After 1857, every uprising,large or small was swiftly crushed by the British. The freedom movement was all but extinguished as no one dared to raise their heads. These were times when most of India had come to accept that the British would rule for another 100 years. The British, adopting a dual policy, protected the Rajahs territories from each other, and administered law and order. In exchange, they collected a tax which was paid by every farmer in the country. The submission of a portion of the farmers' harvested crop in the form of agricultural tax to the ruler was known as LAGAAN. LAGAAN... a story of extraordinary circumstances thrust upon ordinary people.