With reference to modern Indian history, consider the following:
1. Introduction of new land revenue system
2. Arrival of Christian missionaries in tribal areas
3. Rise of middlemen
4. Transformation of tribe-forest relation
How many of the above were reasons behind the growth of tribal movement during the British Indian period?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Explanation
The tribal people spread over a large part of India and organized hundreds of militant outbreaks and insurrections during the 19th century. The tribals had cause to be upset for a variety of reasons.
The colonial administration ended their relative isolation and brought them entirely within the ambit of colonialism. It recognized the tribal chiefs as zamindars and introduced a new land revenue system and taxation of tribal products. It encouraged the influx of Christian missionaries into the tribal areas. Above all, it introduced many moneylenders, traders, and revenue farmers as middlemen among the tribals.
Colonialism also transformed the relationship of tribes with the forest. They depended on the forest for food, fuel, and cattle feed. They practiced shifting cultivation (jhum, podu, etc.), taking recourse to fresh forest lands when their existing lands showed signs of exhaustion. The colonial government changed all this.
It usurped the forest lands and placed restrictions on access to forest products, forest lands, and village common lands. It refused to let cultivation shift to new areas. Hence option (d) is the correct answer.
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