Explain how the deeds and bonds appeared as symbols of the new oppressive system under colonialism in India.

Deeds and bonds appeared as symbols of the new oppressive system. In the past such deeds had been rare. The British however, were suspicious of transactions based on informal understanding, as was common in past. The terms of transactions, they believed, had to be clearly, unambiguously and categorically stated in contracts, deeds and bonds, and regulated by law. Unless the deed or contract was legally enforceable, it had no value.

Overtime, peasants came to associate the misery of their lives with the new regime of bonds and deeds. They were made to sign and put thumb impression on documents, but they did not know what they were actually signing. They had no idea of the clauses that moneylenders inserted in the bonds. They feared the written word. But they had no choice because to survive they needed loans and moneylenders were unwilling to give loans without legal bonds.