Why British government? did not expand Permanent Settlement beyond Ben...
- As British rule expanded from Bengal to other parts of India, new systems of revenue were imposed. The Permanent Settlement was rarely extended to any region beyond Bengal. Reason was that after 1810, agricultural prices rose, increasing the value of harvest produce, and enlarging the income of the Bengal zamindars.
- Since the revenue demand was fixed under the Permanent Settlement, the colonial state could not claim any share of this enhanced income. Keen on expanding its financial resources, the colonial government had to think of ways to maximise its land revenue. So in territories annexed in the nineteenth century, temporary revenue settlements were made.
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Why British government? did not expand Permanent Settlement beyond Ben...
Introduction:
The British government did not expand the Permanent Settlement beyond Bengal due to several reasons. One of the main reasons was to secure their claim over enhanced income. This answer will discuss the other reasons as well.
Reasons for not expanding Permanent Settlement beyond Bengal:
1. Permanent Settlement was ineffective: The Permanent Settlement, also known as the Cornwallis Code, was introduced in Bengal in 1793. Under this system, the Zamindars (landlords) were made the proprietors of the land, and they were responsible for collecting revenue from the peasants. However, this system proved to be ineffective as many Zamindars were unable to fulfill their revenue obligations, leading to frequent revenue arrears. This failure of the system in Bengal discouraged the British government from expanding it to other regions.
2. Frequent revolts: Bengal witnessed several peasant revolts and uprisings against the Permanent Settlement. The most significant revolt was the Indigo Revolt of 1859-1860, where the peasants protested against the oppressive practices of the indigo planters. The British authorities had to suppress these revolts, and the unrest in Bengal further discouraged the government from extending the Permanent Settlement to other areas.
3. Cost of authority: The British government faced difficulties in maintaining control over the Zamindars who were granted authority under the Permanent Settlement. Many Zamindars abused their power and oppressed the peasants, leading to social unrest. This lack of control over the Zamindars made the government cautious about expanding the system to other regions.
4. To secure claim over enhanced income: The British government was primarily concerned with maximizing revenue from their territories in India. By keeping the Permanent Settlement limited to Bengal, they could closely monitor and control the revenue collection process. Expanding the system to other regions would have meant sharing revenue with the Zamindars, which could have reduced their overall income. Therefore, to secure their claim over the enhanced income, the British government did not expand the Permanent Settlement beyond Bengal.
Conclusion:
The British government's decision to not expand the Permanent Settlement beyond Bengal was influenced by various factors. The ineffectiveness of the system, frequent revolts, difficulties in controlling the Zamindars, and the desire to secure their claim over enhanced income were the key reasons behind this decision.
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