What was the conseence of Permanent Settlement on rural society in Bengal?

The Permanent Settlement of 1793 in Bengal had profound consequences on rural society. While the British hoped zamindars would invest in land like British yeoman farmers, most zamindars faced exorbitantly high revenue demands and the 'Sun-set Law,' leading to frequent defaults and land auctions [2]. In this vacuum, a class of rich peasants known as jotedars consolidated their position in the villages. Unlike the absentee zamindars, jotedars lived in the villages, controlled local trade, and exercised direct influence over the poor cultivators [2]. The ryots did not prosper; instead, they were burdened by high rents and debt, often facing eviction by zamindars who were granted despotic powers to recover dues. Furthermore, the Company's attempt to supervise zamindars through the Collectorate did not fail to take off, but rather shifted the power dynamics within the rural hierarchy toward local influential groups like jotedars.

Sources

1. [2] https://www.lse.ac.uk/Economic-History/Assets/Documents/WorkingPapers/Economic-History/2023/WP355.pdf