Option c is wrong... area of zamindari is not as the same of ryotwari and mahalwari .

The Triple Burden on Peasants in Colonial India

The given statements highlight the various challenges faced by peasants in colonial India, particularly under the triple burden of the government, zamindars (landlords), and moneylenders. Let's analyze each statement in detail:

1. The peasant turned out to be the ultimate sufferer under the triple burden of the Government, zamindar, and moneylender
This statement accurately captures the plight of the peasants in colonial India. The government, zamindars, and moneylenders collectively exploited the peasants, leaving them in a state of extreme suffering. The government imposed heavy taxes and revenue demands on the peasants, squeezing out their resources and leaving them impoverished. The zamindars, who were intermediaries between the peasants and the colonial government, often acted as exploitative landlords, extracting excessive rent from the peasants and subjecting them to arbitrary evictions. Moneylenders, who provided credit to the peasants, charged exorbitant interest rates, trapping them in cycles of debt and perpetuating their economic vulnerability. Thus, the peasants bore the brunt of this triple burden, which significantly impacted their livelihoods and well-being.

2. His hardship increased at the time of famine and scarcity
The second statement highlights the exacerbation of hardships faced by peasants during times of famine and scarcity. Famine and scarcity were recurrent phenomena in colonial India, primarily due to exploitative agricultural practices, lack of irrigation facilities, and the extraction of resources by the colonial administration. During such crises, the peasants faced acute food shortages, leading to starvation and malnutrition. The scarcity of resources also resulted in skyrocketing prices, making it even more challenging for peasants to sustain themselves and their families. Therefore, the hardships faced by peasants were magnified in times of famine and scarcity, further deepening their suffering.

3. This was as much true for the zamindari areas as for areas under Ryotwari and Mahalwari systems
The third statement emphasizes that the triple burden of the government, zamindars, and moneylenders affected peasants irrespective of the land tenure systems in place. In colonial India, there were primarily three land tenure systems - zamindari, ryotwari, and mahalwari. Under the zamindari system, the zamindars owned large tracts of land and collected rent from the peasants. In the ryotwari system, the peasants directly cultivated land owned by the colonial government and paid revenue to the government. The mahalwari system involved joint ownership of land by the village community and payment of revenue to the colonial government. While the specific dynamics and mechanisms of exploitation varied under each system, the common thread was the exploitation faced by peasants. Therefore, the statement correctly asserts that the triple burden was equally true for all three land tenure systems.

In conclusion, all three statements are correct. Peasants in colonial India suffered immensely under the triple burden of the government, zamindars, and moneylenders. Their hardships were exacerbated during times of famine and scarcity, and these challenges were prevalent across different land tenure systems. These historical realities highlight the exploitative nature of colonial rule and the immense struggles faced by the peasantry during this period.