Raja of Burdwan
Also called: Burdwan raj · Topic: Colonial Economy: Land Revenue, Drain, Deindustrialisation · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 1 "Colonialism and the Countryside"
Meaning
The Raja of Burdwan was the head of one of the biggest zamindaris (landed estates) in Bengal. Under the Permanent Settlement of 1793, he became a zamindar. This meant he collected rent from the ryots for the Company. He did not own the land. When he failed to pay the fixed revenue, his estates were put up for auction. His story shows how zamindars got around the Company's rules.
Example
At the Burdwan auction of 1797, the Raja's estates were sold in public. However, more than 95% of the sale was fictitious, meaning it was fake. The buyers were the Raja's own servants and agents. Between 1793 and 1801, Burdwan and three other big zamindaris made benami purchases worth Rs 30 lakh. Benami means buying property in someone else's name.
Don't confuse with
- Jotedar: a rich peasant who lived in the village and held land there. The Raja of Burdwan was a big zamindar who controlled an estate covering many villages.