Understanding the Deccan Riots Enquiry

The Deccan Riots of 1875 were significant agrarian disturbances that occurred in the Poona and Ahmednagar districts of Maharashtra, which was then part of the Bombay Presidency.

These riots were primarily directed against moneylenders, most of whom were Marwaris or Gujaratis. The main causes behind the Deccan Riots were:

• Heavy land revenue demand by the British government.
• Falling prices of agricultural produce after the American Civil War boom ended, making it difficult for peasants to pay revenue.
• The Ryotwari system, where peasants had to pay revenue directly to the state, often forcing them into debt.
• Increasing dependence on moneylenders for revenue payments and other expenses, leading to growing indebtedness.
• Moneylenders using legal processes, facilitated by new British laws, to seize peasants' land and property in case of loan defaults.

The peasants, feeling oppressed and exploited by the combination of high revenue demands and the coercive practices of moneylenders, rose up in protest. They attacked the houses and shops of moneylenders, burned account books, and destroyed debt bonds.

Government Response to the Deccan Riots

The Deccan Riots spread rapidly, causing alarm among the authorities. The government needed to understand the root causes of these widespread disturbances to restore order and prevent future uprisings.

In response to the Deccan Riots, the government decided to set up a commission of enquiry to investigate the matter thoroughly. This commission was tasked with:

• Investigating the causes of the Deccan Riots.
• Examining the relationship between the peasants and the moneylenders.
• Proposing measures to address the grievances of the peasantry.

Which Government Set Up the Commission?

The areas affected by the Deccan Riots, specifically Poona and Ahmednagar districts, were located within the jurisdiction of the Bombay Presidency during the British Raj. Therefore, it was the local government, the Bombay Government, that was directly responsible for administering this region and responding to the crisis.

The Bombay Government took the initiative to appoint the commission of enquiry to look into the causes of the Deccan Riots of 1875.

Based on the findings of the Deccan Riots Commission, the British Parliament passed the Deccan Agriculturists' Relief Act in 1879. This act aimed to protect peasants from moneylenders by restricting the alienation of their land and giving them certain rights against usurious loans.

Conclusion

The Deccan Riots of 1875 prompted the government to take action. The government that set up a commission of enquiry to investigate the causes of these riots was the Bombay Government, as the affected areas were part of the Bombay Presidency.

Revision Table: Deccan Riots Enquiry

Additional Information: Deccan Riots and British Rule

The Deccan Riots are a significant event in the history of agrarian movements in British India. They highlighted the distress faced by Indian peasants under colonial economic policies. The riots demonstrated the peasants' ability to organize and resist exploitation.

The setting up of a commission and subsequent legislation (Deccan Agriculturists' Relief Act, 1879) showed that the colonial government, though often prioritizing revenue collection, could be compelled to introduce measures to alleviate peasant distress, at least partially, when faced with widespread unrest. This act aimed to check the abuses by moneylenders and protect peasant land, although its effectiveness was debated.