( AST/TMA/2022-23 )
Answer:
In colonial India, land settlements were a critical aspect of British colonial administration, and they played a pivotal role in shaping the agrarian landscape of the subcontinent. Various types of land settlements were implemented to establish revenue collection systems and secure the British economic interests. Here are the primary types of land settlements in colonial India:
Permanent Settlement (1793): Also known as the Zamindari System, this settlement was first introduced in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa by Lord Cornwallis. Under this system, a fixed revenue amount was imposed on landholders or zamindars. They were made intermediaries between the British government and the actual cultivators of the land. The revenue demand remained constant, regardless of changes in agricultural production. This system led to the concentration of landownership in the hands of a few wealthy zamindars and perpetuated rural poverty.
Ryotwari Settlement (1820s onwards): Ryotwari settlements were introduced in regions like Madras (Tamil Nadu), Bombay (Maharashtra and Gujarat), and parts of the Central Provinces. In this system, individual peasant cultivators or ryots were recognized as the direct holders of land. They paid revenue directly to the British government based on the land’s assessed value, which could be revised periodically. This system aimed to eliminate intermediaries, but it often led to the dispossession of peasants due to revenue burdens.
Mahalwari Settlement (1833 onwards): The Mahalwari system was implemented in parts of the North-Western Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh) and Punjab. Here, villages or mahals were treated as revenue units, and revenue assessments were made for each mahal collectively. The revenue demand was usually assessed for a fixed period and revised periodically. This system aimed to maintain the collective ownership of land within villages and was seen as a compromise between the Permanent and Ryotwari systems.
Assam System (1833 onwards): In the Assam region, a unique system was introduced, which was a blend of the Permanent and Ryotwari systems. Zamindars held revenue collection rights, but the assessment was made directly on individual cultivators based on the nature of the land.
Subsidiary Alliance States: In regions where princely states entered into subsidiary alliances with the British, land revenue settlements were negotiated separately with each state. These settlements often varied depending on the agreements reached between the British and the princely rulers.
Forest Settlements: In regions with extensive forests, forest settlements were established to regulate and extract revenue from forest resources. These settlements aimed to secure control over valuable forest products like timber and resin.
Land Revenue Act of 1879: This act introduced a uniform procedure for land revenue collection in British India, aiming to standardize the assessment and collection process.
Each of these land settlement systems had distinct implications for landownership, land rights, and agrarian relations in colonial India. They played a crucial role in shaping the socioeconomic conditions of various regions and had a lasting impact on India’s agrarian structure and rural society.