Q. Consider the following:- Assessment of land revenue on the basis of nature of the soil and the quality of crops
- Use of mobile cannons in warfare
- Cultivation of tobacco and red chillies
Which of the above was/were introduced into India by the English? (UPSC Prelims 2012)
Answer:
None
Notes: The correct answer is
[D] None.None of the elements mentioned in the list were introduced to India by the English. Each of them was either an indigenous development or introduced by other foreign powers much earlier.
1. Assessment of Land Revenue- Origin: This was an indigenous development, most notably refined by Sher Shah Suri and later perfected by Raja Todar Mal under the Mughal Emperor Akbar (the Zabt or Dahsala system).
- Mechanism: The Mughals classified land into four categories (Polaj, Parauti, Chachar, Banjar) based on continuity of cultivation and assessed revenue based on a 10-year average of soil fertility and crop prices. While the British later adopted similar surveys for their Ryotwari and Mahalwari systems, the fundamental concept was already centuries old.
2. Mobile Cannons in Warfare- Origin: Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, is credited with introducing and effectively using mobile artillery (cannons) in India.
- Key Event: During the First Battle of Panipat (1526), Babur's use of cannons and matchlock guns (under the guidance of Ottoman experts like Ustad Ali Quli) was a decisive factor in defeating the numerically superior army of Ibrahim Lodi. This occurred nearly a century before the English East India Company established its first factory in Surat (1613).
3. Tobacco and Red Chillies- Origin: These were introduced to India by the Portuguese in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
- The "Columbian Exchange": Both crops are native to the Americas. Portuguese traders brought them to their Indian colonies (like Goa) alongside other staples like potatoes, tomatoes, maize, and cashew nuts.
- Adoption: Tobacco became so popular in the Mughal court that Emperor Jahangir reportedly had to issue a (largely unsuccessful) decree against its use due to its addictive nature.
Summary of Contributions:| Feature | Introduced By | Period |
| Scientific Land Assessment | Sher Shah Suri / Akbar | 16th Century |
| Mobile Cannons | Babur (Mughals) | 1526 |
| Tobacco & Red Chillies | Portuguese | Late 16th/Early 17th Century |
| Printing Press | Portuguese | 1556 |
| Railway & Telegraph | English (British) | 1853 |