While many zamindars were facing a crisis at the end of the eighteenth century, a group of rich peasants were consolidating their position in the villages. Within the villages, the power of jotedars was more effective than that of zamindars. They fiercely resisted efforts by zamindars to increase the jama of the village, prevented zamindari officials from executing their duties, mobilised ryots who were dependent on them, and deliberately delayed payments of revenue to the zamindar.
The missing lines also explain why, within the villages, the power of jotedars was more effective than that of zamindars. Which of the following is that reason?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Jotedars lived in the villages, while zamindars often lived in urban areas.
Option (1) Jotedars presided over the village courts set up by the Collector. — Incorrect. The Collector supervised the zamindars' cutcheries. Jotedars held no such court.
Option (2) Jotedars kept armed troops, while the zamindars' troops had been disbanded. — Incorrect. The Company disbanded the <strong>zamindars'</strong> troops. Jotedars drew their power from land, trade and moneylending.
Option (3) Jotedars collected the revenue of the village directly for the Company. — Incorrect. Revenue went to the Company through the <strong>zamindar</strong>. Jotedars in fact delayed payments to the zamindar.
Option (4) Jotedars lived in the villages, while zamindars often lived in urban areas. — Correct. Zamindars <strong>often lived in urban areas</strong>. Jotedars <strong>lived in the villages</strong> and had direct control over many poor villagers.
NCERT (2026-27): “1.4 The rise of the jotedars … |