The condition of peasants of Awadh deteriorated with the removal of taluqdars.” Elucidate the statement.
Taluqdars were oppressors even in the pre- British times but a number of taluqdars also appeared to be generous father figures in the eyes of masses. They used to extract a number of dues from the peasants but also helped them during their bad times. Now during the British rule, the peasants were directly exposed to the over-assessment of revenue and non-flexible methods of revenue collection. There was no guarantee that the revenue demand of the state would be reduced or collection postponed in case of crop failure or in the times of hardship. Peasants also had no guarantee that they would get the loan and support in times of festivities which the taluqdars had earlier provided.
