What happened to the shifting cultivators?

Overview

The traditions and practices observed by the majority of tribal communities greatly contrasted with those prescribed by Brahmanical norms. Unlike caste-based societies, these communities did not adhere to caste divisions; instead, they identified themselves based on shared kinship ties within their tribes. However, despite this sense of kinship, social and economic disparities existed within tribal groups....

How Did Tribal Groups Live?

By the nineteenth century, tribal communities in India engaged in diverse activities....

Some were Jhum Cultivators

Certain tribal groups practiced Jhum cultivation, also known as shifting cultivation. This method involved cultivating small plots of land, where the tree canopy was cleared to allow sunlight to reach the ground, and vegetation was burned to prepare it for cultivation....

Some were hunters and gatherers

In various regions, tribal communities sustained themselves through hunting animals and gathering forest resources. For instance, the Khonds relied on collective hunting practices, distributing the meat among themselves....

Some herded animals

Animal husbandry was a prevalent occupation among many tribal groups, who herded and reared cattle or sheep, migrating with their herds based on seasonal changes....

Some took to settled cultivation

Even before the nineteenth century, some tribal communities began transitioning to settled cultivation. In the Chottanagpur region, for example, Mundas owned land collectively as a clan....

How Did Colonial Rule Affect Tribal Lives?

Under British colonial rule, significant changes occurred in the lives of tribal communities....

What happened to tribal chiefs?

Before the British era, tribal chiefs held considerable influence, wielding economic power and overseeing the administration and governance of their territories....

What happened to the shifting cultivators?

The British administration aimed to encourage tribal groups to adopt settled agricultural practices, as this facilitated easier control and governance of the population. To establish regular revenue streams for the state, the British introduced land settlements. This involved surveying and demarcating land, delineating individual land rights, and imposing revenue obligations on the state....

Forest laws and their impact

Changes in forest laws directly impacted tribal communities. Some forests were designated as Reserved Forests due to their timber resources, which the British coveted. Consequently, tribal access to these forests was restricted, posing a challenge in acquiring laborers for colonial endeavors....

The problem with trade

During the nineteenth century, an influx of traders and moneylenders into forested areas became prevalent. They sought to purchase forest products, offered monetary loans, and employed tribal groups for various tasks....

The search for work

Towards the late nineteenth century, the emergence of tea plantations and mining industries became notable. Tribal communities were heavily recruited to work in tea plantations in Assam and coal mines in Jharkhand....

A Closer Look

Tribal communities from various regions of the country revolted against the imposition of new laws, constraints on their traditional practices, the imposition of additional taxes, and the exploitation by traders and moneylenders....

Birsa Munda

Birsa was born in the mid-1870s, and as an adolescent, he heard tales of the Munda uprisings of the past and saw the sirdars (leaders) of the community urging the people to revolt. In the local missionary school, he heard that it was possible for the Mundas to attain the Kingdom of Heaven and regain their lost rights. Birsa also spent some time in the company of a prominent Vaishnav preacher....

History Notes Chapter 4 – Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age- FAQs

How did tribal communities sustain themselves in the nineteenth century?...