title: The agrarian crisis in India before independence: toward its solution
author: Mr Rajani Palme Dutt
description: Prominent British Marxist of the early 20th Century. Played significant role in establishing Communist Party of India before Independence.
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  # The Scoring of the Raja
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### W.A. Fraser
  
  
  This page copyright © 2001 Munsey's.
  
  
  http://www.munseys.com
  
  
  BURRAPARA was Raja of his own domain after a fashion. The domain of Burrapara
  was on the Madras side, two days steady steaming from Calcutta.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  His father, the old Raja, aided by a bull-necked Dewan (Prime Minister) had
  ground down the ryots (farmers) for tax-money until the whole Raj had become
  practically bankrupt.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Then the British Sirdar (Government) stepped in and platonically arranged
  things. That's the Sirdar's prerogative in India.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Under the new régime thirty-six lakhs a year flowed into the coffers, and the
  burden on the shoulders of the ryots was lighter than it had been in the
  memory of ten generations. The Raja was allowed twelve lakhs a year for
  himself and court, while the Sirdar took the other twenty-four for managing
  the country, and incidentals.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The Double X Hussars were 