Test: Tribes, Nomads & Settled Communities - UPSC MCQ

As the rise and fall of various kingdoms was happening, there were changes in the economic, political and social scenario over the centuries. But the changes in the social aspects were not the same everywhere. This is because different societies evolved differently. And already the society was divided according to the rules of Varna in large parts of the subcontinent. These rules were prescribed by the Brahamanas and accepted by the rulers of large kingdoms. The gap between the high and low, and rich and poor, widened. Hence, the hierarchy between social classes grew further under the Delhi Sultans and the Mughals.

The main occupation of the tribal people was agriculture but apart from that, there were also hunter-gatherers and herders. They combined these activities to make full use of the natural resources of the area in which they lived.

Weaving was not one of the occupations which the tribals followed to obtain their livelihood. 

Tribal people were found in almost every region of the subcontinent. Many large tribes thrived in different parts of the subcontinent. They usually lived in forests, hills, deserts and places difficult to reach. Sometimes they clashed with the more powerful caste-based societies. In various ways, the tribes retained their freedom and preserved their separate culture. But the caste-based and tribal societies also depended on each other for their diverse needs. This relationship, of conflict and dependence, gradually caused both societies to change.

Khokhar tribes were in:
The Khokhar tribes were primarily located in Punjab.
Explanation:
- The Khokhar tribe is a prominent Rajput tribe in Punjab, Pakistan.
- They are believed to have migrated from Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent during the 12th century.
- The Khokhars are known for their warrior heritage and have played a significant role in the history of Punjab.
- They have a strong presence in the districts of Jhelum, Chakwal, Rawalpindi, and Attock in Punjab, Pakistan.
- The Khokhar tribe has also spread to other parts of Pakistan, including Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- In addition to Pakistan, Khokhar communities can also be found in India, particularly in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
- The Khokhars have maintained a distinct cultural identity and are known for their agricultural practices and livestock rearing.
- They have a rich oral tradition, with stories and legends passed down through generations.
- The Khokhar tribe has contributed significantly to the social, political, and cultural fabric of Punjab and continues to hold a prominent position in the region.

Tribal organisations were divided into many smaller clans under different chiefs. Tribal organisations are often based on kinship or clan loyalties.

A clan is a group of families or households claiming descent from a common ancestor. These types of social groups create a sense of belonging to and with one another based upon claims that manifest into a form of active solidarity with and between clan members.

Man Singh (Man Singh I) (21 December 1550 – 6 July 1614) was the Rajput Raja of Amer, a state later known as Jaipur in Rajputana. He was a trusted general of the Mughal emperor Akbar, who included him among the Navaratnas, or the nine (nava) gems (ratna) of the royal court.

Santals and Mundas lived in present-day Orissa and Bengal.

The large tribe of Bhils was spread across western and central India. By the late sixteenth century, many of them had become settled agriculturists and some even zamindars.

In the western Himalaya lived the shepherd tribe of Gaddis. The distant north-eastern part of the subcontinent too was entirely dominated by tribes – the Nagas, Ahoms etc. In many areas of present-day Bihar and Jharkhand, Chero, chiefdoms had emerged by the 12th century.

The emergence of states is closely related to social change amongst tribal people. One example of this important part of our history was the emergence of large states changed the nature of Gond society. Their basically equal society gradually got divided into unequal social classes.

Brahmanas received land grants from the Gond rajas and became more influential.