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Question

Which of the following statements about the Deccan Riots Commission is/are correct?

1. The Commission did not hold enquiries in the districts which were not affected.

2. The Commission did record the statements of ryots, sahukars and eye-witnesses.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

The correct answer is

Both 1 and 2

Understanding the Deccan Riots Commission Statements

The question asks us to evaluate two statements about the Deccan Riots Commission. This commission was set up by the colonial government in 1875 to investigate the agrarian riots that broke out in the Deccan region of the Bombay Presidency in 1875. The riots were primarily directed against moneylenders (sahukars) by the ryots (peasants) due to increasing debt, exploitation, and economic hardships.

Let's examine each statement about the Deccan Riots Commission:

Statement Analysis Conclusion
1. The Commission did not hold enquiries in the districts which were not affected. The Deccan Riots Commission was specifically tasked with investigating the causes and nature of the riots that occurred in the affected districts of Poona (now Pune) and Satara. Their primary focus was on understanding the situation in the areas where the disturbances took place. Holding extensive enquiries in unaffected districts would have been outside the scope and purpose of investigating the specific riots. Therefore, it is logical that their focus was concentrated on the riot-affected areas. Likely Correct
2. The Commission did record the statements of ryots, sahukars and eye-witnesses. A key objective of any commission of enquiry into social or economic unrest is to gather evidence from all parties involved and witnesses to understand the complex factors at play. The Deccan Riots involved ryots, sahukars, and various individuals who witnessed the events. To provide a comprehensive report on the causes of the riots, the commission would absolutely need to record the perspectives and accounts of the ryots (the rioters and victims of debt), the sahukars (against whom the riots were directed), and any eye-witnesses. This is standard practice for such investigations to get a complete picture. Likely Correct

Based on the analysis, both statements appear to be historically accurate descriptions of the methods and focus of the Deccan Riots Commission.

Evaluating the Options

We are given the following options:

  • 1 only
  • 2 only
  • Both 1 and 2
  • Neither 1 nor 2

Since both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct regarding the functioning and scope of the Deccan Riots Commission, the option that states "Both 1 and 2" is the correct choice.

Conclusion on Deccan Riots Commission Statements

The Deccan Riots Commission focused its enquiries on the districts directly impacted by the agrarian unrest. Furthermore, to understand the root causes and events of the riots, the commission diligently recorded statements from the primary stakeholders and witnesses, including ryots, sahukars, and eye-witnesses. Both statements accurately describe aspects of the commission's work.

Revision Table: Key Facts about Deccan Riots Commission

Aspect Detail
Purpose To investigate the causes and nature of the agrarian riots in the Deccan region in 1875.
Focus Area Primarily the riot-affected districts (e.g., Poona, Satara) of the Bombay Presidency.
Methodology Gathering evidence, recording statements from ryots, sahukars, eye-witnesses, and examining official records.
Outcome Submitted a report which highlighted the grievances of the ryots, the exploitation by moneylenders, and proposed measures for debt relief and legal protection for peasants.

Additional Information: Context of Deccan Riots

The Deccan Riots of 1875 were a significant agrarian uprising. They occurred in the context of:

  • Increasing Peasant Indebtedness: Heavy taxation by the British, coupled with falling prices for cotton after the American Civil War boom ended, left peasants in deep debt to moneylenders.
  • Exploitative Practices: Moneylenders often used fraudulent means to extract exorbitant interest and acquire peasants' land.
  • Rigid Legal System: The new legal system introduced by the British made it easier for moneylenders to use courts to enforce bonds and evict peasants, without providing sufficient protection to the ryots.
  • Social Tension: The sahukars were often outsiders (like Marwaris or Gujaratis), which added a social dimension to the economic conflict.

The Deccan Riots Commission's report was instrumental in the passing of the Deccan Agriculturists' Relief Act of 1879, which aimed to protect peasants from moneylenders and restrict the alienation of their land.

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Important Questions from Miscellaneous

  1. A stone is thrown horizontally from the top of a 20 m high building with a speed of 12 m/s. It hits the ground at a distance R from the building. Taking g = 10 m/s2 and neglecting air resistance will give :

  2. A mass is attached to a spring that hangs vertically. The extension produced in the spring is 6 cm on Earth. The acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the Moon is one-sixth of its value on the surface of the Earth. The extension of the spring on the Moon would be:

  3. Directions: Each item in this section consists of a sentence with an underlined word followed by four words (a), (b), (c), and (d). Select the option that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word and mark your response in your Answer Sheet accordingly.

    The deluge affected the population.
  4. The major source of vitamins and minerals for vegetarians is

  5. Which one of the following rivers is not a tributary of river Brahmaputra?

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