Social Science

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(History)(Chapter -4) (Tribals, Dlkus and the Vision of a Golden Age)
(Class-
Exercises
Let'o recalt
Question 1:
Fill in the lanks:

(a) The British described the tribal people as .

(6) The method of sowing seeds in jhum cultivation is known as

(c) The tribal chiets got- titles in central India under the British land settlements.
d) Tribals went to work in the of Assam and the Bihar.

Answerl:
a) The British described the tribal people as uncivilized.
(6) The method of sowing seeds in jhum cultivation is known as shifting cultivation.
(c) The tribal chiefs got Sirdar's (leaders) titles in central lIndia under the British land settlements.
(d)' Tribals went to work in the tea gardens of Assam and the Indigo plantations in Bihar.

Question 2:
State whether true or false:
(a) Jhum cultivators plough the land and sow seeds.
(b) Cocoons were bought from the Santhals and sold by the traders at five times the purchase price.
his tollowers to purity themselves, give drinking liquor and stop believing in
cwitchcraft
Birsa urged
and sorcery.
up

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

A n s w e r 2:
(a) Ihum cultivators plough the land and sow seeds. False
(b) Cocoons were bought from the Santhals and sold by the traders at five times the purchase price.
True
(c) Birsa urged his followers to purity themselves, give up drinking liquor and stop believing in
witchcraft and sorcery. True
(d) The British wanted to preserve the tribal way of life. False

Let's diseuss
Question.
What problems did shifting cultivators face under British rue
Answer 3:
The shifting cultivators were forced to take up settled cultivatlon. But type of land and shortage of
water meant they could not produce enough. Many of them had to move on to other areas in search
of work when access to the forest was resticted.

Question 4:
How did the powers of tribal chiefs change under colonial rule?
EAnswer 4:
The functions and powers of the tribal chiefs changed considerably under the British rule. They lost
much of their administrative power. They were forced to follow the laws made by the British. They
had to pay tribute to the British. They were expected to discipline their people on behalf of the British
government. However, they were allowed to keep thelr land titles over a cluster of villages and could
rent out lands. Thus, the authority of the tribal chiefs significantly reduced under the colonial rule.

A Fre veb suppart bn Education

 Social Science
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(History)(Chapter - 4) (Tribals, Dlkus and the Vision of a Golden Age)
(Class- B)
Question 5
What accounts for the anger of the Tribals against the Dikus?
&.AnSwer >;

Interaction with merchants and traders usually meant debt and poverty for the tribal. Hence,
moneylenders and traders were seen as evil outsiders. They were seen as the cause of the misery of
tribal people. The moneylenders and any other outsider were called the Dikus.

Question 6:

What was Birsa's vision of a golden age? Why do you think such a vision appealed to the people of
the region?
AnSwer 6:
The tribal Sirdars talked of a golden age. This was an age when the Mundas had been free from the
oppression of Dikus (enemies). They visualized of a time when the ancestral right of the community
would be restored.
Everyone wants a freedom from oppression and most of the people want the pride of their
community. The vision of a golden age was like a dream for the tribal people. Hence, this vision
appealed to the people of the reglon.

Aet's do
Question 7:
Find out from your parents, friends or teachers, the names of some heroes of other tribal revolts in
the twentiethcentury. Write their story in your own words.
E. Answer 7:
Do yourself
IW ARI
Question 8:
Choose any tribal group living in India today. Find out about thelr customs and way of life, and hOw
their lives have changed in the last s0 years.
&.Answer 8:
The Santhal Rebellion: They are migrated from Birbhun, Hazaribagh, Bankura and Rohatas to settle
in Jharkhand. They considered themselves to be the owners of the land, on which they are living
Some of moneylenders also made their presence feel. On the June 30, 1855, Santhals declared
themselves free and took oath under the leadership of Sindhu Murmu and Kanhu Murmu to fight
unto the last against the British rulers as well as their agents.

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