১৮৮৫ সালের বঙ্গীয় প্রজাস্বত্ব আইন: একটি ঐতিহাসিক
পর্যালোচনা

মো. মহিউদ্দিন
এম.এ. (২০২০), ইতিহাস বিভাগ, ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়

Abstract: Agriculture and Peasants are an integral part of the history of Bengal. Since ancient times the economy of Bengal was directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture. Agriculture was the mainstay of the economy during colonial rule. The Raiyats and Zamindars were intimately involved in the land system. The colonial British government carried out various experiments and reviews on agriculture to generate revenue. The colonial government made several laws especially regarding the land of Bengal. The Bengal Tenancy Act of 1885 was one of the prime Acts which was introduced by the British government. The Act of 1885 included several unprecedented rights for the peasants (such as land record forms, receipts of rent collection, termination of peasant oppression, etc.). This Act had far-reaching consequences in the Indian subcontinent during colonial rule. It was a milestone in the economic history of colonial Bengal for the interests of both the zamindars and the raiyats. Although the Bengal Tenancy Act of 1885 has been discussed sporadically, there is little extensive research work about it. This essay attempts to discuss the historical background of the Act of 1885, its provisions, its importance and impact on the society and economy of the time.

Key Words: Peasants, Zamindars, Receipts, Record of Rights.