Class 12 History - Themes in Indian History - III - Chapter Colonialism and the Countryside NCERT Solutions | Why was the jotedar a powerful figure in

Welcome to the NCERT Solutions for Class 12th History - Themes in Indian History - III - Chapter Colonialism and the Countryside. This page offers a step-by-step solution to the specific question from Excercise ".$ex_no." , Question 1: why was the jotedar a powerful figure in many area....
Question 1

Why was the jotedar a powerful figure in many areas of rural Bengal?

Answer

Jotedars were rich peasants in Bengal. They owned big plots of land sometimes running into thousand of acres of land. They controlled local trade and commerce including the money lending business. They had great influence on the local village population. They were regarded more powerful than the Zamindars even. Following are the main reasons for the high status of Jotedars.

1.The Jotedars controlled trade and commerce including money lending business at the local level.

2.In order to weaken the Zamindars, Jotedars would mobilise ryots not to pay or delay payment towards land revenue.

3.The Jotedars opposed the moves of Zamindars to increase the Jama of a village.

4.The Jotedars lived in villages only. Hence they were in a better position to interact with and influence the peasants.

5.Jotedars were rich and owned big areas of land under cultivation. Many a time they would buy estates of Zamindar. That would be auctioned due to failure to pay up land revenue.

 

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