Question

With reference to colonization, which one of the following statements is NOT correct?

• A. The ideology of Imperialism encourages conquest and colonial domination.
• B. Colonialism produces a dualistic society in which one sector is modern and capitalist while another sector is traditional and pre-capitalist.
• C. In colonial India, agriculture had no capitalist element.
• D. None of the above.

Answer 1

Answer:

C. In colonial India, agriculture had no capitalist element.

• In colonial India, agriculture did indeed have capitalist elements introduced by the British colonial administration.
• The British colonial rulers implemented various policies and changes in the agricultural sector that introduced capitalist features. Some of these elements included:

1. Land Revenue Systems: The British introduced new land revenue systems, such as the Permanent Settlement in Bengal and the Ryotwari and Mahalwari systems in other regions. These systems aimed to extract a fixed and often high revenue from landowners, encouraging cash payments and a market-oriented approach to agriculture.

2. Commercial Crops: The British encouraged the cultivation of cash crops like indigo, cotton, jute, and opium, which were grown for export and sale in international markets. This encouraged farmers to engage in market-oriented production.

3. Railways and Transportation: The British invested in infrastructure, including railways, which facilitated the transportation of agricultural products to distant markets, promoting commercial agriculture.

4. Market Integration: The colonial administration worked to integrate local markets into a broader colonial and global market economy. This integration further promoted capitalist agricultural practices.

5. Landownership Changes: Landownership patterns shifted under British rule, with the emergence of absentee landlords and intermediaries who often had capitalist interests in maximizing profits from land.