NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science History Chapter 3 Ruling the Countryside

Ruling the Countryside Class 8 Questions and Answers Provided helps you to answer complex Questions too easily. You can use them while preparing for board exams and all of them are given by subject experts. Reading NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science History Chapter 3 Ruling the Countryside familiarizes you with the kind of questions appearing in the board exams. Students are advised to read these solutions on a regular basis to score well.

Ruling the Countryside Class 8 Questions and Answers History Chapter 3

Make your learning experience enjoyable by preparing from the quick links available on this page. Use the Class 8 SST History Chapter 3 NCERT Solutions and get to know different concepts involved. All the Solutions are covered as per the latest syllabus guidelines. Knowing the NCERT Class 8 History Chapter 3 Questions and Answers helps students to attempt the exam with confidence.

History Class 8 Chapter 3 NCERT Textbook Questions and Answers

Let’s Recall
Question 1.
Match the following.

Column I Column II
1. Ryot (a) Village
2. Mahal Cb) Peasant
3. Nij (c) Cultivation on Ryot’s Land
4. Ryoti (d) Cultivation on planter’s own land

Answer:
(a) indigo
(b) industrialisation
(c) synthetic dyes
(d) indigo planters

Question 2.
Fill in the blanks.
(a) Growers of woad in Europe saw ____________ as a crop which would provide competition to their
earnings.
(b) The demand for indigo increased in late eighteenth century Britain because of ……….
(c) The international demand for indigo was affected by the discovery of ………………
(d) The Champaran Movement was against …………..
Answer:
(a) indigo
(b) industrialisation
(c) synthetic dyes
(d) indigo planters

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science History Chapter 3 Ruling the Countryside

Let’s Discuss

Question  3.
Describe the main features of the Premanent Settlement.
Answer:
In need of maximisation of revenue income, the Company finally introduced Permanent Settlement in 1793 with following features:

  • An amount of revenue to be paid was fixed permanently for the Raj as, Taluqdars who were recognised as zamindars to collect revenue. So there was no chance for any increase in the demand of revenue from the Company side.
  • Since there was no chance of increasing the revenue demand zamindars would benefit from increased production from land.
  • The system proved oppressive as it forced numerous zamindaris to be sold off at auctions organised by the Company.

Question 4.
How was the Mahalwari system different from the Permanent Settlement?
Answer:
The differences of permanent settlement and Mahalwari system lies in their names itself. Permanent settlement imposed in 1793 aimed at collecting land revenue but within a totally differed way. Its terms said that zamindars were asked to collect rent from the peasants and pay revenue to the Company. But amount to be paid as revenue was fixed for permanent time which meant it couldn’t be increased or decreased in future.

It aimed at ensuring a regular flow of revenue into the Company’s account and at the same time encouraging zamindars for investing in the improvisation of land. Since the demand of revenue by the Company would not change, the zamindars would benefit from the land. This policy became a big failure due to its oppressive nature.

On the other hand Mahalwari system introduced by Holt Mackanzie came into effect in 1822 was introduced in need of changing the revenue collecting system. It was introduced in north-western provinces of Bengal Presidency (most of this area is now in Uttar Pradesh) it was felt that village was an important social institution in North Indian society to there was an estimation done by the collectors from village to village.

Then the estimated revenue of each plot within village was added up to calculate revenue that each Mahal (village) had to pay. The demand was revised periodically not permanently fixed as in permanent settlement. The change of collecting revenue and paying it to the The Company was given to the village headman, not like permanent settlement in which zamindar use to collect and pay. This is now the Mahalwari system work and this how it is different from the name to process of permanent settlement system.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science History Chapter 3 Ruling the Countryside

Question 5.
Give two problems which arose with the new Munro system of fixing revenue.
Answer:
The two problem which arose with the new Munro system of fixing revenue was:

  • In desire to increase the income from land, revenue demand was fixed too high.
  • Peasants were unable to pay such high fixed revenue so the Ryots fled and villages became deserted. Because of these problems the aim of optimistic officials to transform peasants into rich enterprising farmers failed completely.

Question 6.
Why were Ryots reluctant to grow indigo?
Answer:
The increasing demand of Bengal indigo resulted in attraction of the Britishers towards becoming the indigo planters and investing in the plantation process of indigo.

(i) There were two main systems introduced for the indigo cultivation: Nij and Ryoti.

(ii) Planters forced the Ryots to sign contracts and paid them advances at the low rates of interest to produce indigo. This loan although helped the cultivators for short time but later due to commitment of cultivating indigo on atleast 25% of area under them made them unable to fulfil their other crop demands. They were trapped in cycle of loan from which it was difficult to come out. This is why the ryots were reluctant to grow indigo.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science History Chapter 3 Ruling the Countryside

Question 7.
What were the circumstances which led to the eventual collapse of indigo production in Bengal?
Answer:
Indigo production in Bengal collapsed because in 1859 thousands of Ryots refused to pay rents to the planters and started to rebel against oppressive policy of planters. With help of local zamindars and village headmen who were forced to sign contracts, they got mobilised against the planters.

After the Revolt of 1857 the British government was worried of another popular rebellion talking place so, they brought in the military to protect the planters from assault and Indigo Commission was setup to enquire into system of indigo production in which the Commission found the planters guilty and criticised their activity. The Commission declared the indigo production non-profitable for Ryots. The Commission asked Ryots to fulfil their existing contract but also told them that ryots could refuse to produce indigo in future. This is how indigo production collapsed in Bengal.

Question 8.
Find out more about the Champaran Movement and Mahatma Gandhi’s role in it.
Answer:
In Champaran and as a matter of fact in the whole of Bihar, there was an enormous personal increase in the land rent. The peasants were forced to grow indigo on the best part of their land. They were also required to dedicate their time and labour to crop decided by the landlord. The peasants were paid very poor wage and it was not enough to earn their livelihood.

The Champaran peasantry suffered terrible at the hand of European planters. Both landlords and the Government officials had made an alliance together as a tool of oppression to the peasants. Thus, the people led subhuman lives like animals and suffering from all kinds of miseries. As a result, people of Champarana wanted relief from these worse conditions.

Role of Mahatma Gandhi in Champarana Movement:

The Champaran peasant movement was launched in 1917-18. Its objective was to create awakening among the peasants against the European planters. In 1916, the Indian National Congress in its Lucknow session, discussed the peasant situation of Champaran. Gandhiji wanted to improve the relations between the jamindars and tenants. The struggle of the Champaran peasants took place in April 1917.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science History Chapter 3 Ruling the Countryside

Mahatma Gandhi wrote a letter to the District Magistrate of Champaran, wherein he showed his concern to give the peasants freedom from landlords and governmeant. Participation of the general peasantry and the ideology of non-violence gave strength to the peasants as well as to the movement. The Champarana movement which was led by Gandhi is described to be a success story in the history of peasant movements in India.

Question 9.
Look into the history of either tea and coffee plantations in India. See how the life of workers in these plantations was similar to or different from that of workers in indigo plantation
Answer:
Students may discuss with Class Teacher and attempt the answer.

Hope the data shared above regarding the NCERT Class 8 Social Science History Chapter 3 Ruling the Countryside PDF has aided in your exam preparation. If you ever need any assistance you can always reach us and our team will guide you at the soonest possibility.

error: Content is protected !!