Study the picture and answer the following questions:

(a) What is depicted in the given picture?

(b) How did the British change the living conditions of those depicted in the picture?

(c) What was the impact of these changes on the Indian economy?

(a) The Picture depicts Impoverished Peasants.

(b) As a result of the revenue systems introduced by the British the peasants became poor. They became tenants from owners of the land. The landlords exploited and tortured the peasants. The revenue fixed was very high and the collectors were harsh. They were forced to pay revenues even if the crops failed for which they depended on money lenders who further exploited them. Thus we can say that the British worsened the living conditions of peasants.

(c) Following were the impacts of these changes on the Indian economy:

1. It led to the exploitation of artisans and weavers and finally the decline of Indian handicrafts and cottage industries.
2. A new class of landlords was created who exploited peasants and were loyal to the British.
3. The peasants became poor and remained at the mercy of the landlords who exploited them.
4. The main aim of the British was to extract more revenue and transfer India's wealth to England. The British made the Indian economy subservient to their interests.
5. Land became a saleable property. It could be mortgaged. Due to this the entire structure of rural society began to break up.