Passage Based Questions: Colonialism and the Countryside | History Class 12 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Passage  - 1

Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
The Jotedars who cultivate large portions of lands are very refractory. They know that the Zamindars have no power over them. They pay only a few rupees on account of their revenue and then fall in balance almost every Kist (installment), they hold more lands than they were entitled to by their Pottahs (deeds of contract). Should the Zamindar’s Officers in consequences, summon them to the Cutcherry and detain them for one or two hours with a view to reprimand them, they immediately go and complain at the Fouzdarry Thana (Police Station) for imprisonment and at the Munsiff’s (a Judicial officer at the lower court) Cutcherry for being dishonored and while the causes continue unsettled, they instigate the petty Ryots not to pay their revenue consequently.

Q1: How did the Jotedars of Dinajpur resist the authority of the Zamindars?
Ans: The Jotedars resisted the authority of Zamindars in the following ways:
(a) They paid only a few rupees as revenue and then defaulted on almost every installment.
(b) They held more land than what was allocated to them through Pottahs.
(c) When summoned, they lodged complaints at the Police Station against the Zamindars.

Q2: In what ways did the Jotedars weaken the power of the Zamindars?
Ans: The Jotedars undermined the power of Zamindars by having greater financial strength, which gave them more influence over the villagers. They also encouraged Ryots not to pay revenue if they had grievances against the Zamindars.

Q3: How did the Zamindars respond to defiant Jotedars?
Ans: The Zamindars reprimanded them by summoning them to the Cutcherry and detaining them for extended periods.