Question

Discuss the economic impact of British Rule in India.

Answer 1

• Governor-General Cornwallis, who was a large landowner in England, aimed to set up a system of landlords in India similar to the one in England. At that time, there were already revenue collectors under the Mughal rule. Cornwallis made an agreement with them, recognizing them as landlords. As a result, for the first time, India had a class of zamindars who had the legal right to own, inherit, and pass on land. Meanwhile, the actual farmers became just tenants with no ownership rights. The British government dealt only with these zamindars and gave them complete control over how they treated the farmers. This arrangement with the zamindars of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa became known as the Permanent Settlement of 1793.

In contrast, the Ryotwari System, used in South India, followed a different method. In this system, the peasant himself owned the land and paid the land tax directly to the government. There was no middleman involved. As long as the farmer paid the tax, he could keep the land. If he failed to pay, not only his land but also his livestock and even personal belongings could be taken away. This system brought in the idea of private land ownership. The farmers were officially registered and had the right to sell, lease, mortgage, or transfer their land to others.