Read the passage and answer the question:
From the Fifth report
Referring to the condition of zamindars and the auction of lands, the Fifth Report stated:
The revenue was not realised with punctuality, and lands to a considerable extent were periodically exposed to sale by auction. In the native year 1203, corresponding with 1796-97, the land advertised for sale comprehended a jumma or assessment of sicca rupees 28,70,061, the extent of land actually sold bore a jumma or assessment of 14,18,756, and the amount of purchase money sicca rupees 17,90,416. In 1204. Corresponding with 1797-98, the land advertised was for sicca rupees 22,66,191, the quantity sold was for sicca rupees 22,74,076 and the purchase money sicca rupees 21,47,580. Among the defaulters were some of the oldest families of the country, Such were the rajahs of Nuddea, Rajeshaye, Bishenpore (all districts of Bengal),... and others, the dismemberment of whose estates at the end of each succeeding year, threatened them with poverty and ruin, and in some instances presented difficulties to the revenue officers, in their efforts to preserve undiminished the amount of public assessment.
While writing history, researchers and historians carefully examined the archives of Bengal Zamindars and found _________.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Fifth report is exaggerated on the collapse of zamindari power.
Researchers have examined the archives of various Bengal zamindars and the local records of the districts. They show that, intent on criticising the maladministration of the Company, the Fifth Report exaggerated the collapse of traditional zamindari power and overestimated the scale on which zamindars were losing their land. Even when zamindaris were auctioned, zamindars were not always displaced.
Option (2) Fifth report is accurate about the rise in the status of zamindar. — Incorrect. The report spoke of the decline of the zamindars, not of a rise in their status, and the researchers found even that picture overdrawn.
Option (3) Fifth report can be used uncritically to write history. — Incorrect. The finding is the opposite: the arguments and evidence of the Fifth Report cannot be accepted uncritically.
Option (4) Fifth report dealt with annexation of North-East. — Incorrect. The report dealt with the revenue and judicial administration of Bengal and Madras, not with any annexation in the North-East.
NCERT (2026-27): “1.6 The Fifth Report … In fact, recent researches show that the arguments and evidence offered by the Fifth Report cannot be accepted uncritically. Researchers have carefully examined the archives of various Bengal zamindars and the local records of the districts to write about the history of colonial rule in rural Bengal. They indicate that, intent on criticising the maladministration of the company, the Fifth Report exaggerated the collapse of traditional zamindari power, as also overestimated the scale on which zamindars were losing their land. As we have seen, even when zamindaris were auctioned, zamindars were not always displaced, given the ingenious methods they used to retain their zamindaris.…” |