Q1: Which system of land ownership was traditionally followed by the Mundas of Chota Nagpur? (a) Zamindari system (b) Khuntkatti system (c) Ryotwari system (d) Mahalwari system
Solution:
Ans: (b) Explanation: The Mundas followed the khuntkatti system where land was owned collectively by the clan, with all members having equal rights as descendants of original settlers.
Q2: What was the main occupation of the Van Gujjars tribal group? (a) Hunting and gathering (b) Shifting cultivation (c) Herding and rearing cattle (d) Settled cultivation
Solution:
Ans: (c) Explanation: The Van Gujjars were primarily involved in herding and rearing cattle, which was their traditional occupation for sustenance and livelihood.
Q3: Which Act declared forests as state property during British rule? (a) The Forest Conservation Act of 1880 (b) The Indian Forests Act of 1878 (c) The Wildlife Protection Act of 1875 (d) The Tribal Rights Act of 1882
Solution:
Ans: (b) Explanation: The Indian Forests Act of 1878 declared forests as state property, restricting tribal access to reserved forests for their traditional activities like hunting and gathering.
Q4: Who were the leaders of the Santhal rebellion of 1855-1856? (a) Birsa Munda and Sidhu (b) Kanhu and Sidhu (c) U. Tirot Sing and Kanhu (d) Pa Togan Sangma and Birsa Munda
Solution:
Ans: (b) Explanation: The Santhal hool (liberation movement) was led by Kanhu and Sidhu, who began the uprising in 1855 at Bhagnadihi village to expel outsiders.
Q5: What was the Munda rebellion also known as? (a) The Great Revolution (b) Ulgulan (c) Hool (d) Jaintia Uprising
Solution:
Ans: (b) Explanation: The Munda rebellion was called Ulgulan, meaning 'Great Tumult', and was led by Birsa Munda to restore ancestral rights and establish Munda Raj.
Fill in the Blanks
Q1: Shifting cultivation is also called _____ or slash-and-burn agriculture.
Solution:
Ans: jhum
Q2: The _____ system gave Santhal lands to non-Santhal zamindars and moneylenders.
Solution:
Ans: Permanent Settlement
Q3: Birsa Munda was born in the village of _____ in Ranchi.
Solution:
Ans: Ulihatu
Q4: The _____ Act of 1908 was enacted to protect tribal lands from being taken by outsiders.
Solution:
Ans: Chota Nagpur Tenancy
Q5: The Khasi revolt of 1829 was led by _____.
Solution:
Ans: U. Tirot Sing
True or False
Q1: Tribal societies had sharp social divisions as prescribed by Brahmins.
Solution:
Ans: False Explanation: Tribes lacked sharp social divisions as prescribed by Brahmins, though they still had some social and economic differences within their communities.
Q2: The Baigas considered working for others as undignified and preferred living off forest produce.
Solution:
Ans: True Explanation: The Baigas tribe believed working for others was undignified and instead chose to sustain themselves by living off forest produce.
Q3: Under British rule, tribal chiefs gained more administrative powers and authority.
Solution:
Ans: False Explanation: Under British rule, tribal chiefs actually lost most of their administrative powers and were required to pay tribute to the British government.
Q4: A railway line was constructed in Santhal Pargana in 1853.
Solution:
Ans: True Explanation: The construction of a railway line in Santhal Pargana in 1853 significantly disrupted the traditional lifestyle of the Santhal tribal community.
Q5: Birsa Munda died after being released from jail in 1900.
Solution:
Ans: False Explanation: Birsa Munda was arrested after the rebellion and died while still in jail, not after being released from imprisonment.
Match the Following
Column A
Column B
1. Gaddis
A. Led the Jaintia revolt in the late 1860s
2. Daman-i-Koh
B. Practiced in hilly and forested regions of Central and Northeast India
3. U. Kiang Nongbah
C. Herded and reared sheep
4. Shifting cultivation
D. Area between Bhagalpur and Rajmahal where Santhals were relocated
5. Bethbegari
E. Forced labour imposed on Mundas for unpaid loans
Solution:
Ans:
1 - C: The Gaddis were a tribal group whose traditional occupation involved herding and rearing sheep for their livelihood and sustenance.
2 - D: Daman-i-Koh was the area between Bhagalpur and Rajmahal where the Santhals were forcibly relocated under British colonial rule.
3 - A: U. Kiang Nongbah led the Jaintia revolt in the late 1860s against house and income taxes imposed by the British.
4 - B: Shifting cultivation, also called jhum, was practiced by jhumias in the hilly and forested regions of Central and Northeast India.
5 - E: Bethbegari was the system of forced labour that was imposed on Mundas when they could not repay their loans to moneylenders.
Short Answer Questions
Q1: Explain the process of shifting cultivation practiced by tribal communities.
Solution:
Ans: In shifting cultivation, treetops are cut to allow sunlight to reach the ground. The vegetation is then burned to fertilise the soil with ash. Seeds are scattered on unploughed land. After cultivation, fields are left fallow for several years to regain fertility. This practice required tribes to move freely within forests to find new cultivation areas.
Q2: How did British forest laws affect the lives of tribal communities?
Solution:
Ans: The Indian Forests Act of 1878 declared forests as state property, restricting tribal access to reserved forests for hunting, gathering, or jhum cultivation. These laws forced many jhum cultivators to migrate elsewhere for work, disrupting their forest-dependent lives. Later, jhum farmers were allowed small forest patches in exchange for labour in the Forest Department, ensuring cheap labour.
Q3: Describe the role of traders and moneylenders in exploiting tribal communities.
Solution:
Ans: Traders and moneylenders entered tribal areas and bought forest produce at very cheap prices while selling goods to tribals at high prices. They charged extremely high interest rates on loans, trapping tribals in debt cycles. This economic exploitation made tribals dependent on these outsiders and worsened their financial conditions, contributing to widespread discontent and poverty among tribal communities.
Q4: What were the main causes of the Santhal rebellion of 1855-1856?
Solution:
Ans: The Permanent Settlement gave Santhal lands to non-Santhal zamindars and moneylenders, reducing Santhals to tenants who paid rent. They were forced to relocate to Daman-i-Koh. The construction of a railway line in 1853 further disrupted their traditional lifestyle. Exploitation by zamindars and moneylenders, combined with loss of land rights, led Kanhu and Sidhu to launch the rebellion.
Q5: What reforms did Birsa Munda aim to bring to tribal society?
Solution:
Ans: Birsa Munda aimed to restore the Mundas' ancestral rights over land that had been taken away under colonial rule. He sought to reform tribal society by discouraging liquor consumption, witchcraft, and sorcery. Influenced by Christian missionaries and Vaishnavism, he wanted to establish a Munda Raj by expelling the British, missionaries, zamindars, and moneylenders from tribal territories completely.
The document Worksheet with Solutions: Colonialism and Tribal Societies is a part of the Class 8 Course History Class 8 ICSE.
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