J.S. Mill and the Indian land question: From the political economy of small proprietorship to the support of ryots and British Imperialism?

This article examines John Stuart Mill's political economy with a focus on his views regarding Indian land tenure and British imperialism, highlighting the connection between his support for small proprietorships and his concept of "tolerant imperialism." Mill, an Examiner of the East India Company, defended British rule in India as a means to promote material and moral improvement while emphasizing the importance of respecting Indian customs, traditions, and institutions, particularly through the ryotwari system that secured land rights for small cultivators (ryots). His approach diverged from classical Ricardian economics by advocating for the relativity of economic doctrines based on historical and cultural contexts, and his tolerant imperialism sought to balance colonial governance with deference to indigenous social norms rather than imposing Western institutions. The article argues that Mill's political economy of small proprietorships is integral to understanding his imperial thought and offers insight into the evolution of British colonial policy and modern Indian society.