Why did Zamindars of Bengal fail to pay regular revenue to the company during 18th century ? How did this enhance the power of Jotedars? Explain.
The reasons for this failure were various:
(i) The initial demands were very high, this was because it was felt that if the demand was fixed for all time to come.
(ii) The high demand was imposed in the 1790s, a time when the prices of agricultural produce were depressed.
(iii) The revenue was invariable, regardless of the harvest, and had to be paid punctually.
(iv)The Permanent Settlement initially limited the power of Zamindar to collect rent from the ryot and manage his Zamindari.
The rise of the Jotedars:
(i) Jotedars had acquired vast ares of land-sometimes as much as several thousands acres. They controlled local trade as well as as moneylending, exercising immense power over the poorer cultivators of the region.
(ii) Unlike Zamindars, Jotedars were located in the villages and exercised direct control over a considerable section of poor villagers.
(iii) In fact, when the estates of the zamindrs were auctioned for failure to make revenue payments, jotedars were often amongst the purchasers.
(iv) They fiercely resisted efforts by zamindars to increase the jama of the village, prevented zamindari officials from executing their duties.
