Question

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

Hint:

Economic policies like the Permanent Settlement can lead to both administrative failure and social unrest if not adjusted to local conditions.

Answer 1

The zamindars of Bengal played an important role in the administration and collection of revenue under the Mughal Empire, but the British East India Company introduced reforms that caused both resistance and failure in their attempts to make payment of land revenue.
- High Revenue Demands: The East India Company imposed a system of fixed revenue collection known as the Permanent Settlement (1793). The British demanded fixed revenue from the zamindars, which they were unable to collect due to rising agricultural costs and declining crop yields.
- Exploitation and Oppression: Many zamindars were unable to collect the required revenue due to the exploitative practices of the British, who increased land taxes and the coercive demands for payments. This led to widespread dissatisfaction.
- Decline in Zamindar Power: The zamindars' traditional role was weakened as the British introduced direct control over the lands. The increased exploitation of peasants and the lack of administrative power led to resistance from zamindars, including uprisings and rebellions.
In conclusion, the inability of zamindars to meet revenue targets was due to high taxes, exploitation by the British, and declining agricultural productivity, leading to the failure of the zamindar system in Bengal.