Social Science STD 8 Chapter 2: British Rule in India (1757 AD to 1857 AD) : Exercises

1. Write the answers of the following questions in one sentence:

1. 1. Who was made the Nawab of Bengal by the British after removing Mir Jafar?

   After removing Mir Jafar, the British made Mir Qasim the Nawab of Bengal.

2. 2. During the time of which Governor was the permanent settlement introduced in India?

   The permanent settlement was introduced in India during the time of Governor-General Cornwallis.

3. 3. The victory of which war gave the British the power to collect revenue in Bengal?

   The victory of the Battle of Buxar gave the British the power to collect revenue in Bengal.

4. 4. Who introduced Ryotwari system?

   The Ryotwari system was introduced by Thomas Munro.

2. (A) Write a short note:

1. 1. Birsa Munda

   Birsa Munda was a significant leader of a tribal movement. He was born on November 15, 1875. He spent his childhood grazing goats and playing the flute. He received an education in local missionary schools and became engaged in the upliftment of tribal society at a young age. Birsa Munda led the 'Ulgulan' mass movement in 1895 against the extreme exploitation of the tribals by pro-British moneylenders, landlords, and jagirdars. He urged his community to stop drinking alcohol, keep their houses clean, and live according to their glorious past. He was a symbol of tribal resistance, and the British arrested him in 1895 on false charges. He died in 1900, but his movement inspired many tribal people to fight for their traditional rights.

2. 2. Ryotwari system

   The Ryotwari system was a land revenue system introduced in the Bombay and Madras provinces in 1820 AD by Thomas Munro. In this system, the tiller of the land was made the owner of the land. The farmer had to pay land revenue directly to the government, as per the conditions laid down. However, the system did not benefit the farmers due to excessive land revenue, the government's right to increase the revenue at will, and the obligation to pay even if the crop failed.

3. 3. Mahalwari system

   The Mahalwari system was introduced by British officer Holt Mackenzie in 1822 AD in the North-Western Provinces and parts of Central India. In this system, the term 'mahal' referred to a village or a group of villages. The unit for collecting revenue was the entire village or its collective land, not the individual farmer's farm. The land revenue was determined by surveying the village and taking into account the total income or produce. The responsibility of collecting the revenue was assigned to the village headman. This system, like the others, shattered the stability and autonomy of the Indian villages and led to the exploitation of farmers.

(B) Write the answers of the following questions :

1. 1. How were the farmers exploited in the permanent settlement system?

   In the permanent settlement system introduced by Cornwallis, landlords were given ownership rights and were made agents of the government for land revenue collection. The landlords had to deposit a fixed amount of revenue to the government every year. To meet this fixed amount, they oppressed and exploited the farmers. The farmers were forced to pay the fixed revenue to the landlords, who often collected more and exploited them, regardless of the crop yield.

2. 2. What was the condition of agriculture in India in the eighteenth century?

   After gaining civil power in Bengal, the East India Company's main objective was to procure goods that were in high demand in Europe. The company wanted to establish a monopoly over India's agricultural markets. They forced Indian farmers to commercialize agriculture by growing specific cash crops like indigo, cotton, raw silk, opium, and pepper. The British misused their political power to buy these crops at low prices, ruining the farmers who did not get a fair price for their produce. Farmers were often given advance loans, which trapped them in debt, forcing them to sell their crops at even lower prices. This led to a large number of farmers becoming landless agricultural laborers.

3. 3. Why was the demand for Indian indigo increase in the European countries?

   Indigo was a widely used substance for dyeing cloth, and the color of Indian indigo was known for its bright shine, which was not found in other indigo. Until 1790, European countries imported indigo from Caribbean countries. However, as the production of indigo in the Caribbean decreased, the demand for Indian indigo increased, prompting the British to increase its production in India.

4. 4. Describe the activities of the tribes during the British rule.

   During the British rule, tribal communities engaged in various activities. Some were food gatherers and hunters, collecting fruits, roots, and herbs from the forests. They would sell their produce, like Kusum and Palash flowers for dyeing, in local markets. Some tribal groups practiced animal husbandry, migrating with their animals seasonally. Two main types of farming were prevalent: shifting agriculture (Jhoom farming), where they cleared forest land and cultivated it for a few years before moving on, and sustainable farming, which gave them rights over the land. The British tried to make them settle in one place to generate income, leading to widespread revolts.

3. Find the correct option from the following options and write the answer:

1. 1. How many practices were there for indigo production in India?

   Two

2. 2. In which two provinces was the ryotwari system introduced in 1820 AD?

   Mumbai and Madras (Chennai)

3. 3. Which tribe live around Hazaribagh in present Jharkhand?

   Santhal

4. 4. Under whose leadership did the tribals want to establish Mundaraj ?

   Birsa Munda