Colonialism and Permanent Settlement

The policy or practice of gaining complete or partial governmental authority over another nation, settling it, and exploiting it economically is known as colonialism. Bengal was the first colony to be founded. The first attempts to rearrange rural life and establish a new regime of land rights and a new tax system were attempted in Bengal. The concept of permanent settlement was introduced by Governor-General Lord Charles Cornwallis. Due to this agreement, revenue had to be paid to the government by landholders of Bengal. This had serious consequences for the agricultural practices in Bengal. 

Bengal and the Zamindars

Auction in Burdwan:

In 1797, an auction was held in Burdwan (present-day Bardhaman). A number of palaces (mahalas) of the Raja of Burdwan were up for sale.

The East India Company determined the revenue that each zamindar had to pay when the permanent settlement went into effect in 1793. To recoup the funds, the estates of individuals who failed to pay were to be auctioned.

The Raja of Burdwan’s domains had been put up for sale because he had accrued large debts.

Many of the bidders at the auction turned out to be Raja’s slaves and agents, who had purchased the properties on their master’s behalf. Furthermore, nearly 95% of the auction sales were fictional. Although the Raja’s holdings had been auctioned publicly, he retained control of his zamindari.

The Idea behind Permanent Settlement:

The concept behind Permanent Settlement: During the 1770s, Britishers were having difficulty regularising their tax collection from Bengal due to recurring famines and diminishing agricultural productivity.

Investment in agriculture will result in revenue regularisation: The corporation believed that encouraging investment in agriculture will boost and regularise revenue.

With property rights, Zamindars will have an intrinsic interest in estate development: By securing property rights and establishing revenue rates, Zamindars will feel more secure, which will motivate them to improve their estates.

The emergence of a class loyal to the Company: Improvement of Estates would lead to the emergence of a class of rich landowners loyal to the company, securing the regular flow of income to the company.

Zamindars as a New Class of Landowners: They were Bengal’s Rajas and Taluqdars, who are today known as zamindars. They weren’t village landowners, but rather estate income collectors.

His income was the difference between the amount paid to the corporation and the amount recovered from the estate.

Reasons for Defaulting of Zamindars on Payments: 

• Wrongful Anticipation by Firm: Company pegged early revenue needs very high to limit their loss in the long run since the company anticipated that income from the land would increase in coming years with extension of land and production
• Economic Depression: In the 1790s, agricultural produce prices were reduced, making it difficult for farmers to make a living
• The Sunset Law and the Inevitable Demand for Revenue

• Regardless of the crop, the revenue was fixed and predictable, and it had to be paid on time
• In actuality, the Sunset Law stated that if payment was not received by the sunset of the given date, the zamindari would be auctioned
• Restriction on Autonomy of Zamindar: The zamindar’s ability to collect rent from the ryot and manage his zamindari was initially constrained by Permanent Settlement. The zamindars’ forces were disbanded, customs charges were eliminated, and their “cutcheries” (courts) were handed over to a Collector
• A bad harvest, Low prices and Friction between Zamindar and Jotedar: Rent collection was always an issue. Bad harvests, low prices, and power struggles between zamindars and jotedars made it impossible for the ryots to pay their dues

Ways adopted by the Zamindars to escape the auction of Estates: 

• The authority of the zamindars in rural areas did not collapse at once until the Great Depression of the 1930s when they finally collapsed and the Jotedars consolidated their power in the countryside
• Fictitious sale and transfer of estates: It was a calculated move by the Rajas to keep their zamindari intact. Since a woman’s property could not be taken over, Raja handed a portion of his zamindari to his mother
• When a portion of the estate was auctioned, the zamindar’s men outbid other bidders and bought the property. They then refused to pay, forcing the estate to be resold
• This procedure continued indefinitely until all other bidders were exhausted, and the estate was finally sold at a low price to a Raja or zamindar
• Payment deliberately withheld by zamindar: The company’s revenue demand was withheld on purpose and outstanding amounts were allowed to grow
• Deterrence to outsider bidders: When persons from outside the zamindari bought an estate, their agents were attacked by former zamindar’s lathyals, and they were unable to take ownership
• Sense of Loyalty: Outsiders were sometimes resisted by the ryots themselves. They felt a sense of allegiance to their zamindar and saw him as a figure of power, with themselves as his pooja (subjects)

Conclusion

The British East India Company brought with it several serious problems for the people of India. The Permanent Settlement Act 1793 was one of the problematic acts that the British introduced. This Act made zamindars liable to pay fixed revenues to the government in exchange for complete control over the land. However, it caused problems if the revenue wasn’t paid on time. There were several reasons behind the introduction of such an Act. One of the main reasons was to gain the loyalty of Zamindars. The consequences of not paying revenue on time were serious, and sometimes Zamindars would hold fake sales and transfer estates to members of their family. The impact of the Permanent Settlement Act was the loyalty of Zamindars, and a stable income for the British.