(ii) Why did labourers have harsh working conditions?

Question

1.Read the passage given and answer the questions: The harsh working conditions suffered by laboureres in Aghanbigha were an outcome of the combined effect ofthe economic power of the maliks as a class and their overwhelming power as members of a dominant caste. A significant aspect of the social power of the maliks was their ability to secure the intervention of various arms of the state to advance their interests. Thus, political factors decissively contributed to widening the gulf between the dominant class and the underclass.

(i) Why do you think the maliks were able to use the power of the state to advance their own interests? 

(ii) Why did labourers have harsh working conditions?

Answer 1

(i) (a) The maliks being dominant caste were very powerful politically, economically and socially.

(b) Because of power they were able to use the power of state for their vested interests.

(c) They were successfully able to secure the intervention of various arms of the state for their own benefit.

(ii) The labour have been working under harsh conditions because being dalits, they were not allowed to own land and compelled to work in the lands of dominant caste people as a labourer.