QUE. Compare the features of the Ryotwari system and the Mahalwari system and explain how these two systems differ from the permanent deposit system.

Various land revenue systems were introduced by the British Company from time to time with the aim of exploiting the economic wealth of India, which is known as ‘Sone Ki Chidiya’, including permanent deposit, Ryotwari and Mahalwar.

• Ryotwari system

• This system was implemented in about 51% of the country; which was mainly practiced in the areas of Bombay, Madras, South and South-West India.

• Since there were no big landlords in these areas and also not wanting to change the existing system much, the British started collecting land revenue from the farmers i.e. ryots.

• As per the recommendations of Reed and Munro, revenue collection from the cultivators of the fields was started in these areas.

• Mahalawari system

• This system was implemented in about 25% of the country. The main areas under this system include the Gangetic plains, the regions of North-West India, Central India and Punjab.

• Under this system, the village landlord was entrusted with the responsibility of collecting land revenue from all the farmers.

• In Ryotwari, the British government collected land revenue from each farmer, while in Mahalawari, a large farmer of the village was assigned to him as the landlord.

• This revenue system was improved from time to time.

• Differences between the above two systems from permanent tenure

• Permanent tenure was prevalent in 19% of the country, in some areas of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Madras.

• According to the British Zamindari system, in addition to making some landowners zamindars, the right of land ownership was made hereditary and transferable, which is not seen in ryotwari or mahalwari.

• Under this system, 10/11th of the total land revenue belonged to the government while 1/11th belonged to the landlord.

• Here the condition of the farmers became equal to that of tenants and labourers.

Thus, through various land revenue systems, the British Company started the process of making India an economic colony.