NCERT Solutions for Class 12 History Chapter 9: Colonialism and the Countryside

NCERT Solutions Class 12 History Chapter 9 Colonialism And The Countryside (2025-26)

2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

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

Answer: Jotedars were rich peasants who owned vast tracts of land in rural Bengal. They controlled local trade and moneylending, had a strong hold over the poorer cultivators, and cultivated much of their land through sharecroppers. Their local influence often exceeded even that of zamindars.

2. How did zamindars manage to retain control over their zamindaris?

Answer: Zamindars employed strategies such as fictitious sales, transferring property in the names of women, and using their agents to buy land at auctions. These practices, combined with resistance from their lathyals and support from ryots, allowed them to retain control over their zamindaris.

3. How did the Paharias respond to the coming of outsiders?

Answer: The Paharias responded with hostility and suspicion towards outsiders like the British and the Santhals. They often resisted by withdrawing deeper into the hills, abandoned villages, and avoided all interaction with colonial officials.

4. Why did the Santhals rebel against British rule?

Answer: The Santhals rebelled due to growing oppression from zamindars, moneylenders, and British authorities. They resented land alienation, high revenues, and exploitation, which pushed them towards revolt around 1855-56.

5. What explains the anger of the Deccan ryots against the moneylenders?

Answer: Deccan ryots were angered by the exploitative practices of moneylenders, such as exorbitant interest rates, manipulation of accounts, and illegal dispossession of land and property, leading to widespread resentment and rebellion in 1875.

6. Why were many zamindaris auctioned after the Permanent Settlement?

Answer: Many zamindaris were auctioned because the Permanent Settlement imposed a high and fixed revenue demand on zamindars. When unable to collect sufficient rent from ryots or pay on time, their estates were auctioned to recover arrears.

7. In what way was the livelihood of the Paharias different from that of the Santhals?

Answer: The Paharias practiced shifting cultivation and lived by hunting and gathering in forests, while the Santhals settled on forest peripheries, cleared land, and adopted settled agriculture, leading to increased land use and deforestation.

8. How did the American Civil War affect the lives of ryots in India?

Answer: The American Civil War interrupted cotton supply to Britain, raising demand for Indian cotton. Ryots experienced a temporary boom in cotton prices, but later suffered when prices crashed as American supplies resumed, trapping many in debt.

9. What are the problems of using official sources in writing about the history of peasants?

Answer: Official sources often reflect the colonial perspective and may ignore or misrepresent the views of peasants. Such records can be biased, incomplete, and may not accurately reflect peasant experiences and resistance.

Key Concepts of Colonialism and the Countryside

Understanding the impact of Colonialism on the Indian countryside is essential for Class 12 History students. This chapter covers the changing lives of zamindars, jotedars, and ryots under the Permanent Settlement and other British revenue policies.

For better retention, focus on how economic and social structures shifted after colonial interventions. Reviewing important events like the Deccan Riots or Santhal rebellion can greatly clarify the chapter’s major historical developments.

Practice answering NCERT exercise-based questions regularly. This will improve your understanding of agrarian change and rural resistance, ensuring stronger performance in your 2025-26 History board exams.