Question

Collection of maximum revenue from the Deshmukhs by the Nizam in Hyderabad led to a decline in agriculture. Explain using at least 3 points.

Answer 1

• The answer needs to be divided into three parts. How the nizam followed British policies→ desertions→Changes and compensation to landlords→Forced Labour.
• Keep the points short and briefly explain the core nature of land ownership which allowed the landlords to own large lands and also had the power to exploit free labour on their own lands.

Answer:
The Nizam during the 19th Century in Hyderabad came under the authority of the British and had to use their policies. They collected maximum taxes from the deshmukhs. This led to the farmers leaving their farms and not investing in their lands. These desertions led to a new policy where land revenue was collected directly from the farmers. This led to certain changes such as:

1. Landlords were given an annual payment to compensate and this was called Rusum.
2. They were also given full ownership rights known as Patta, over the land and wastelands nearby.
3. The landlords wanted to use wasteland areas to cultivate commercial crops such as castor groundnuts etc because there was a demand for these products in the export markets. In order to cultivate these crops, peasants were forced to do vetti or unpaid labour on the lands of the landlords.
4. Such forced labour led to the mass exploitation of the peasants and other service castes and artisans since they were forced to work for free.