Why were many zamindaris auctioned after the Permanent Settlement?
Many zamindaris were auctioned after the Permanent Settlement due to several reasons.
First, the revenue demand was fixed at a very high level. British officials argued that the burden on zamindars would gradually decline as agricultural production expanded and prices rose. However, this proved unrealistic.
Second, this high demand was imposed in the 1790s, a time when the prices of agricultural produce were depressed. This made it difficult for ryots to pay their dues to the zamindar. If the zamindar could not collect the rent, he could not pay the Company.
Third, the revenue was invariable, regardless of the harvest, and had to be paid punctually. According to the Sunset Law, if payment did not come by sunset of the specified date, the zamindari was liable to be auctioned.
Fourth, the Permanent Settlement initially limited the power of the zamindar to collect rent from the ryot and manage his zamindari. This made it harder for zamindars to ensure payment from cultivators.
As a result, over 75 per cent of the zamindaris changed hands after the Permanent Settlement, as zamindars failed to meet the rigid revenue demands.
Explanation
The answer draws directly from the textbook context which explains the four main reasons for zamindari auctions: high fixed revenue demand, depressed agricultural prices in the 1790s, inflexible revenue collection under the Sunset Law, and limited powers of zamindars to collect rent. The statistic of 75% zamindaris changing hands is explicitly mentioned in the text.