The term 'ryots' refers to the peasants or cultivators of land in India during the colonial period. It is discussed in the NCERT Solutions for Class 8 History, particularly in the chapter "Ruling the Countryside". Here is a detailed explanation of the concept:

Introduction:
- The term 'ryot' is derived from the Persian word 'ra'iat', which means a cultivator or tiller of the soil.
- During the colonial period, the British introduced the concept of 'ryots' to describe the peasants who were engaged in agricultural activities.

Role of Ryots:
- The ryots played a crucial role in the agrarian society of colonial India.
- They were responsible for cultivating and producing crops on the land they worked on.
- The produce of the ryots formed the backbone of the agricultural economy.

Ryots and Land Revenue:
- The British introduced the 'ryotwari' and 'mahalwari' systems of land revenue.
- Under the ryotwari system, individual ryots were recognized as the owners of land, and they had to pay revenue directly to the British government.
- In the mahalwari system, groups of villages or 'mahals' were recognized as units of revenue collection.
- The ryots within these mahals had to collectively pay revenue to the government.

Exploitation and Indebtedness:
- The ryots faced various forms of exploitation and indebtedness under the British rule.
- The British introduced a system of fixed land revenue, which often exceeded the capacity of the ryots to pay.
- As a result, many ryots were forced to take loans from moneylenders at high interest rates, leading to a cycle of debt and poverty.

Resistance and Revolts:
- The oppressive policies of the British often led to resistance and revolts by the ryots.
- They participated in movements like the Indigo Revolt, Deccan Riots, and the Bardoli Satyagraha to protest against unjust land revenue and other exploitative practices.

Impact of Ryots:
- The ryots played a significant role in shaping the agrarian economy of colonial India.
- Their struggles and resistance movements contributed to the larger nationalist movement against British rule.
- The exploitation faced by the ryots also highlighted the need for land reforms and agricultural reforms in independent India.

Overall, the concept of 'ryots' is an important aspect of the agrarian history of colonial India. It represents the struggles and contributions of the peasants who toiled on the land, and their role in the larger political and economic context of the time.

Ryots is basically a indian farmer or peasant.