Understanding Condition of Agriculture in Bihar during the Early British Rule,1765-1833

Abstract

Modern Bihar, before the creation of Jharkhand, was mainly composed of three major regions – The North Bihar plains, the South Bihar plains and the Chotanagpur Plateau which is largely a hilly area. This study mainly aims at looking into the ruin and revival of agriculture in Bihar during the Early British Rule and mainly confined to the period from 1765 when the English assumed the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa and the year 1833 when the commercial activities of the British East India Company came to an end and made it a purely administrative body.

The big loss of population in the famine of 1770 had devastating effects on the agriculture of Bihar.As years passed there began a gradual revival of agriculture and cultivation in the province.The peculiar conditions, namely, the disastrous effects of the famine coupled with the recurring problem of incursions by the hill tribes compelled the Company administration to create an extraordinary institution called the Invalid Estate.The recovery of agriculture and extension of cultivation has been ascribed to the Permanent Settlement by many. It is, however, highly doubtful if the settlement by itself contributed to the recovery.