TLDR;
This video provides a detailed overview of Chapter 3 of the Class 8 History textbook, "Ruling the Countryside." It explains the East India Company's acquisition of Diwani rights, their exploitative revenue policies, the introduction of various settlement systems (Permanent, Mahalwari, and Munro), the shift towards cultivating crops for Europe (indigo and opium), and the eventual Blue Rebellion. The video highlights the economic impact on Indian farmers and the consequences of British rule on the rural population.
- The East India Company gained Diwani rights and became the chief financial administrator of Bengal.
- The Company implemented revenue systems like the Permanent Settlement, Mahalwari System, and Munro System to improve agriculture and revenue collection.
- Farmers were pressured to grow crops like indigo and opium for European markets, leading to exploitation and rebellion.
- The Blue Rebellion was a significant uprising against the forced cultivation of indigo, leading to government intervention and eventual changes in policy.
The Company Becomes the Diwan [0:48]
On 12 August 1765, Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II granted the Diwani rights of Bengal to the British, officially making the East India Company the chief financial administrator. This meant the Company had the authority to collect taxes and manage finances in Bengal. Shah Alam II, the son of Shah Jahan, was compelled to grant these rights after being defeated by the British in the Battle of Buxar. Despite gaining financial control, the British viewed themselves primarily as a trading company focused on increasing profits rather than investing in local welfare.
Revenue for the Company [3:10]
Before acquiring Diwani rights, the British had to import money from England to purchase goods from India. However, after gaining these rights, they used tax revenue to fund their purchases. The East India Company also financed its wars, such as those against Tipu Sultan of Mysore, by increasing tax rates, sometimes doubling them. Farmers who couldn't pay faced land confiscation, leading to widespread famine in Bengal in 1770, which resulted in the death of approximately 10 million people, a third of the population.
The Need to Improve Agriculture [4:50]
The famine of 1770 forced the British to consider improving agriculture to ensure a stable revenue system. They introduced three systems: the Permanent Settlement, the Mahalwari System, and the Munro System. In 1793, Lord Cornwallis introduced the Permanent Settlement, assigning tax collection responsibilities to zamindars. The zamindars were to pay a fixed amount to the British, keeping any surplus. However, this system largely benefited the zamindars, who exploited farmers by demanding extra taxes and seizing land from those who couldn't pay.
A New System Is Devised [8:26]
The Permanent Settlement proved ineffective as farmers suffered, zamindars prospered, and the British revenue stagnated. The British introduced the Mahalwari System, treating entire villages (Mahals) as single units for tax collection. Collectors were appointed to inspect land, assess fertility, and determine taxes, which were revised periodically. While this system had its flaws, it was more convenient and profitable for the British compared to the Permanent Settlement.
The Munro System [10:32]
After conquering Mysore, the British found that the existing systems were unsuitable due to the diverse farming practices. Thomas Munro, the Governor of Bengal, introduced the Ryotwari or Munro System. This system collected taxes directly from the farmers (Ryots) since South India lacked a traditional zamindari system. Despite initial hopes, the tax rates were excessively high, leading to land confiscation when farmers couldn't pay.
All Was Not Well [12:14]
All three systems had significant problems, primarily high tax rates. The British showed indifference to crop yields, demanding taxes regardless. Farmers faced land confiscation for non-payment, leading to widespread displacement as people migrated to states outside British control. This resulted in losses for the British, prompting them to consider growing crops with high demand in Europe, such as opium and indigo.
Crops for Europe [13:45]
The British realised that increasing taxes would drive farmers away, so they decided to compel farmers to grow crops in demand in Europe. They pushed for jute in Bengal, tea in Assam, sugarcane in Uttar Pradesh, wheat in Punjab, and rice in Madras. In the mid-19th century, the demand for indigo surged as West Indies and South America refused to grow it due to its soil-depleting properties. This left India as the primary source for indigo and opium.
Why the Demand for Indian Indigo [15:02]
Indigo was a valuable and expensive natural dye used for colouring textiles, particularly in Europe. The European climate was unsuitable for indigo cultivation. With declining production in America and the West Indies, Europe turned to India as a new supplier.
Britain Turns to India [15:46]
India's tropical climate was perfect for indigo cultivation. The British pressured Indian farmers to grow indigo, disrupting their cultivation of essential food crops like rice and wheat. Indigo cultivation led to soil infertility, causing significant hardship for farmers.
How Was Indigo Cultivated [16:54]
The British did not directly engage in farming but employed planters from Britain and Europe to oversee indigo cultivation in India. Two primary methods were used: Nij and Ryoti systems. The Nij system involved planters purchasing or leasing land for indigo cultivation, hiring labourers to work the fields. However, acquiring large fertile lands was difficult, and labour was scarce during the rice cultivation season.
The Problem with Nij Cultivation [20:04]
The Nij system faced challenges in land acquisition, particularly in densely populated fertile areas. Transporting crops from distant fertile lands to factories was costly and time-consuming. Labour availability was limited as farmers were busy with their own fields. Shortages of tools and animals, like ploughs and bullocks, further hindered efficient cultivation. Tensions rose between farmers and planters over land acquisition, leading to protests.
Indigo on the Land of Ryots [22:39]
The Ryoti system involved British planters signing agreements with Indian farmers, compelling them to cultivate indigo on a portion of their land in exchange for advance payments. While initially appealing, farmers faced exploitation as planters offered low prices for indigo. Farmers became trapped in a cycle of debt, leading to land degradation and impoverishment. This exploitation eventually led to resistance.
The Blue Rebellion and After [24:14]
Farmers, exploited by planters who forced them to grow indigo, rebelled in March 1759. They refused to grow indigo, attacked factories, and socially boycotted those who cooperated with the planters. The British government, fearing further conflict, formed the Indigo Commission to investigate. The commission acknowledged the planters' wrongdoing and ruled that farmers could not be forced to grow indigo. A misunderstanding of a magistrate's notice sparked the rebellion, as farmers believed the British supported them. The rebellion was documented in the play "Neel Darpan," highlighting the injustices of indigo farming. Planters shifted to the Champaran area in Bihar, continuing their exploitative practices until Gandhi's intervention, which brought an end to forced indigo cultivation.
