Question

Buchanan described the ways in which the jotedars of Dinajpur in North Bengal resisted being disciplined by the zamindar and undermined his power: Landlords do not like this class of men, but it is evident that they are absolutely necessary, unless the landlords themselves would advance money to their necessitous tenantry … The jotedars who cultivate large portions of lands are very refractory, and know that the zamindars have no power over them. They pay only a few rupees on account of their revenue and then fall in balance almost every kist (instalment); they hold more lands than they are entitled to by their pottahs (deeds of contract). Should the zamindar’s officers, in consequence, summon them to the cutcherry, and detain them for one or two hours with a view to reprimand them, they immediately go and complain at the Fouzdarry Thanna (police station) for imprisonment and at the munsiff ’s (a judicial officer at the lower court) cutcherry for being dishonoured and whilst the causes continue unsettled, they instigate the petty ryots not to pay their revenue consequently …

Describe the ways in which the jotedars resisted the authority of the zamindars.

Answer 1

1. The jotedars often refused to pay the full amount of revenue demanded by the zamindars.
2. They usually paid only a small part of the amount and delayed the remaining payment.
3. They sometimes held more land than they were officially allowed to hold.
4. When zamindar officials called them to the cutchery, they often refused to obey them.
5. If they were detained or punished, they complained against the zamindar’s officials at the police station or court.
6. They also encouraged the ryots not to pay revenue to the zamindars.

In this way, the jotedars used their wealth, influence and control over local peasants to weaken the authority of the zamindars.