Easy Facts & Personalities
Social and Economic Classes in Rural India
Master Social and Economic Classes in Rural India using diverse variant formats.
Quick Recall
Referencing the Upscools study modules, Gantidars were very rich farmers living in Bengal during the 19th century. They owned large amounts of land and gave out cash loans to poor people. Because they stayed in the villages, they had much more real power than the official Zamindars.
Concept Flow Mapping
Gantidars
controlled
controlled
local markets
Zamindars
lived in
lived in
urban areas
Gantidars
engaged in
engaged in
money lending
Concept Question
Why did Gantidars have more power than Zamindars in the villages?
Key Takeaway
Gantidars lived in the villages and controlled the local money lending, while Zamindars lived in cities.
Examiner's Trap
[object Object]
Core Insight
Having official titles did not matter as much as having direct control over the daily money and food in the village.