How did zamindars manage to retain control over their zamindaris?
When zamindars were in bad times, they often resorted to various tactics to maintain control over their zamindari. These were in fact their survival tactics. Following are the important ones.
1.Zamindars created fictitious sales during auction. Their own men would make highest bid and later refused to pay up. After repeating this exercise for couple of occasions, the government would be tired and sell it back to zamindar at lesser rate.
2.A part of Estate was often transferred to female members of the family, and that part of property could not be taken by the government any more.
3.Zamindars put hurdle in purchase and occupation of the estate by others by use of sheer muscle power.
4.Sometimes even peasants under the influence of zamindars opposed auction of estate.
What are the problems of using official sources in writing about the history of peasants?
How did the Paharias respond to the coming of outsiders?
Why was the jotedar a powerful figure in many areas of rural Bengal?
How did the American Civil War affect the lives of ryots in India?
In what way was the livelihood of the Paharias different from that of the Santhals?
Why did the Santhals rebel against British rule?
Why were many zamindaris auctioned after the Permanent Settlement?
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 mutinous sepoys in many places turn to erstwhile rulers to provide leadership to the revolt?
To what extent are census data useful in reconstructing patterns of urbanisation in the colonial context?
How did Mahatma Gandhi seek to identify with the common people?
What did the Muslim League demand through its resolution of 1940?
What were the ideals expressed in the Objectives Resolution?
Discuss the evidence that indicates planning and coordination on the part of the rebels.
What do the terms “White” and “Black” Town signify?
How was Mahatma Gandhi perceived by the peasants?
Why did some people think of Partition as a very sudden development?
How was the term minority defined by different groups?
How did the Constituent Assembly seek to resolve the language controversy?
To what extent are census data useful in reconstructing patterns of urbanisation in the colonial context?
Examine any two sources presented in the chapter, choosing one visual and one text, and discuss how these represent the point of view of the victor and the vanquished.
What were Mahatma Gandhi’s arguments against Partition?
Why did some people think of Partition as a very sudden development?
What were the new kinds of public places that emerged in the colonial city? What functions did they serve?
How were urban centres transformed during the eighteenth century?
Why is Partition viewed as an extremely significant marker in South Asian history?
What were the arguments in favour of greater power to the provinces?
Why were the dialogues at the Round Table Conference inconclusive?