Question

Describe any three features of the Ryotwari system.

Answer 1

The Ryotwari system was a land revenue system introduced by the British during their colonial rule in India, particularly under the administration of Thomas Munro in the early 19th century. The system was implemented in various regions, such as in the Madras, Bombay, and parts of the Assam provinces. Under this system, the land revenue was directly collected from the individual cultivators (ryots) rather than through intermediaries like zamindars. Here are three key features of the Ryotwari system:
1. Direct Collection from Cultivators (Ryots):
In the Ryotwari system, the British government collected land revenue directly from the cultivators (known as 'ryots') who were the actual tillers of the land. This was a significant departure from the Zamindari system, where intermediaries (the zamindars) collected the revenue on behalf of the British government. The ryots were considered the owners of the land, and they were responsible for paying the revenue directly to the colonial government.
2. Assessment of Land Revenue:
The land revenue in the Ryotwari system was assessed based on the quality and fertility of the land. The revenue was calculated as a fixed percentage of the land’s produce, typically around one-third of the crop yield. In theory, the assessment was to be done based on the land’s potential, but in practice, it often led to high and burdensome taxes on the ryots, particularly during times of poor harvests. The revenue demand was often inflexible, putting pressure on the agricultural community.
3. Individual Landholding:
Under the Ryotwari system, land was considered to be individually owned by the ryots. This gave them more control over their land compared to the Zamindari system, where the zamindars held the land in trust for the state and collected the revenue from peasants. However, while the ryots had more control over their land, they were still heavily taxed, and the burden of land revenue often led to widespread indebtedness among the cultivators. In times of crop failure or poor harvests, the ryots were vulnerable to losing their land to the government if they failed to pay the taxes.