Consider the following statements: 1. In the 19 th century, peasants in various parts of India rose in revolt against moneylenders and grain dealers. 2. In May 1875, at village Supa in Poona District in the Bombay Deccan, peasants attacked shopkeepers, burnt the bahi khatas (account books), looted grain shops and set fire to the houses of Sahukars. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Both 1 and 2
Understanding 19th Century Peasant Revolts in India
The question asks us to evaluate two statements regarding peasant uprisings in 19th-century India, particularly focusing on revolts against moneylenders and grain dealers and a specific event from the Deccan Riots of 1875.
Analyzing Statement 1: Peasant Revolts Against Moneylenders and Grain Dealers
Statement 1 says that in the 19th century, peasants in various parts of India rose in revolt against moneylenders and grain dealers. This statement is historically accurate.
- The 19th century saw significant distress among the Indian peasantry due to colonial economic policies, increasing land revenue demands, and exploitation by intermediaries.
- Moneylenders (often referred to as Sahukars or Mahajans) and grain dealers were crucial figures in rural society. Peasants frequently borrowed money from moneylenders for various needs, including paying land revenue, social ceremonies, or buying seeds and cattle.
- High interest rates, unfair accounting practices, and the eventual alienation of land when peasants failed to repay loans were major sources of peasant resentment against moneylenders.
- Many peasant movements and uprisings during this period, such as the Santhal Rebellion (1855-56), the Indigo Rebellion (1859-60), the Pabna Agrarian Disturbances (1870s), and the Deccan Riots (1875), were either primarily or partly directed against moneylenders and landlords (who often also acted as moneylenders or grain dealers).
Therefore, Statement 1 is correct.
Analyzing Statement 2: The Supa Village Incident in 1875
Statement 2 describes a specific event from May 1875 at village Supa in Poona District, Bombay Deccan, where peasants attacked shopkeepers, burnt the bahi khatas (account books), looted grain shops, and set fire to the houses of Sahukars. This statement accurately describes an event during the Deccan Riots of 1875.
- The Deccan Riots of 1875 occurred in the ryotwari areas of the Bombay Deccan, specifically in districts like Poona and Ahmednagar.
- The riots were triggered by rising land revenue demands and falling prices of cotton after the American Civil War boom ended.
- Peasants found it increasingly difficult to repay loans taken from moneylenders (Sahukars). The moneylenders used legal mechanisms introduced by the British to acquire peasant land and property.
- The target of the peasants' anger was primarily the moneylenders. They attacked their houses and shops.
- A key characteristic of the Deccan Riots was the systematic destruction of the moneylenders' account books (bahi khatas) and debt bonds, symbolising the peasants' desire to be free from debt bondage.
- The incident in Supa village in May 1875 is a well-documented example of the violence and actions taken by the peasants during the Deccan Riots.
Therefore, Statement 2 is also correct.
Conclusion
Both statements accurately reflect historical events concerning peasant resistance in 19th-century India. Statement 1 provides a general context, while Statement 2 gives a specific example from the Deccan Riots of 1875, which aligns with the broader trend described in Statement 1.
Since both statements are correct, the correct answer is that both 1 and 2 are correct.
| Statement | Analysis | Correctness |
|---|---|---|
| 1. 19th century peasants revolted against moneylenders/grain dealers in various parts of India. | This was a common feature of many peasant movements in the 19th century due to exploitation and debt. | Correct |
| 2. May 1875 incident at Supa, Poona District: peasants attacked shopkeepers, burnt bahi khatas, looted grain, set fire to Sahukars' houses. | This specifically describes events during the Deccan Riots of 1875, which targeted moneylenders. | Correct |
Revision Table: Key Peasant Movements in 19th Century India
| Movement | Period | Region | Key Grievances/Targets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santhal Rebellion | 1855-56 | Bengal Presidency (modern Jharkhand/Bihar) | Exploitation by landlords, moneylenders (dikus), colonial administration |
| Indigo Rebellion | 1859-60 | Bengal | Forced cultivation of indigo by planters |
| Pabna Agrarian League | 1870s | Bengal (Pabna district) | Oppression by landlords (Zamindars), excessive rent demands |
| Deccan Riots | 1875 | Bombay Deccan (Poona, Ahmednagar) | Exploitation by moneylenders (Sahukars), high revenue, debt, land alienation |
Additional Information: Causes of Peasant Distress and Revolts
Peasant revolts in 19th-century India were often a response to severe economic hardship and exploitation. Several factors contributed to this distress:
- High Land Revenue: The British land revenue policies, whether Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari, or Mahalwari, often resulted in high and rigid revenue demands. Failure to pay revenue could lead to loss of land.
- Role of Moneylenders and Sahukars: Peasants frequently fell into debt to meet revenue demands or for other needs. Moneylenders charged exorbitant interest rates, manipulated accounts, and eventually seized peasant land, pushing them into destitution.
- Commercialization of Agriculture: While sometimes beneficial, forced or rapid commercialization (like indigo or cotton) could make peasants vulnerable to market fluctuations and planter/merchant exploitation.
- New Legal System: The British legal system, intended for fairness, was often used by moneylenders and landlords to enforce contracts and recover debts, which disproportionately affected illiterate and poor peasants who did not understand the legal complexities.
- Loss of Traditional Rights: Colonial policies sometimes eroded traditional communal rights over forests or land, further marginalizing peasant communities.
These factors collectively created an environment where frustration often boiled over into violent uprisings targeting the immediate symbols of oppression, such as moneylenders and their account books.
Similar Questions
Which one among the following was demanded by the All India Depressed Classes Leaders' Conference at Bombay in 1931?
The khuntkatti tenure was prevalent in which one of the following regions of India during the British Colonial Rule ?
Who took over the 'Eka Movement’ started by the Congress in Awadh during 1921-1922?
Which of the following statements about the Non-Cooperation Movement is/are correct?
1. It was marked by significant participation of peasants from Karnataka.
2. It was marked by non-Brahmin lower caste participation in Madras and Maharashtra.
3. It was marked by the lack of labour unrest in places like Assam, Bengal and Madras.
4. It was badly shaken by the Chauri Chaura incident in 1922 after which Gandhiji decided to continue with the movement on a much smaller scale.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.Which one of the following statements about the All India Depressed Classes Association is not correct?
Directions: The item consists of two statements, Statement I and Statement II. Examine these two statements carefully and select the correct answer using the code given below.
Statement I:
The Pahi-kashta peasants were non-resident cultivators cultivating lands on a contractual basis.
Statement II:
The Pahi-kashta peasants worked under the temptation of favourable terms of revenue or the compulsion of economic distress.
Which one of the following statements about the National Green Tribunal is not correct?
Which one of the following pairs of Newspaper and Editor is not correctly matched?
N ewspaper Editor (a) Navjivan Mahatma Gandhi (b) Mahratta Bal Gangadhar Tilak (c) Bengalee Surendranath Banerjea (d) Voice of India Gopal Krishna Gokhale Who among the following founded the Bhil Seva Mandal in 1922?
Who among the following founded the Marathi newspaper ‘Kesari’?
Important Questions from Other Dimensions
Which of the following statements is correct regarding Tebhaga Movement?
1. This movement was organized by the Kisan Sabha.
2. It was against Jotedars and moneylenders
3. It was led by Swami Sadanand
In 1937 in the Daundi-Lohara Zamindari there was a peasant movement, in which the peasants observed Satyagraha under the leadership of who of the following?
In which of the following countries did the concept of Public Interest Litigation originate?
Who wrote the following comments regarding social change in the nineteenth century?
"All progress in social liberation tends to be a change from the law of status to the law of contract, from the restraints of family and caste, customs to the self-imposed restraints of the free will of the individual"
What is formal Education? Choose the correct alternative given below.
(a) In teaching methodology, the classroom teaching method and direct presence of teacher to teach is important.
(b) The curriculum is pre-decided.
(c) The curriculum is prepared as per need.
(d) There are different levels. The access to the next level of education is not possible without completion of the prior level of education.
