Read the passage given below and answer.
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 26,66,191, 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.
Consider the following statements regarding the establishment of British East India Company rule in Bengal.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct.
(A) The Permanent Settlement had come into operation in 1798
(B) Under this system, zamindar was not a land owner in the village, but revenue collector of the state
(C) Due to high initial demands, zamindars defaulted on payments
(D) Faced with an exorbitantly high revenue demand, zamindars fled to forests
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (B) and (C) only
(A) The Permanent Settlement had come into operation in 1798 Incorrect. The Permanent Settlement had come into operation in 1793. The auction of the Raja of Burdwan’s estates took place in 1797.
(B) Under this system, zamindar was not a land owner in the village, but revenue collector of the state Correct. The settlement was made with the rajas and taluqdars of Bengal, now classified as zamindars, who had to pay a revenue demand fixed in perpetuity. In terms of this definition the zamindar was not a landowner in the village, but a revenue collector of the state.
(C) Due to high initial demands, zamindars defaulted on payments Correct. In the early decades of the settlement zamindars regularly failed to pay, and the first of the reasons was that the initial demands were very high. The Company had fixed them high because the demand could never be raised later.
(D) Faced with an exorbitantly high revenue demand, zamindars fled to forests Incorrect. The zamindars did not run away. Faced with the high demand and the threat of auction, they devised ways of surviving the pressures, such as fictitious sales of their own estates.
NCERT (2026-27): “1.1 An auction in Burdwan … In 1797 there was an auction in Burdwan (present-day Bardhaman). It was a big public event. A number of mahals (estates) held by the Raja of Burdwan were being sold. The Permanent Settlement had come into operation in 1793. The East India Company had fixed the revenue that each zamindar had to pay. The estates of those who failed to pay were to be auctioned to recover the revenue. Since the raja had accumulated huge arrears, his estates had been put up for auction.… 1.2 The problem of unpaid revenue … After a prolonged debate amongst Company officials, the Permanent Settlement was made with the rajas and taluqdars of Bengal. They were now classified as zamindars, and they had to pay the revenue demand that was fixed in perpetuity. In terms of this definition, the zamindar was not a landowner in the village, but a revenue Collector of the state.… 1.3 Why zamindars defaulted on payments … In the early decades after the Permanent Settlement, however, zamindars regularly failed to pay the revenue demand and unpaid balances accumulated. The reasons for this failure were various. First: the initial demands were very high.… 1.5 The zamindars resist … The authority of the zamindars in rural areas, however, did not collapse. Faced with an exorbitantly high revenue demand and possible auction of their estates, they devised ways of surviving the pressures.…” |