Question

Who wrote a petition to the Collector of Ahmednagar, Deccan Riots Commission, from the village of Mirajgaon?

• A. Sahukars
• B. Zamindars
• C. Talugdars
• D. Ryots

Hint:

Remember ryot as a cultivator or peasant in colonial administrative terminology.
The Deccan Riots were strongly associated with peasant indebtedness and conflict with moneylenders.
When a question asks about cultivators in colonial records, ryots is often the key term to identify.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Concept:
The Deccan Riots of 1875 were closely connected with the difficulties faced by cultivators under the colonial revenue system and their relationships with moneylenders.
The Deccan Riots Commission collected evidence from different groups, including the cultivators whose experiences formed an important part of the inquiry.

Step 1: Understanding the Deccan Riots:
The Deccan countryside experienced considerable agrarian distress during the nineteenth century.
Cultivators faced revenue demands, fluctuating agricultural conditions, and growing dependence on moneylenders.
Debt could lead to the transfer of land and property from cultivators to creditors.

Step 2: Identifying the Term Ryot:
The word “ryot” was commonly used in colonial India for a cultivator or peasant.
Ryots were directly affected by agricultural revenue demands and credit relationships with sahukars.
Consequently, their testimony was important for understanding the causes of the Deccan disturbances.

Step 3: Evaluating the Other Options:
Sahukars were moneylenders who provided credit to cultivators and were frequently the targets of peasant hostility during the Deccan Riots.
Zamindars were revenue intermediaries or landholders in particular systems of land revenue administration.
Talugdars were large landholders or revenue intermediaries associated especially with regions such as Awadh.
None of these terms describes the cultivators who submitted the petition referred to in the question.

Step 4: Final Answer:
The petition from Mirajgaon to the Collector and the Deccan Riots Commission was written by ryots, representing the cultivator population whose grievances were central to the inquiry.
Final Answer:
Therefore, the correct answer is (D) Ryots.