Question

Francis Buchanan’s survey of ___________ the district in North Bengal gave a vivid description of the rich peasants known as jotedars. Which district?

• A. Malda
• B. Birbhum
• C. Shiliguri
• D. Dinajpur

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

In the history of North Bengal, the district surveyed by Francis Buchanan was Dinajpur. Francis Buchanan's survey provided a vivid and detailed description of the socio-economic conditions, including the rich peasants known as jotedars in this region during that period. 

Option	Description
Malda	Not the district in the context of Buchanan's survey.
Birbhum	Misleading, as it was not surveyed by Buchanan in this context.
Shiliguri	Incorrect, historically unrelated in this survey context.
Dinajpur	Correct district; surveyed by Buchanan giving insights on jotedars.

Answer 2

The term jotedars refers to large landowners or farmers in rural Bengal, particularly during the colonial period. In the context of Dinajpur, a district in present-day Bangladesh, jotedars were significant figures in the agrarian economy.

Jotedars typically owned large tracts of land and acted as intermediaries between the colonial government and the peasant class. They were responsible for collecting taxes from tenant farmers and often had considerable influence over the local agricultural system. The system of zamindari, where land was leased to tenants under the supervision of jotedars, was a significant feature of agrarian structure in Bengal during British rule.

In the survey of Dinajpur, jotedars were described as having a strong grip over agricultural land and resources. They often controlled the cultivation of cash crops, like rice and jute, and had significant political and economic power within their localities. However, the relationship between jotedars and peasants was often marked by exploitation, as peasants, or ryots, faced high rents and had limited rights to land.

These conditions eventually contributed to social unrest, leading to movements such as the Bengal Tenancy Act in 1885 and later agrarian reform efforts aimed at improving the rights of tenant farmers. Despite these efforts, the legacy of the jotedars remained influential in shaping the agrarian structure in the region.