What was the thinking of British behind the removal of taluqdars in Awadh? Upto what extent, this thinking was correct?
British land revenue officials thought that if they could remove taluqdars then they could give land to their actual owners. It will reduce the level of exploitation of peasants and it will increase the revenue returns for the state. But actually this did not happen. There was a definite increase of revenue return for the state but the burden of demand on peasants remained the same. Officials soon came to know that most of the areas of Awadh were actually heavily overassessed. At some places the increase of revenue demanded was from 30% to 70%. That’s why neither taluqdars and nor peasants were happy. The result of dispossession of taluqdars was the breakdown of whole of the social order. The ties of loyalty and patronage were disrupted which had bounded the peasants to the taluqdars.
