Read the following excerpts and answer the questions that follow:

On that day in Supa

On 16 May 1857, the District Magistrate of Poona wrote to the Police Commissioner : On arrival at Supa on Saturday 15 May I learnt of the disturbance. One house of a moneylender was burnt down; about a dozen were forcibly broken into and completely gutted of their content. Account papers, bonds, grains, country cloth were burnt in the street where heaps of ashes are still to be seen. The chief constable apprehended 50 persons. Stolen property worth Rs.2,000 was recovered. The estimated loss is over Rs. 25,000. Moneylenders claim it is over Rs. 1 lakh. Questions:

(i) What had happened to the house of the moneylender on 15 May, 1857?

(ii) Describe the pattern that was seen in places where this revolt spread.

(iii) How did the British react?

(iv) Why did the Ryotwari system in the Deccan lead to revolts?

(i) On 15 May, 1857 one house of a money-lander was burnt down; about a dozen were forcibly broken into and completely gutted of their content. Account papers, bonds, grains, country cloth were burnt in the street where heaps of ashes are still to be seen.

(ii) (a) Due to Ryotwari system on Saturday

15 May 1875 in Supa several houses of moneylenders were burnt or forcibly broken completely.

(b) Account papers of moneylenders, bonds signed by the farmers, heaps of grains, country cloth were burnt in the streets of Supa. The heaps of ashes could be seen for several days.

(iii) The British reacted immediately after receiving a written report from the

District Magistrate of Poona. The Police Commissioner despatched the force.

(iv) The Ryotwari system led to revolts due to following reasons :

(a) The first new revenue settlement after the Permanent Settlement of Bengal was made in Bombay Deccan in the 1820s. The revenue that was demanding by the English was very high. Due to pressure of high demand of revenue at many places poor peasants deserted their native villages. They migrated to new area. In these regions of poor soil and fluctuating rainfall the problem was particularly acute.

(b) When rains failed and harvest were poor they found it not to possible to pay the revenue to the Company. They were forced to take loan from local moneylenders, traders or sahukars.

(c) The Company use to sent its own representative for the collection of revenue dues. These collectors incharge of revenue collection were keen on demonstrating and pleasing their superiors. So they went about extracting payment with utmost severity. 2. What taluqdars thought ? The attitude of the taluqdars was best expressed by Hanwant Singh, the Raja of Kalakankar, near Rae Bareli. During the mutiny, Hanwant Singh had given shelter to a British officer and conveyed him to safety. While taking leave of the officer, Hanwant Singh told him : Sahib, your countrymen came into this country and drove out our King. You sent your officers round the districts to examine the titles to the estates. At one blow you took from me lands which from time immemorial had been in my family. I submitted. Suddenly misfortune fell upon you. The people of the land rose against you. You came to me whom you had despoiled. I have saved you. But now – now I march at the head of my retainers to Lucknow to try and drive you from the country. (C.B.S.E. 2008 Foreign)