Abstract:
This research investigates the impact of British colonial plantation expansion on the
rural economy of the southern province. It examines the role of European
entrepreneurs and local leaders, in large-scale plantation activities and their effects
on the economy. The study employs a comprehensive methodology, utilizing primary
sources such as government documents, including Kachcheri (District Secretariat)
records, diaries of government agents, administrative reports, and departmental
documents. Additionally, data from the Department of Census and Statistics, blue
books, and Constituent Assembly debates are incorporated. The findings
demonstrate substantial improvements in paddy cultivation by 1948, attributed to
local representation in the State Council. Paddy cultivation remained intricately
linked to the livelihoods of farmers and labours, with labours who had been working
on estate plantations during the day and engaging in field work on their own lands
afterward. This mutually beneficial relationship facilitated a smooth continuation of
paddy cultivation. Furthermore, estate workers played a vital role in advancing small-scale tea and rubber plantations in rural areas by sharing their expertise with
local planters. The collaboration improved estate workers' living conditions,
increased villagers' income through commercial crop cultivation, and highlighted
the positive impact of British-era plantation expansion on the rural economy.
