Question

Examine the causes of resistance and failure of zamindars to make payment of land revenue to the East India Company in Bengal during the eighteenth century.

Answer 1

Causes of Resistance and Failure of Zamindars to Pay Land Revenue in Bengal during the 18th Century:

1. High Initial Revenue Demands: Under the Permanent Settlement of 1793, land revenue was fixed at very high rates from the start. The Company did this to prevent loss from future increases in cultivation and prices. However, these excessive demands proved impossible for many zamindars to sustain.
2. Economic Depression: During the 1790s, agricultural prices remained low, and markets were weak. Peasants (ryots) found it difficult to pay rent, which reduced the income of zamindars and affected their ability to pay revenue to the Company.
3. Inflexible Revenue System: Zamindars were required to make revenue payments on time regardless of harvest conditions. Even in years of crop failure or natural disasters, no concessions were given, making the system very rigid.
4. Loss of Political and Judicial Authority: Zamindars were deprived of their administrative and judicial powers. Their local courts (cutcheries) were brought under Company control, and their armed forces were disbanded. This weakened their authority in villages and reduced their ability to collect rent.
5. Resistance from Rich Peasants (Jotedars): Wealthy peasants, known as jotedars, gained power in villages and often opposed zamindars. They encouraged peasants to delay rent payments and obstructed zamindari officials. Over time, many jotedars bought zamindari estates when these were auctioned due to defaults.
6. Litigation and Rent Arrears: A huge number of court cases related to unpaid rents accumulated, for example, more than 30,000 cases were pending in Burdwan alone in 1798. The slow legal process further delayed revenue collection and worsened the problem.
7. Failure of British Assumptions: The British believed that zamindars would act as efficient land managers and invest in improving agriculture. In reality, most zamindars lacked the resources or motivation to do so, leading to frequent defaults and the auctioning of their estates.