NCERT Solutions Class 8 Social Science (History : Our Past III) Chapter 4 Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age

NCERT Solutions Class 8 Social Science (History: Our Past III)

The NCERT Solutions in English Language for Class 8 Social Science (History : Our Past III) Chapter – 4 (Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age) has been provided here to help the students in solving the questions from this exercise.

History (Our Pasts – III)

• Chapter – 1 — How, When and Where
• Chapter – 2 — From Trade to Territory The Company Establishes Power
• Chapter – 3 — Ruling the Countryside
• Chapter – 5 — When People Rebel 1857 and after
• Chapter – 6 — Weavers, Iron Smelters and Factory Owners
• Chapter – 7 — Civilising the “Native”, Educating the Nation
• Chapter – 8 — Women, Caste and Reform
• Chapter – 9 — The Making of the National Movement: 1870s – 1947
• Chapter – 10 — India after Independence

Chapter – 4 (Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age)

Let’s Recall

1. Fill in the blanks:
(a) The British described the tribal people as ____________.
(b) The method of sowing seeds in jhum cultivation is known as ____________.
(c) The tribal chiefs got ____________ titles in central India under the British land settlements.
(d) Tribals went to work in the ____________ of Assam and the ____________ in Bihar.

Answer –
(a) The British described the tribal people as wild and savage.
(b) The method of sowing seeds in jhum cultivation is known as broadcasting.
(c) The tribal chiefs got land titles in central India under the British land settlements.
(d) Tribals went to work in the tea plantations of Assam and the coal mines in Bihar.

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.
(c) Birsa urged his followers to purify themselves, give up drinking liquor and stop believing in witchcraft and sorcery.
(d) The British wanted to preserve the tribal way of life.

Answer –

(a) Jhum 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 purify 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 Discuss

3. What problems did shifting cultivators face under British rule?

Answer – The British wanted the shifting cultivators to settle down and became peasant cultivators. But settled plough cultivation is not easy in areas where water is scarce and the soil is dry. In fact, shifting cultivators who took to plough cultivation often suffered. Their fields did not produce good yields.

4. How did the powers of tribal chiefs change under colonial rule?

Answer – Tribal Chiefs were the leader of tribes who enjoyed various powers and had to perform important functions. But their roles were changed under the Colonial rule in the following ways:

• They were allowed to have their land titles over the group of villages but their administrative powers went into the hands of Britishers.
• They had to abide by the laws made by the Britishers.
• They were not permitted to perform their traditional functions.
• Tribal chiefs lost their authority over the villages and the tribal people.
• They were forced to salute the Britishers and regulate the tribe on behalf of the Britishers.

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.

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 – Birsa’s vision for the golden age was referred to as the Age of Truth. A time of glory for the Munda Tribe. This sound appealing to the people of the region because they wanted their lives to get better after the long repercussion from the Britishers. The reason for all their miseries were harsh law and policies. They wanted their land, freedom and glory back.