Concept:The Permanent Settlement of 1793 changed the power structure in Bengal by creating loyal zamindars, but local power shifted to jotedars, and sharecropping systems like adhiyars and bargadars existed. The Company did not pass any specific law protecting women’s property.
Explanation:Statement 1 is correct. The British disbanded the private armies of zamindars to prevent rebellion and centralise military control.
Statement 2 is correct. Within villages, jotedars (rich peasants) had more effective day-to-day power than zamindars because they controlled local resources and agricultural production.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The Permanent Settlement focused solely on revenue collection. No rule was made by the East India Company to exempt women’s property from takeover; gender-related property rights were governed by traditional customs and personal laws.
Statement 4 is correct. Adhiyars were sharecroppers who cultivated land owned by bargadars (landowners), giving a share of the produce to them.
Thus, the correct statements are 1, 2, and 4.
Answer:A. 1, 2 and 4