Change And Development In Rural Society

Question
CBSEENSO12044671

Read the passage given and answer the questions:

The harsh working conditions suffered by labourers in Aghanbigha were an outcome of the combined effect of the economic power of the maliks as a class and their overwhelming power as members of a dominant caste. A significant aspect of the social power of the maliks was their ability to secure the intervention of various arms of the state to advance their interests. Thus, political factors decisively contributed to widening the gap between the dominant class and the underclass.

A.

Why do you think the maliks were able to use the power of the state to advance their own interests?

B.

Why did labourers have harsh working conditions?

Solution

A.

The maliks were related with the dominant caste of the society. We know the dominant caste is the most powerful group economically and politically. They dominate local society. Due to their economic, political and social influence the maliks were able to use the power of the state to advance their own interests. An important aspect of their social power of the maliks was their capability to secure the intervention of various arms of the state to advance their interests.

B.

(a) The labourers belonged to lower or Dalit castes of the society. They were not allowed to own land and they provided most of the agricultural labour for the dominant landowning groups.

(b) Until recently, practices such as begar or free labour were prevalent in many parts of northern India. Members of low ranked caste groups had to provide labour for a fixed number of days per year to the village Zamindar or landhood.

(c) Similarly, lack of resources and dependence on the landed class for economic, social and political support, meant that many of the working poor were tied to landowners in ‘hereditary’ labour relationships. Although such practices have been abolished legally, they continue to exist in many areas.

(d) Generally, wealthy farmers and industialists prefer to employ migrant workers for harvesting and other agricultural works or jobs in the factories, rather than the local working class, because migrants are more easily exploited and can be paid lower wages. Migration and lack of job security create very poor working and living conditions for workers or labourers.

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