Ruling the Countryside Class 8 SST, PDF Notes
Ruling the Countryside tells how the British changed farming and land ownership in India. After the British East India Company got Diwani rights in 1765, they began collecting land taxes from Indian farmers. This marked a shift from trade to control. The British introduced new systems to earn more revenue from land. These systems affected farmers’ lives, crops, and land use. Understanding these systems helps students learn how British rule changed the Indian countryside forever.
Understanding British Revenue Systems in India
After gaining Diwani rights in Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha, the British introduced three major revenue systems:
- Permanent Settlement (1793): Lord Cornwallis made zamindars responsible for collecting taxes. Farmers paid high taxes and lost land when they could not pay.
- Ryotwari System: Started by Thomas Munro in Madras and Bombay, farmers paid taxes directly to the government. But high taxes made farmers poor.
- Mahalwari System: Introduced in 1822 by Holt Mackenzie, taxes were collected from whole villages. This system also burdened small farmers.
Indigo Cultivation and Its Impact
The British forced Indian farmers to grow Indigo because it was in demand in Europe for making blue dye. Farmers had to grow it under unfair contracts and got very low payments. Growing Indigo damaged soil and made farmers poor. The heavy pressure to grow Indigo led to anger and protest among the peasants in Bengal and Bihar.
The Blue Rebellion (1859)
The Blue Rebellion was a revolt by farmers against Indigo planters. The farmers refused to grow Indigo anymore. Local zamindars and village leaders supported them. The British government later formed the Indigo Commission to study the problem. This marked the beginning of farmers standing up against colonial rule and unfair systems.
Impact on Indian Society
The British systems increased poverty and debt among farmers. Land became a source of income for the British instead of food for the people. Forests were cleared, soil lost fertility, and rural life changed forever. The control of land and crops made India dependent on British policies for years.
