Consider the following statements regarding colonialism and country side. Which of the following statements is incorrect?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → No Zamindaris were auctioned in Bengal due to the introduction of the Permanent land Revenue Settlement.
Option (1) The Fifth Report was submitted to the British Parliament in 1813 A.D. — Correct statement. The report on the administration of the East India Company, the fifth of a series, was submitted to the British Parliament in 1813.
Option (2) Jotedars were more powerful than the Zamindars of North Bengal — Correct statement. Within the villages the power of jotedars was more effective than that of zamindars, and the jotedars were most powerful in North Bengal.
Option (3) Santhals were a great danger to Paharias when they settled on the peripheries of the Rajmahal hills — Correct statement. When the Santhals settled there, the Paharias resisted but were forced to withdraw deeper into the hills.
Option (4) No Zamindaris were auctioned in Bengal due to the introduction of the Permanent land Revenue Settlement. — Incorrect statement. Under the Permanent Settlement the estates of zamindars who failed to pay the revenue were auctioned, as the Burdwan raja’s were in 1797. Over 75 per cent of the zamindaris changed hands after the Permanent Settlement.
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.… 1.2 The problem of unpaid revenue … The estates of the Burdwan raj were not the only ones sold during the closing years of the eighteenth century. Over 75 per cent of the zamindaris changed hands after the Permanent Settlement.… 1.4 The rise of the jotedars … Within the villages, the power of jotedars was more effective than that of zamindars. Unlike zamindars who often lived in urban areas, jotedars were located in the villages and exercised direct control over a considerable section of poor villagers. 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. In fact, when the estates of the zamindars were auctioned for failure to make revenue payment, jotedars were often amongst the purchasers. The jotedars were most powerful in North Bengal… 1.6 The Fifth Report … Many of the changes we are discussing were documented in detail in a report that was submitted to the British Parliament in 1813.… 2.2 The Santhals: Pioneer settlers … When the Santhals settled on the peripheries of the Rajmahal hills, the Paharias resisted but were ultimately forced to withdraw deeper into the hills.…” |