Forest Society and Colonialism Class 9 Worksheet History Chapter 4

Q.1. Who were famous as the woodcutters of Java?

Kalangs of Java.

Q.2. Who was the Inspector General of Forests in India?

Dietrich Brandis.

Q.3. Which river flows through the Bastar region?

Indrawati.

Q.4. Name the country that occupied Indonesia during the Second World War?

Japan.

Q.5. Name the present state of India in which Bastar is located.

Chhattisgarh

Q.6. Why did plantation develop in India? How did the British government support the plantations in India?

The British directly encouraged the production of commercial crops like jutesugarcane, wheat and cotton.
In the early 19th century the colonial state thought the forests to be unproductive.
They wanted to bring land under cultivation so that the land could yieldagricultural products and revenue and enhance the income of the state.

Q.7. How did Shipbuilding contribute to the decline of forest cover in the Indian subcontinent?

Shipbuilding significantly contributed to the decline of forest cover in the Indian subcontinent due to several factors:

• The depletion of oak forests in Europe created a demand for timber.
• To meet this need, the Indian forests were targeted for their strong and durable wood.
• This led to extensive and rapid deforestation as trees were felled on a large scale.

Q.8. How did the changes in forest management in the colonial period affect the hobby of hunting of the Kings and British officials?

The changes in forest management during the colonial period significantly impacted the hunting practices of kings and British officials:

• New laws restricted forest communities from hunting, collecting wood, and gathering forest products.
• Hunting of small animals was banned, while hunting of large animals was encouraged.
• The British promoted hunting as a sport, rewarding officials and kings for killing dangerous animals like tigers and wolves.
• As a result, many species faced the threat of extinction due to increased hunting.

Q.9. How did the changes in forest management in the colonial period affect the firms trading in forest produce?

The changes in forest management during the colonial period had significant effects on firms trading in forest products:

• The traditional trading class became dependent on colonial powers.
• Many communities shifted from their ancestral professions to trading in forest products.
• Colonial authorities began to regulate the trade in these resources.
• The British established a monopoly for European firms to trade in forest produce.

Q.10. What are the main reasons for the rapid disappearance of forests?

Main reasons for the rapid disappearance of forests:

• Forests were cleared to establish industries.
• Increased land was needed for agriculture to support the growing population.
• Wood was required for fuel.
• Colonial rule significantly contributed to forest loss.

Q.11. How did the changes in forest management in the colonial period affect the lives of shifting cultivators?

The changes in forest management during the colonial period significantly impacted the lives of shifting cultivators. Key effects included:

• Colonial powers viewed shifting cultivation as harmful to the environment and forests.
• They feared it would lead to the destruction of valuable timber, resulting in a ban on this practice.
• This ban caused the displacement of many forest tribes.
• As a consequence, many tribes were forced to change their occupations.

Q.12. Write about the woodcutters of Java.

The Kalangs of Java were a community renowned for their skills as woodcutters and shifting cultivators. Their contributions were crucial to the Mataram Kingdom, especially in the following ways:

• They were trained experts in forest cutting.
• In 1755, when the Mataram Kingdom split, the 6,000 Kalang families were divided between the two new kingdoms.
• Their expertise was vital for harvesting teak and building palaces.
• When the Dutch took control in the 18th century, they attempted to force the Kalangs into servitude.
• In 1770, the Kalangs resisted by attacking a Dutch fort, but their uprising was suppressed.

Q.13. How was the construction of the Indus Valley Railway network cause heavy destruction to the forests of Sindh and Punjab?

The construction of the Indus Valley Railway caused significant damage to the forests in Sindh and Punjab due to the following reasons:

• The railway required a large number of wooden sleepers for its tracks.
• Over 600,000 sleepers were needed for just one section of the railway.
• This high demand led to widespread deforestation, as contractors cut trees indiscriminately.
• Forests near the railway tracks rapidly diminished as a result.

Q.14. How did the British exploit the forest resources of India for their economic development?

The British exploited India's forest resources primarily for their economic gain through various means:

• The production of commercial crops like jute, sugarcane, wheat, and cotton was encouraged.
• Railways were crucial for trade and troop movement, leading to extensive tree cutting for sleepers used in railway tracks.
• Large forest areas were cleared to establish tea, coffee, and rubber plantations to satisfy European demand.
• By the early nineteenth century, vast quantities of timber were felled for shipbuilding.

Q.15. Explain any five ways in which the lives of the villagers were affected by the Forest Acts.

The Forest Acts significantly impacted the lives of villagers in various ways:

• Many villagers were forced to steal wood from the forests. If caught, they faced harsh treatment from forest guards who often demanded bribes.
• Women, particularly those who collected fuel wood, experienced heightened anxiety due to the new restrictions.
• Police constables and forest guards frequently harassed villagers, demanding free wood and other resources.
• The Act imposed severe hardships, making traditional practices like cutting wood for homes, grazing cattle, and collecting fruits illegal.
• Hunting and fishing, once common practices, were also prohibited, further restricting villagers' access to essential resources.