NCERT Solutions Class 8 Social Science Chapter 4 Tribals Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age

Let’s recall

1. Fill in the blanks:

(a) The British described the tribal people as wild and savage.

(b) The method of sowing seeds in jhum cultivation is known as broadcasting or scattering.

(c) The tribal chiefs got land titles in central India under the British land settlements.

(d) Tribals went to work in the tea plantations of Assam and the coal mines in Bihar.

2. State whether true or false:

(b) Cocoons were bought from the Santhals and sold by the traders at five times the purchase price.

(c) Birsa urged his followers to purify themselves, give up drinking liquor and stop believing in witchcraft and sorcery.

(d) The British wanted to preserve the tribal way of life.

Answer:

(a) False

(b) True

(c) True

(d) False

Let’s discuss

3. What problems did shifting cultivators face under British rule?

Answer:

(i)The British were uncomfortable with the shifting cultivators who moved about and did not have a fixed home.

(iii)Settled peasants could be controlled easier than people who were always on the move.

(iv) From the settled peasants, the British also could collect regular revenue for the state.

(v)So they introduced land settlements. They measured the land, defined the rights of each individual to that land, and fixed the revenue demand for the state.

(vi) Some peasants were declared landowners; others were tenants who paid rent to the landowner who in turn paid revenue to the state.

4. How did the powers of tribal chiefs change under colonial rule?

Answer:

(i)Before the establishment of the British rule in India, the tribal chiefs enjoyed a certain amount of economic power and had the right to administer and control their territories.

(ii) They had their own police and decided on the local rules of land and forest management.

(iii)Under the British rule, the functions and powers of the tribal chiefs changed significantly.

(v)The tribal chiefs were forced to pay tribute to the British.

(vi)Since they lost the authority, they had earlier enjoyed amongst their people, the tribal chiefs were unable to fulfil their traditional functions.

5. What accounts for the anger of the tribals against the dikus?

Answer:

(i)There were innumerable reasons for anger of the tribals against the dikus.

(ii)The word “dikus” means “outsiders” or who come from outside like – moneylenders, traders, zamindars, contractors, British, etc.

(iii) These outsiders came to forests to sell their goods and buy forest produce. They offered cash loans with high interests to the tribal communities.

(iv)The traders bought forest produce from the tribes at low price and sold it in the market for higher price.