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Class 12
History - Themes in Indian History - III
Colonialism and the Countryside
Why was the jotedar a powerful figure in many areas of rural Bengal?

Why was the jotedar a powerful figure in | Class 12 History - Themes in Indian History - III Chapter Colonialism and the Countryside, Colonialism and the Countryside NCERT Solutions

Welcome to the NCERT Solutions for Class 12 History - Themes in Indian History - III - Chapter Colonialism and the Countryside. This page offers a step-by-step solution to the specific question from Exercise 1, Question 1: . With detailed answers and explanations for each chapter, students can strengthen their understanding and prepare confidently for exams. Ideal for CBSE and other board students, this resource will simplify your study experience.

Question 1:

Why was the jotedar a powerful figure in many areas of rural Bengal?

Answer:

Jotedars were rich peasants in Bengal. They owned big plots of land sometimes running into thousand of acres of land. They controlled local trade and commerce including the money lending business. They had great influence on the local village population. They were regarded more powerful than the Zamindars even. Following are the main reasons for the high status of Jotedars.

1.The Jotedars controlled trade and commerce including money lending business at the local level.

2.In order to weaken the Zamindars, Jotedars would mobilise ryots not to pay or delay payment towards land revenue.

3.The Jotedars opposed the moves of Zamindars to increase the Jama of a village.

4.The Jotedars lived in villages only. Hence they were in a better position to interact with and influence the peasants.

5.Jotedars were rich and owned big areas of land under cultivation. Many a time they would buy estates of Zamindar. That would be auctioned due to failure to pay up land revenue.

Other Questions of Chapter Colonialism and the Countryside

Why were many zamindaris auctioned after the Permanent Settlement?

How did the American Civil War affect the lives of ryots in India?

How did zamindars manage to retain control over their zamindaris?

How did the Paharias respond to the coming of outsiders?

In what way was the livelihood of the Paharias different from that of the Santhals?

What are the problems of using official sources in writing about the history of peasants?

On an outline map of the subcontinent, mark out the areas described in this chapter. Find out whether there were other areas where the Permanent Settlement and the ryotwari system were prevalent and plot these on the map as well.

What explains the anger of the Deccan ryots against Fig. 10.20 the moneylenders?

Why did the Santhals rebel against British rule?

Popular questions of class 12 History - Themes in Indian History - III

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Study Tips for Answering NCERT Questions:

NCERT questions are designed to test your understanding of the concepts and theories discussed in the chapter. Here are some tips to help you answer NCERT questions effectively:

Read the question carefully and focus on the core concept being asked.
Reference examples and data from the chapter when answering questions about Colonialism and the Countryside.
Review previous year question papers to get an idea of how such questions may be framed in exams.
Practice answering questions within the time limit to improve your speed and accuracy.
Discuss your answers with your teachers or peers to get feedback and improve your understanding.

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