IMPOVERISHMENT OF THE PEASANTRY & RISE OF NEW LANDLORDISM

IMPOVERISHMENT OF THE PEASANTRY

In permanently and temporarily settled zamindari a lot of the peasant was bad. He was left to the I the zamindars who raised rents to unbearable ~ condition of the cultivators in the Ryotwari and M areas was no better. Whenever the peasant faile land revenue, the Government put up his land fc collect the arrears of revenue. To avoid such a sitw peasant was forced to borrow money from the lenders. The money-lender charged a very high rate of interest which made things worse for the peasant.

RISE OF NEW LANDLORDISM British economic policy favoured the rise of a new landlordism, as the high revenue demands forced traditional landowners to sell their land. Rich money-lenders and others bought this land and there was a spread of growth of subinfeudation or intermediaries. These intermediaries exploited the tenants who were little better than slaves. A harmful consequence of the rise and growth of zamindars and landlords was seen in the political arena during India's freedom struggle. They, alongwith the princes of protected areas, became the main supporters of foreign rule and opposed the rising national movement.