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GS History Modern India
Q.

With reference to Deccan Riots in the late 19th century, consider the following statements:

1. It was mainly directed against the Britisher's oprressive land revenue policies.

2. The civil courts gave the ruling in favour of the peasants which led to the appointment of Deccan Riots Commission.

3. The Agriculturists Relief Act of 1879 was passed to provide relief to the Deccan peasants.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Explanation:
  • The Deccan Riots of 1875 targeted conditions of debt peonage (kamiuti) to moneylenders. The sole purpose of the rioters was to obtain and destroy the bonds, decrees, and other documents in the possession of the moneylenders. The Deccan peasants mainly directed their revolt to the excesses of the Marwari and the Gujarat moneylenders. (Hence, Statement 1 is incorrect).
  • The Deccan riot was the upshot of a number of adverse circumstances. The excessive government land revenue, slump in the international cotton prices at the end of the American Civil War etc made the economic condition of the Deccan peasants extremely miserable. They were immersed in enormous debts. The greedy Marwari and the Gujarat moneylenders adept in the art of manipulation drew unjust tax and money from the peasants. The peasants being illiterate unknowingly signed the bond without having a proper knowledge of what is there in the bond. The civil courts invariably gave verdicts in favor of the exorbitant moneylenders.
  • Initially the movement was peaceful with peasants resorting to social boycott of outside moneylenders. Later the movement turned into riots and the peasants attacked moneylender houses and shops. The peasant uprising spread to most of the Taluks of the Ahmednagar district.The Government of India put the Police assisted by the military into action in order to put an end to the revolt. By June 1875 nearly a thousand peasants were arrested and the uprising was completely suppressed.
  • Finally the Government of India appointed the Deccan Riots Commission to investigate into the causes of the uprising. (Hence, Statement 2 is incorrect)
  • The Agriculturists Relief Act of 1879 passed several measures for the betterment of the Deccan peasants. The Act put restrictions on the alienation of the peasants land and imposed some restrictions on the Civil Procedure Code. As a result the Peasant could not be arrested and sent to the civil debtors jail owing to the failure of paying debts. (Hence, Statement 3 is correct).

Thus, Option C is Correct

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