🌾 Chapter 3: Ruling the Countryside

(Class 8 – History, Our Pasts-III)

🎯 Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

• Understand how the British collected revenue from farmers.
• Learn about systems like the Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari System, and Mahalwari System.
• Explore how peasants and landlords were affected.
• Analyse how agriculture, trade, and rural life changed under British rule.
• Recognise the long-term effects of these policies.

🌍 1. The Beginning: The British and Revenue

• After the Battle of Plassey (1757) and Battle of Buxar (1764), the East India Company got control over Bengal.
• In 1765, the Mughal emperor granted the Diwani Rights to the Company.
• Diwani Rights = The Company could collect revenue and taxes from Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
• This was a turning point – the Company now controlled land, resources, and farmers’ lives.

💡 Why was this important?
Because revenue (tax) was the Company’s main source of income to run administration, maintain the army, and fund trade.

💰 2. The Permanent Settlement (1793)

Introduced by Lord Cornwallis in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.

🌟 Features:

1. The Company made a deal with Zamindars (landlords).
2. Zamindars had to collect revenue from peasants and give it to the Company.
3. Revenue was fixed permanently – it would never be increased.
4. Zamindars became the owners of land.

👍 Advantages (for the British):

• The Company got a regular flow of income.
• No need to deal with peasants directly.

👎 Disadvantages (for peasants & zamindars):

• Zamindars demanded high rent from peasants to keep profit.
• If Zamindars failed to pay revenue → land was auctioned.
• Peasants faced exploitation, debt, and poverty.

✨ Result: Peasants lost freedom, became helpless labourers on their own land.

🌱 3. The Ryotwari System

• Introduced by Thomas Munro in Madras, Bombay, and Assam.
• Here, the Company dealt directly with the farmers (ryots).

🌟 Features:

1. Peasants were recognised as owners of land.
2. They had to pay revenue directly to the Company.
3. Revenue demand was very high.

👎 Problems:

• If peasants could not pay, their land was taken away.
• Farmers had to take loans → debt trap.
• Famines made life worse, yet revenue had to be paid.

🏡 4. The Mahalwari System (1822)

• Introduced by Holt Mackenzie in North-West Provinces (UP, Punjab, etc.).

🌟 Features:

1. Revenue was collected from the entire village (mahal), not individuals.
2. Village headmen collected revenue on behalf of the Company.
3. Revenue demand was revised regularly, not fixed like in Permanent Settlement.

👎 Problems:

• Revenue demand kept increasing.
• Villages had to bear the burden together.
• Peasants still remained poor and exploited.

🌾 5. British and Crops

The British forced Indian peasants to grow crops needed by their industries:

1. Indigo → for making blue dye.
2. Cotton → for textile industries in Britain.
3. Opium → exported to China.
4. Jute, Tea, Coffee, Sugarcane → for export trade.

🌟 Impact:

• Farmers were forced to grow cash crops, not food crops.
• Result = shortage of food, leading to famines (like Bengal Famine, 1770).

💥 6. Indigo Revolt (1859–60)

• British forced farmers in Bengal to grow indigo under harsh conditions.
• Peasants got very little payment and went into debt.
• In 1859, farmers of Bengal refused to grow indigo – this was the Indigo Revolt.
• They shouted: “Neel Dena Nahi!” (We will not give indigo).
• Revolt spread quickly → planters were forced to give up indigo cultivation.

⚖️ 7. Impact on Indian Society

1. Peasants became poor and indebted.
2. Zamindars often lost land due to revenue auction.
3. Agriculture became cash-crop oriented, not food-based.
4. Famines killed millions of people.
5. Rural society was full of unrest and revolts.

📌 8. Important Terms (Colourful Glossary)

• Diwani → Right to collect revenue.
• Zamindar → Landlord under Permanent Settlement.
• Ryot → Farmer/peasant.
• Mahal → Village or revenue estate.
• Cash Crops → Crops grown for profit (indigo, cotton, jute).

📝 9. Quick Recap (Notes)

• 1765 → Company got Diwani Rights.
• 1793 → Permanent Settlement introduced.
• Ryotwari → Direct deal with peasants.
• Mahalwari → Revenue from the whole village.
• British forced cash crops → led to famine and revolts.
• Indigo Revolt = First strong peasant protest against the British.

❓ 10. Practice Questions

A. Very Short Answer (1 Mark)

1. Who introduced the Permanent Settlement?
2. What does the word “Ryot” mean?
3. Name two cash crops grown under the British.
4. What was the slogan of Indigo Revolt?
5. Who introduced the Mahalwari System?

B. Short Answer (3 Marks)

1. Write two features of the Ryotwari System.
2. How did the Permanent Settlement affect peasants?
3. Why did British force farmers to grow cash crops?

C. Long Answer (5 Marks)

1. Explain the Indigo Revolt – causes and results.
2. Compare the Permanent Settlement and Mahalwari System.
3. How did British revenue policies destroy Indian agriculture?

🎨 Creative Activity

Mughal Emperor → Nawab of Bengal → East India Company (Diwan)

👉 Draw a chart/diagram:

• On one side, show Indian Peasants (poor, burdened, famine).
• On the other, show British Company (wealthy, profit, factories in England).

This will help you understand the contrast.