Question

Referring to the condition of zamindars and the auction of lands, the Fifth Report stated: The revenue was not realised with punctuality, and lands to a considerable extent were periodically exposed to sale by auction. In the native year 1203, corresponding with 1796-97, the land advertised for sale comprehended a jumma or assessment of sicca rupees 28,70,061, the extent of land actually sold bore a jumma or assessment of 14,18,756, and the amount of purchase money sicca rupees 17,90,416. In 1204, corresponding with 1797-98, the land advertised was for sicca rupees 26,66,191, the quantity sold was for sicca rupees 22,74,076, and the purchase money sicca rupees 21,47,580. Among the defaulters were some of the oldest families of the country. Such were the rajahs of Nuddea, Rajeshaye, Bishenpore (all districts of Bengal), … and others, the dismemberment of whose estates at the end of each succeeding year threatened them with poverty and ruin, and in some instances presented difficulties to the revenue officers in their efforts to preserve undiminished the amount of public assessment.

From the tone in which evidence is recorded, what do you think is the attitude of the report to the facts narrated? What is the Report trying to say through the figures? Can you think of any problem in making long-term generalisations from these figures of two years?

Answer 1

1. The Fifth Report shows the zamindars in a negative and critical way.
2. It suggests that many zamindars were unable to pay the revenue on time.
3. As a result, large areas of their land were put up for auction.
4. The figures are used to show that the problem of revenue default and auction of estates was serious.
5. The Report also suggests that some old zamindar families were facing poverty and loss of their estates.
6. However, these figures are taken from only two years, so they may not show the situation for a long period.
7. Conditions could change from year to year because of harvests, prices, natural problems and local conditions.

Therefore, we should not draw a broad conclusion about all zamindars from only these two years of data.