Colonialism and the Countryside question answer: Ncert Solutions For Class 12 History Chapter 9 Colonialism and the Countryside
| Textbook | NCERT |
| Class | Class 12 |
| Subject | History |
| Chapter | Chapter 9 |
| Chapter Name | Colonialism and the countryside ncert solutions |
| Category | Ncert Solutions |
| Medium | English |
Are you looking for History Class 12 Chapter 9 question answer in english? Now you can download Ncert Solutions For Class 12 History Chapter 9 Colonialism and the Countryside pdf from here.
note: All these questions and answers are based on the new syllabus. So the chapter numbers may seem different to you.
[ Answer in 100-150 words ] Class 12 History chapter 9 questions and answers in English
Question 1: Why was the jotedar a powerful figure in many areas of rural Bengal?
Answer 1: Jotedars were rich peasants in Bengal. They owned big plots of land sometimes running into thousand of acres of land. They controlled local trade and commerce including the money lending business. They had great influence on the local village population. They were regarded more powerful than the Zamindars even. Following are the main reasons for the high status of Jotedars.
Control Over Trade and Commerce: Jotedars controlled trade and commerce, including the money lending business at the local level, which gave them significant economic power and influence over the rural economy.
Mobilization Against Zamindars: To weaken the Zamindars, Jotedars would mobilize ryots (peasants) to delay or avoid paying land revenue, thereby undermining the Zamindars’ financial stability and authority.
Opposition to Increased Jama: The Jotedars actively opposed any attempts by the Zamindars to increase the Jama (land revenue demand) of a village, protecting the economic interests of the ryots and gaining their support.
Local Residency and Influence: Living in the villages themselves, Jotedars were in a better position to interact with and influence the peasants directly, fostering stronger relationships and loyalty among the rural population.
Wealth and Land Ownership: Jotedars were rich and owned big areas of land under cultivation. Many a time they would buy estates of Zamindar. That would be auctioned due to failure to pay up land revenue.
Question 2: How did zamindars manage to retain control over their zamindaris?
Answer 2: When zamindars were in bad times, they often resorted to various tactics to maintain control over their zamindari. These were in fact their survival tactics. Following are the important ones.
- They used to get the Zamindari registered in the name of the women of the house.
- They used to manipulate auctions through their agents.
- Stopped others from bidding through their Lathhaits.
- They willfully used to bid high and later refused to buy.
- Sometimes even peasants under the influence of zamindars opposed auction of estate.
Question 3: How did the Paharias respond to the coming of outsiders?
Answer 3: The Paharias responded to the arrival of outsiders in various ways. They resisted the entry of outsiders into their territories, viewing them with suspicion and distrust. The Paharias feared that outsiders could cause significant harm to their forest-based way of life. Consequently, they adopted a hostile attitude towards the newcomers. Since the Paharias’ livelihood depended heavily on forest products, they consistently maintained a hostile stance against any external individuals encroaching upon their lands.
Question 4: Why did the Santhals rebel against British rule?
Answer 4: By 1832 the Santhals had settled in Damin-i-Koh area. Their settlement expanded rapidly. Forests were cleared to accommodate them. The Company also benefitted as it got more and more land revenue. However, the Santhals too got dissatisfied. They rebelled against the British rule. Following are the main causes for their rebellion.
- The Santhals realised that the land under them was slipping away from their hands.
- The tax rates imposed on the land were high and exploitative.
- Moneylenders also charged them high rate of interest and took away lands if debt remained unpaid.
- The zamindars began to exercise greater control on the areas brought under cultivation by Santhals.
- The British created the Santhal Pargana from the districts of Bhagalpur and Birbhum.
Question 5: What explains the anger of the Deccan ryots against the moneylenders?
Answer 5: During the civil war in USA, Indian merchants hoped to capture the world market in raw cotton, but that did not happen. On the other hand, the following events took place after the civil war:
- Cotton production in America revived and the Indian cotton exports to British steadily declined.
- Export merchants and sahukars in Maharashtra refused to give long-term credit. They restricted the advances to peasants and demanded repayment of outstanding debts.
- At the same time as the term of first revenue settlement was over, the demand for revenue was increased from 50 to 100 per cent.
As a result of above:
Initial Loans and Subsequent Refusal: Initially, moneylenders had lent substantial amounts to the ryots for cotton cultivation, earning significant profits. However, when it became apparent that the demand for Indian cotton was declining and the ryots would struggle to repay their debts, the moneylenders refused to provide further loans. This refusal left the ryots in a difficult position and fueled their anger.
Feeling of Helplessness: The ryots felt helpless due to the sudden withdrawal of financial support from the moneylenders. This sense of abandonment and the lack of alternatives for securing loans intensified their frustration and anger towards the moneylenders.
Dependence and Insensitivity: The ryots were not only burdened by the weight of their debts but were also heavily dependent on the moneylenders for their survival. What enraged them further was the insensitivity of the moneylenders, who showed no compassion for their plight. The lack of empathy from the moneylenders made the ryots feel even more aggrieved.
Violation of Traditional Norms: The moneylenders were also violating the customary norms and traditions of the village community. This breach of traditional practices by the moneylenders added to the ryots’ sense of injustice and fueled their anger.
[ Write a short essay (about 250-300 words) on the following: ] Class 12 history chapter 9 ncert solutions in English
Question 6: Why were many zamindaris auctioned after the Permanent Settlement?
Answer 6: Many Zamindaris were auctioned as the Zamindars failed to pay up the agreed land revenue on time. The reason for the same:
(i) High Land Revenue: Many zamindars believed the land revenue settlement was excessively high. Additionally, a decline in foodgrain prices soon after the Permanent Settlement made it difficult for ryots (peasants) to pay their dues, causing zamindars to default.
(ii) Fixed Revenue Deadlines: The requirement to deposit revenue on time regardless of the harvest cycle was another reason for the default by zamindars.
(iii) Reduction of Zamindar Power: The Company curtailed the power of zamindars, stripping them of their role as local law and order enforcers and weakening their musclemen. This undermined their ability to effectively collect taxes.
(iv) Deliberate Payment Delays: Sometimes, jotedars (intermediate landlords) and peasants intentionally delayed land revenue payments, leading to defaults by zamindars and subsequent auctions of their estates.
Question 7: In what way was the livelihood of the Paharias different from that of the Santhals?
Answer 7: Paharias were living in the foothills of Rajmahal. They lived a life that was different from Santhals. Most of the information on their lives is based on the report of Buchanan, the physician of the East India Company who wandered into the terrain of Rajmahal Hills.
Livelihood of paharias:
- The paharias were nomads. They lived a wandering life. They, however, sometimes did shifting cultivation.
- Their another important source of livelihood of forest resources and animals.
- They extracted mahua and used it. Colonialism and the countryside: Exploring official archives
- Paharias used to look at outsiders with suspicion and even were hostile with them.
Livelihood of Santhals:
- The Santhals were different from them on many counts.
- The Santhals took to agriculture fast and soon got into settled life.
- Santhal people also used to plough the land by cutting the forest and cultivate rice, cotton, tobacco and mustard.
- Santhal people used plough for farming.
- Later, Santhal people started doing permanent agriculture by staying in one place.
- Santhals also used to do transactions with traders and moneylenders.
- They had better relation with the outsiders including the East India Company.
Question 8: How did the American Civil War affect the lives of ryots in India?
Answer 8: The American Civil War, which began in 1861, had a significant impact on the lives of ryots (peasants) in India. Here’s how it unfolded:
(i) Disruption in Cotton Supply: The American Civil War disrupted the supply of raw cotton to Britain, causing panic in the British cotton industry, including both markets and factories. The import of raw cotton from America was reduced to 3 percent of the normal amount.
(ii) Increased Demand for Indian Cotton: In response to this shortage, Britain urgently requested India and other countries to export more cotton. This led to an increased demand for Indian cotton.
(iii) Availability of Loans: To facilitate the increased production of cotton, moneylenders were given substantial advances so they could lend more to the ryots. In the Deccan region, ryots suddenly found themselves with almost unlimited access to loans.
(iv) Advances for Cotton Cultivation: For each acre of land under cotton cultivation, ryots received an advance of 100 rupees. Moneylenders were eager to provide long-term loans, leading to a doubling of the area under cotton cultivation during the American crisis.
(v) Boom in Cotton Exports: By 1882, 90% of the cotton imported by Britain came from India. Despite this boom, not all farmers benefited equally. While some wealthy farmers prospered, most ryots fell deeper into debt.
(vi) Post-War Decline: After the American Civil War ended, the demand for Indian cotton gradually declined. Despite their inability to repay previous loans, ryots were forced to continue borrowing. Eventually, moneylenders stopped issuing new loans.
(vii) Economic Hardship and Rebellion: The worsening financial situation of the ryots led to severe economic hardship. Ultimately, their dire circumstances compelled them to resort to rebellion.
Question 9: What are the problems of using official sources in writing about the history of peasants?
Answer 9: Official sources of the Company Raj are not regarded as reliable source of history when it came to the lot of Ryots. Following are the main problems associated with official source of history.
1. The official records reflect only the Company raj perspective. They did not look at events from different angles. For example when the Deccan Riot Commission was instituted, it was required to find out if the land revenue was just or not. Other issues of Ryots were not taken into account.
2. The British people looked down upon the local people, their culture and tradition as lowly. They ended up giving a lowly picture of peasants even if without intention of the same.
3. The record of the Company Raj was created by the officials in such a manner that it suits their masters. Thus, evidences were tempered with. For example the Deccan Ryot Commission concluded that Ryots were angered not by the high land revenue but by moneylenders.
4. Thus, official sources are to be read along with other sources and need to be weighed before we take them to our stride.
Question 10: On an outline map of the subcontinent, mark out the areas described in this chapter. Find out whether there were other areas where the Permanent Settlement and the ryotwari system were prevalent and plot these on the map as well.
Answer 10: In the chapter the following areas have been mentioned of the subcontinent.
- (a) Bengal. (Bangladesh along with certain area of Bihar, Orissa and hilly areas of Assam).
- (b) Bombay Presidency and
- (c) Madras Presidency,
- (d) The Britishers introduced Mahalwari system of land revenue in eastern part of Punjab
- (e) Surat
- (f) Rajmahal hills (occupied by Paharias and Santhals).