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Ruling the Countryside in 1 Shot || Class 8th SST || Pariksha Abhyas

PW Little Champs 6th, 7th & 8th・80 minutes read

Ashita and Vicky discuss the East India Company's revenue generation strategies in India, focusing on maximizing profits through land and crop production. The company's introduction of systems like the Mahalwadi and Ryotwari aimed to streamline revenue collection, with indigo cultivation playing a significant role in India's economy but leading to conflicts over land ownership and soil infertility.

Insights

  • The East India Company focused on maximizing revenue in Bengal through various strategies like controlling land revenue, crop production, and trade of goods, leading to significant financial gains for the company and a shift in agricultural practices in the region.
  • The cultivation of indigo in India, driven by British demand and profitability, resulted in conflicts over land ownership, soil infertility, and exploitation of farmers, ultimately leading to the establishment of the Indigo Commission and the Champaran Movement spearheaded by Mahatma Gandhi to address these issues and advocate for farmers' rights.

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Recent questions

  • What was the primary focus of the East India Company in Bengal?

    Revenue generation

  • What were the key factors contributing to the success of the Ryotwari system in South India?

    Direct revenue collection

  • Why did the British cultivate indigo in India?

    Profitable export

  • What were the consequences of indigo cultivation on farmers in India?

    Soil infertility

  • How did the Champaran Movement in Bihar influence the end of indigo cultivation?

    Gandhiji's intervention

Related videos

Summary

00:00

East India Company's Revenue Maximization Strategy

  • Ashita, an inventor, welcomes children to a physics platform with Vicky.
  • They discuss upcoming science exams and the start of a chapter on ruling.
  • The chapter delves into the British establishment in India and revenue generation.
  • The East India Company gains civil rights in Bengal after the Battle of Buxar.
  • Revenue from Bengal goes to the company's pocket for profit generation.
  • The company aims to maximize revenue through land revenue and crop production.
  • Indians are urged to pacify local rulers and gradually expand control.
  • The company focuses on revenue collection without elaborate systems initially.
  • The primary goal is to ensure continuous revenue flow for the company.
  • The company's strategy involves controlling revenue without extensive setup costs.

18:57

"D Company's Bengal Expansion and Revenue Generation"

  • D Company in Bengal doubled the value of goods in five years
  • They doubled and tripled their share in Bengal within five years
  • The company started buying cotton and silk four times more than before
  • The company used to buy cheap cotton and silk, sell it in England
  • The company used to buy gold to pay for cotton and silk
  • The company got Diwani rights in Bengal
  • The company started generating revenue from Bengal
  • The revenue was used to buy cotton and silk, sold in Britain
  • The company introduced permanent settlement in 1793
  • The peasants had to collect rent from farmers and pay it to the company

35:16

Landlords profit, neglect agriculture, face revenue issues

  • Improvement in agriculture seen with landlords investing in land enhancement
  • Landlords initially reluctant to appoint sons, leading to revenue issues
  • Company demanding high revenue, causing financial strain on landlords
  • Failure to pay revenue resulted in land seizure by the company
  • Landlords started profiting, neglecting agricultural development
  • Company faced revenue issues due to fixed payments to landlords
  • Introduction of Mahalwadi system to address revenue concerns
  • Collectors assessing land and calculating revenue for villages
  • Revenue collection not fixed, recalculated annually based on land conditions
  • Non-payment of revenue led to land seizure, pressuring village headmen to comply

51:09

British Revenue Systems and Indigo Cultivation in India

  • Mahalwadi system in Uttar Pradesh and Munro system in South India were introduced by Thomas Munro and Alexander Reed.
  • The Ryotwari system in South India eliminated landlords and village headmen, with British officials directly collecting revenue from farmers.
  • The Ryotwari system was successful in South India due to direct revenue collection from farmers.
  • The system involved annual revisions of revenue assessments, leading to varying payments by farmers each year.
  • High land revenue set by British systems led to many farmers leaving villages due to financial losses.
  • The absence of landlords in South India made the Ryotwari system more successful.
  • British cultivation of opium and indigo in India aimed at exporting these crops for profit.
  • Indigo cultivation in India was in high demand due to its rich blue dye, with India being a major supplier globally.
  • The demand for indigo led to a ban on its import in Europe, as the locally grown woad plant was used as an alternative.
  • The ban on indigo import was due to the high demand for indigo and the decreasing value of the woad plant in Europe.

01:07:47

"Indigo: Bright dye, global dominance, land conflicts"

  • Indigo was preferred due to its ability to produce a bright blue color, unlike other dyes.
  • Indigo was used to dye clothes, providing a vibrant and beautiful color.
  • The color from indigo was much brighter compared to other dyes like board.
  • The ban on indigo cultivation was lifted, leading to its growth in various colonies.
  • France started growing indigo in colonies like Dominica and the Caribbean Islands.
  • Spanish farmers began cultivating indigo in Venezuela.
  • Britain pressured India to cultivate indigo, leading to a significant increase in production.
  • By 1810, India was responsible for 95% of indigo production worldwide.
  • Indigo cultivation in Bengal expanded rapidly, dominating the global market.
  • The cultivation of indigo required fertile land and a vast number of laborers, leading to conflicts over land ownership.

01:24:17

Indigo Cultivation: Profitability, Contracts, and Reforms

  • The land available for cultivation was limited, leading to issues with cultivation.
  • Indigo was cultivated due to its profitability, especially in British-owned colonies.
  • The Ryoti system involved planters forcing farmers to grow indigo on their land through contracts.
  • The contracts required farmers to grow indigo on 25% of their land, impacting soil fertility.
  • The British offered loans for indigo cultivation, but the prices paid to farmers were low.
  • Indigo cultivation led to soil infertility, rendering the land unsuitable for other crops.
  • The Indigo Commission was set up to address the issues with the indigo cultivation system.
  • The Commission recommended stopping the indigo cultivation system due to its unprofitability for farmers.
  • The Champaran Movement in Bihar saw the end of indigo cultivation following the Indigo Commission's recommendations.
  • Mahatma Gandhi intervened in the Champaran Movement to resolve the issues faced by farmers.

01:46:10

Gandhiji's Champaran Satyagraha and Indian Revenue Systems

  • Gandhiji will lead the Champaran Satyagraha in Bihar upon his arrival, addressing the issue of indigo production and demand, emphasizing the significance of indigo in clothing dyeing and its historical trade importance.
  • The Permanent Settlement system was introduced in Madras and Bombay, while the Ryotwari system was implemented in South India, highlighting the direct collection of money from cultivators and the cultivation practices in Bihar.
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