and were being exploited. The sate was levying heavy taxes on them.
(b) Moneylenders charged them high rates of interest and took over their land when they were unable to pay.
(c) Zamindars also had begun to increase their hold over their area. Thus they revolted against the exploitation of the zamindar, moneylenders and the state.
(d) After the revolt, the British created the Santhal Pargana from the districts of Bhagalpur and Birbhum. It was believed that the creation of a new state and passing of special laws for their protection would conciliate the Santhals.
5. What explains the anger of the Deccan ryots against the moneylenders?
Ans: Following were the main reasons of anger of the Deccan ryots against the money- lenders:
(i) Moneylenders refused to extend loans to ryots. Ryots felt that moneylenders were insensitive to their plight and miserable conditions.
(ii) Moneylenders were disobeying the traditional norms of rural areas. For example amount of interest could not exceed the principal amount. But in one of the case moneylender had charged more than 2,000 as interest on the principal amount of 100.
(iii) Unpaid amount of interest was also being included in new loan deeds so that moneylender could remain away from the hands of law and his amount remain as it is.
(iv) No receipt was given to peasant in case of repayment of loan.
(v) Ryots also complained of moneylenders manipulating laws and forging accounts.
6. Why were so many Zamindaris auctioned after the Permanent settlement?
Ans: Many Zamindaris were auctioned as the Zamindars failed to pay up the agreed land revenue on time. The reasons are:
(i) Many believed that the land revenue settlement was on the higher side. Moreover soon after the permanent settlement the foodgrain prices declined.
(ii) The ryots could not pay up the land revenue and hence Zamindars also defaulted.
(iii) The revenue was to be deposited on time irrespective of harvesting cycle. This was another reason for default by the Zamindars.
(iv) The power of Zamindars was curbed by the Company. They were no longer law and order enforcing agency at local level.
(v) Their musclemen were also weakened. As a result of this Zamindars could not effectively collect taxes at times.
(vi) Many a time Jotedars and peasants deliberately delayed the land revenue payment. This resulted in default by Zamindars and the auction thereafter.
(vii) It was to be noted that the authority of zamindars in rural areas did not collapse for they devised way of surviving pressures and manipulating actions.
(viii) More over hose who survived troubles of 1790s consolidated their power.
7. In what way was the livelihood of the Paharias different from that of the Santhals?
Ans: The Paharias lived around the Rajmahal hills. They were hostile and apprehensive towards the government officials. They were not willing to talk to outside travellers.
Livelihood of the Paharias: The Paharias earned their livelihood by adopting the following professions:
(i) They practised shifting cultivation.
(ii) They grew a variety of pulses and millets.
(iii) They collected mahua (a flower) for food.
(iv) They reared silk-worms and collected silk cocoons and resin for sale.
(v) They collected wood for charcoal production.
(vi) They used the patches of grass on the land as pasture for the cattle.
(vii) They hunted wild animals.
(viii) They also raided the plains where the settled agriculturalists lived.
(ix) They resisted the intrusion of outsiders. If ever they allowed them, they negotiated political relations with them. They got a regular tribute from the zamindars.
(x) They accepted toll from the traders. In return, they protected the traders. They also ensured that their goods were not plundered by anyone.
Livelihood of the Santhals: The Santhals had come into Bengal around the 1780s.
They earned their livelihood by adopting the following jobs:
(i) They cleared forests and cut down timber.
(ii) They ploughed land and grew rice and cotton.
(iii) They expanded cultivaion and increased the inflow of revenue in the coffers of the East India Company.
(iv) They cultivated many commercial crops for the market.
(v) They also dealt with traders and money- lenders.
8. How did the American Civil War affect the lives of ryots in India?
Or
What was the impact of American Civil War on the export of cotton to Britain?
Or
Explain the impact of American Civil War on the cotton imports of Britain and India.
Ans: Before the decade of 1860’s, Britain imported 3/4 of its cotton from America.The British manufacturers of cotton cloth were very much worried about their dependence of cotton over America. That is why they tried to find alternative sources of cotton supply.
Cotton Supply Association was founded in Britain in 1875 and Manchester Cotton Company was formed in 1859. Their main objective was to encourage production of cotton in every part of the world so that their Company could develop. India was seen as a country which could supply cotton to Lancashire in case of non-supply from America. Indian soil and climate both were favourable for cotton cultivation and cheap labou was also available.
American Civil War: The American Civil War broke out in 1861. It created a wave of panic in England as the raw cotton imports from America fell from 2,000,000 bails in 1861 to 5,500 bails in 1861 So England wanted to increase cotton exports from India. During this, cottons prices grew rapidly. This boom in the cotton market had a profound impact on the Deccan countryside. It had a considerable impact on the life of ryots.
Impact of the American Civil War on the Ryots: Due to the American Civil War. England wanted to get as much cotton as possible.
It affected a lot the ryots of the Bombay Deccan from the following points:
(i) The ryots found an access of limitless credit. The Export merchants of Bombay gave advances to urban Sahukars. These Sahukars extended this credit to rural moneylenders on the assurance that they would provide the requisite cotton.
(ii) The ryots got ₹100/- as advance for every acre of cotton they planted.
(iii) The Sahukars were eager to give the long-term loans to ryots.
(iv) The boom in cotton did not benefit all the ryots. While the rich peasants gained, a majority of them went under heavier debt.
(v) As a boom in cotton market lasted for long, Indian cotton merchants began to visualise the capturing of world market in raw cotton by permanently displacing U.S.A. But this condition changed in 1865. The American Civil War came to an end and there again began production of cotton. As a result Indian export of cotton to Britain declined steadily. Under these circumstances, moneylenders and export merchants of Maharashtra were no longer keen to providing long-term loans. They observed that demand of Indian cotton is decreasing and prices of cotton are also coming down. That is why they stopped their business and refused to give advances to peasants. Now they began concentrating on recovery of loans.
9. What are the problems of using official sources in writing about the history of peasants?
Ans: The government or official sources are often comprehensive as they are based on enquiries, eye-witnesses, compiled statistical data and other reports. However, we come across the following problems while making use of the official sources:
(ⅰ) The official sources reflect official concerns and interpretation of events For example, the Deccan Riots Commission specifically examined if the revenue demanded by the government was the cause of revolt. After analysing all the evidences, the commission concluded that the revenue imposed by the government was not the cause of peasant anger. the other hand, the peasants were angry because of the role of moneylenders. This clearly sows that the colonial government was not a day to admit that popular discontent was because of the government action.
(ii) So the official reports have to be read with care and caution as they can be biased with a tilt in favour of the government. So they must be Verified with evidence gathered from newspapers, un-official records, legal records and oral sources.
However, official report are an invaluable sources for the reconstruction of history.
10. On an outline map of the subcontinent, mark out the areas described in this chapter. Find out whether there were other areas where the Permanent Settlement and the Ryotwari system were prevalent and plot these on the map as well.
Ans: Hints: In the chapter the following areas have been mentioned of the subcontinent.
Students marked particularly the followings:
(i) Bengal. It means West Bengal occupied by India, East Bengal, now a days Bangladesh along with certain area of Bihar, Orissa and hilly areas of Assam also.
(ii) Madras Presidency, it means modern Chennai and its adjoining areas.
(iii) Bombay Presidency-Modern Mumbai and adjoining areas including Deccan Maharashtra.
(iv) Surat and some other areas of Gujarat.
(v) Rajmahal hills occupied by Paharias and Santhals.
(vi) The Britishers introduced Mahalwari system in eastern part of Punjab (now it is a part and parcel of India).
(vii) Istamarari Settlement (or the Permanent Settlement) was mainly introduced in entire Bengal. On the other hand Ryotwari System in Bombay and southern India.
11. Francis Buchanan published reports on several districts of eastern India. Read one report and collate the information available about rural society, focusing on the themes discussed in this chapter. Highlight the ways in which historians can use such texts.
Ans: For self practice of the student.
12. In the region where you live, talk to the older people within a rural community and visit the fields they now cultivate. Find out what they produce, how they earn their livelihoods, what their parents did, what their sons and daughters do now, and how their lives have changed over the last 75 years. Write a report based on your findings.
Ans: Self discussion in the classroom by the students.
