The Great Agrarian Conquest: The Colonial Reshaping of a Rural World

The Great Agrarian Conquest: The Colonial Reshaping of a Rural World
Author: Neeladri Bhattacharya

Introduction

The Great Agrarian Conquest by Neeladri Bhattacharya is a groundbreaking study of how colonial rule transformed rural India. Through extensive research and historical analysis, the book explores how British colonial policies reshaped land, labor, and agrarian relations, fundamentally altering India's rural landscape. Bhattacharya challenges conventional narratives, illustrating how colonialism imposed new legal and administrative structures that redefined property rights, peasant identity, and agrarian economy.

Key Points

1. Colonial Reordering of Land and Property

• Examines how the British introduced new land revenue systems, altering traditional land ownership.
• Explores the consequences of permanent settlements and zamindari systems on rural society.

2. Transformation of Peasant Identity

• Analyzes how colonial legal frameworks redefined peasants as tenants rather than traditional landholders.
• Discusses the social and economic impact of these changes on rural communities.

3. The Role of Law and Bureaucracy

• Highlights how legal mechanisms were used to consolidate colonial control over agrarian society.
• Explains the significance of records, surveys, and revenue collection in restructuring rural India.

4. Agrarian Protests and Resistance

• Investigates peasant uprisings and local resistance movements against exploitative colonial policies.
• Examines how rural communities navigated and contested new land regulations.

5. Long-Term Impact on Indian Agriculture

• Discusses how colonial policies laid the foundation for agrarian crises and inequalities that persist today.
• Analyzes the economic and social legacies of colonial land policies in post-independence India.

Why Read This Book?

• Provides an in-depth historical analysis of colonial land policies and their lasting impact.
• Challenges traditional perspectives on British rule and its effects on rural India.
• Essential for students, historians, and scholars interested in agrarian history and colonial studies.
• Offers a nuanced perspective on how colonialism shaped modern Indian society.

Conclusion

The Great Agrarian Conquest is a crucial work for understanding the deep-seated changes in India's rural economy and society under British rule. Neeladri Bhattacharya's meticulous research and compelling arguments provide readers with a fresh perspective on colonial agrarian transformations and their enduring consequences.