Page 23 - SST Class 08
P. 23
finished goods back to India and sold them at a systems of land revenue were very prejudiced
high profit. This benefited the British greatly, but against the interests of common peasants and it
this was not the condition with the Indian deteriorated their condition. Besides the land
peasants and craftsmen. revenue system, their crafts too were destroyed
due to machine-made goods from the British
Causes for Commercialisation of Crops
industry. The peasants were adversely affected
Following were the chief causes for the due to it because they worked as craftsmen in
commercialisation of crops : their free time. The pressure on agricultural land
New Land Revenue Systems increased, where they found themselves helpless
due to high rates of land revenue and exploitation
The new land revenue systems (ijardari, by landlords and moneylenders. As their means of
permanent settlement, ryotwari and mahalwari
livelihood were destroyed, it was but natural for
systems) compelled the cultivators to grow such them to rise in revolt.
crops which could help them financially as they
were required to pay fixed rates of land revenue The British East India Company had to face a
whether the crops failed or not. So, they too started number of revolts right from 1765 when they got
to grow cash crops. However, it played havoc with the diwani rights in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa to
the fertility of land and it was rendered useless for 1857, when the Indian administration was taken
other crops. Thus, it disturbed the old system in over directly by the British government.
which the village was a self-sufficient unit. A common peasant could get only as less as 45
Disruption of Rural Economy percent of his total produce, as 40 percent of the
produce was taken by the British and another 10
The land revenue systems disturbed the rural to 15 percent by the landlords or other
economy and rendered both peasants and intermediaries. When a peasant was not able to
craftsmen jobless. So, they tried to make up
pay his land revenue, his land was auctioned. This
somewhat by cultivating cash crops. created a class of dissatisfied peasants. It was but
Fragmentation of Landholdings natural for them to rise in revolt.
As a peasant’s land was divided among his sons, The revolts by peasants occurred in almost all
the size of landholdings decreased from parts under the British control. A large number of
generation to generation. Small landholdings were small and large peasant revolts had occurred,
so small that they were not suitable for growing however, the following were important :
conventional crops, so they went for commercial q The first major peasant revolt occurred in
crops. Bengal soon after the permanent settlement
On the whole, the commercialisation of crops was introduced there. The Sanyasis and Fakirs
worked contrary to the interests of the peasants. too joined the peasants and indulged in armed
However, it broadened their outlook because they struggle. This revolt continued for about 30
now sold their produce in the towns. They started years before it was put down violently.
to come into contact with modern way of life. q The peasants in Satara, Chittur and Surat rose
Also, the commercialisation of crops further in revolt against the high rates of land revenue
enriched the resourceful peasants, but made the in 1822 and continued with this for another
condition of poor peasants deplorable. three years. This revolt was put down by the
British by the use of both force and diplomacy.
PEASANT REVOLTS
q A peasant revolt also occurred in Sandoway
The British administration disturbed the entire under the leadership of Many Tha U from
fabric of Indian society. All people were troubled 1829 to 1830. The British used brute force to
by the British. The peasants suffered the most. The crush this revolt.
Ruling the Countryside
23
