Question

Which of the following statement is/are incorrect?
(I) English East India Company introduced Permanent Settlement in Bengal in 1793
(II) Maharaja Mehtab Chand was the Raja of Bengal in 1793
(III) Maharaja Mehtab Chand helped the British during the Santhal rebellion
(IV) Charles Cornwallis was the Governor General of Bengal when Permanent Settlement was introduced

• A. Only (I)
• B. Only (II)
• C. Only (III) and (IV)
• D. Only (I) and (IV)

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Only (II)

Permanent Settlement of 1793

• The Permanent Settlement, also known as the Zamindari System, was a landmark land revenue arrangement introduced by the British East India Company.
• It was enacted on March 22, 1793, primarily in the provinces of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, under the tenure of Lord Charles Cornwallis.
• Under this system, Zamindars (local landlords) were recognized as the permanent owners of their land, and their right to collect rent from the cultivators was made hereditary.
• The Zamindars were required to pay a fixed amount of land revenue to the Company, regardless of the agricultural output, which aimed to ensure a stable income for the British.
• This fixed revenue demand was often high (about 89% for the Company, 11% for the Zamindar), leading to significant pressure on Zamindars and exploitation of peasants.
• The primary objective was to create a loyal class of Indian intermediaries (Zamindars) who would support the British rule and ensure a consistent flow of revenue.

Maharaja Mehtab Chand of Burdwan

• Maharaja Mehtab Chand Bahadur was a prominent ruler of the Burdwan Raj, one of the largest and wealthiest zamindaris in Bengal.
• He ascended to the gaddi (throne) of Burdwan in 1832, succeeding his father Maharaja Tej Chand, and ruled until his death in 1879.
• Therefore, he was not the Raja of Bengal in 1793, as he was not yet born and the Permanent Settlement had already been implemented. Bengal itself did not have a single 'Raja' in 1793, as British control was already established.
• Maharaja Mehtab Chand was well-known for his unwavering loyalty and assistance to the British during critical periods.
• He notably provided significant support, including troops and resources, to the British during the Santhal Rebellion (1855-1856) and the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
• For his services, he was awarded the title of 'Maharaja Bahadur' and was one of the first Indians to be made a Knight Grand Commander of the Star of India (GCSI).

Santhal Rebellion (1855-1856)

• The Santhal Rebellion, also called the Santhal Hool, was a major tribal uprising in the Damin-i-Koh region (parts of present-day Jharkhand and West Bengal).
• It was led by the legendary brothers Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu, along with Chand and Bhairav.
• The rebellion was fueled by grievances against oppressive land policies, exploitation by moneylenders (dikus), and the encroachment on their traditional lands by outsiders.
• Although brutally suppressed by the British, the rebellion led to the creation of the Santhal Parganas district in 1855, which provided some legal protection for Santhal lands and rights.