Correct Option
The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
The Jotedars were a class of wealthy peasants that emerged as a powerful force in rural Bengal during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, particularly following the implementation of the Permanent Settlement (1793). While the British administration relied on Zamindars for revenue collection, the actual power within the villages often shifted to these rich peasants.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: Jotedars were rich peasants who had acquired vast areas of land (sometimes thousands of acres). They controlled local trade and moneylending, exercising immense power over the poorer cultivators (sharecroppers or bargadars) in their region.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: A key distinction in the agrarian structure of Bengal was that Zamindars often lived in urban areas (absentee landlordism), whereas Jotedars lived in the villages. Living directly among the villagers allowed Jotedars to maintain direct control and influence over the peasantry, unlike the distant Zamindars.
- Statement 3 is Correct: Jotedars were fierce competitors of the Zamindars. They often resisted the Zamindars' efforts to increase the jama (revenue demand) of the village, prevented Zamindari officials from collecting rent, and mobilized the ryots against the Zamindars. When Zamindari estates were auctioned for failure to pay revenue, Jotedars were often among the purchasers.
Key Takeaway
Jotedars (also known as haoladars, gantidars, or mandals) were village-based wealthy peasants who eroded the power of the urban-based Zamindars by controlling the local agrarian economy and mobilizing the peasantry against Zamindari authority.