Write an essay on the rise of the Jotedars.

While so many zamindars were facing a crisis in end of the 18th century (during the British East India Company), the group of rich peasants were consolidating their position in villages known as jotedars. In the report of survey conducted by Francis Buchanan we come to know about the Dinazpur District of North Bengal. In this report we get a detailed description of jotedars.

Position as a landholder : By the early 19th century the rich class peasants or jotedars had acquired vastarea of land sometimes as much as several thousand acres.

As a trader and moneylender : The position of the jotedars should not big estimated only by huge areas of the land. They had establish their control on local trade as well as money lending business. They use to exercise immense power over the poorer cultivators of the region.

A large part of land of the jotedars was cultivated through share-croppers (they were called adhiars or bargadars) who brought their own plough, laboured in the field and handed over half the produce to jotedars after harvest.

Comparison between Jotedars and zamindars:

(i) Within the villages, the power of new class of rich peasants or jotedars was more effective than that of traditional zamindars. Unlike zamindar who generally live to reside in city, jotedars were located in the small villages but they exercise direct control over a considerable section of poor villagers.

(ii) The jotedars seriously resisted efforts by zamindars to increase the jama of the village, prevented to zamindar’s official from executing their duty.

(iii) The jotedar mobilized ryots (of the villages) who were dependent on them. They (jotedars) deliberately delay payment of revenue to the zamindar.

(iv) Whenever the land estates of the zamindars were auctioned by the British East India Company for failure to make revenue payment, jotedars came generally among the purchasers.

Powers of the Jotedars : (i) The jotedars were very powerful particular in north Bengal. Although rich peasants and village headmen were emerging on commanding figure in the countryside in other parts of Bengal as well. In some places they were called haoladars, elsewhere they were known as gantidars or mandals. Their rise certainly weekened the authority of zamindars.

(ii) Landlords do not like the rich peasant class or jotedars, but it is evident from the description given by Francis Buchanan that they were absolutely necessary, unless the landlords themselves would advance money to their tenantry.

(iii) The jotedars who cultivate large portions of land are very refractory, and know that zamindars have no power over them. They pay only a few rupees on account of their revenue and then full in balance almost every kist (instalment), they hold more land than they are entitled to by their kottahs (deeds of contract).