N.S.

N MEMORIAL SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

Thirumurugan Salai, Thirumurugan Nagar, Chitlapakkam,

Chennai – 64

CLASS: VIII HISTORY

NOTES
NAME OF THE LESSON: LN- 3- RURAL LIFE AND SOCIETY
NO. OF PERIODS: 5
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES:
You will be able to
1. Discuss how the colonial policies affected peasants and landlords in India.
2. Provide a broad view of changes within rural society through focus on two
contrasting regions.
3. Discuss how the growth of new crops often disrupted the rhythm of peasant
life and led to revolts
4. Analyse the causes for the peasant revolts, with Special focus on the indigo
Rebellion
5. Compare agriculture in Bihar and Bengal with later developments in Punjab
Land Revenue Farmers who own the land and which they
cultivate and pay tax
Rulers British
SYSTEM OF LAND REVENUE COLLECTION UNDER THE BRITISH:

Demerits of Permanent settlement:

Changes in agriculture policy under the British

Commercialisation of Indian Agriculture:

The Indigo rebellion of 1859
⮚ The Indigo Rebellion (took place in Bengal in 1859-60)
⮚ And was a revolt by the farmers against British planters who had forced
them to grow indigo under terms that were greatly unfavourable to the
farmers.
⮚ Indigo cultivation started in Bengal in 1777. Indigo was in high demand
worldwide.
⮚ With expansion of British power in Bengal indigo planting became more and
more commercially
⮚ The indigo planters persuaded the peasants to plant indigo instead of food
crops.
⮚ They provided loans, at a very high interest. Once a farmer took such loans
he remained in debt for his whole life before passing it to his successors.
⮚ The price paid by the planters was meagre, only 2.5% of the market price
⮚ The farmers could make no profit growing indigo.
⮚ The farmers were totally unprotected from the indigo planters, who resorted
to mortgages or destruction of their property if they were unwilling to obey
them. Government rules favoured the planters.
⮚ Zamindars sided with the planters. Under this severe oppression, the
farmers resorted to revolt.
⮚ Finally British used police army to suppress the revolt.
INTRODUCTION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY IN INDIAN AGRICULTURE:

Quick Recap:
 * The British Government in India did not adopt a pro-Indian agriculture
and land revenue policy.
* Lord Cornwallis introduced Permanent Settlement in 1793.
* Ryotwari system was introduced by Thomas Munro and Captain Read in
1820.
* Mahalwari system was followed.
* In 1875, the peasants revolted in the district of Poona, that event has
been called the ‘Deccan Riots’.
* The Punjab Land Alienation Act was passed in 1900.
* In August 1921, the Moplah tenants rebelled against the oppressive
Zamindars.
* The peasants of Bardoli (Gujarat) started their agitation under the
leadership of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Mrs. R. Sanjuna
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