Question

What problems did shifting cultivators face under British rule?

Answer 1

Hint: Tribals in the nineteenth century practiced jhum or shifting cultivation. The lives of tribal people were dependent on forest and land for growing their crops. The jhum cultivators were found in the hills or northeast region in India. However British rulers introduced forest and land reforms which made the conditions bad for the cultivators.

Complete answer: Jhum or shifting cultivation is wad done by tribals on a small patch of land mostly in forests. They cut or feel the trees and vegetation and burned them to clear the land for cultivation. The ashes produced contained potash which is further used for growing crops and fertilising the soil. Once they are done they abandon the land and move to a new land. However the British were unhappy with groups who moved from place to place and did not have a fixed home. The wanted tribals to settle down so that they could generate a regular revenue.
-So they introduced the land settlement. In this system, they allot and measure a land, defined rights of each individual, under which some become landowners and some tenants. The British efforts to settle them proved unsuccessful as it was difficult for peasants to cultivate dry land and use equipment like a plough.
-British introduced forest laws under which they extended their control over forests and declared them as their property. Some areas in these forests were declared reserved and used for producing timber. In these forests, people were not allowed to roam freely and use its resources. Many were forced to move out of villages in search of work. However, Britishers came up with a solution which was exploitative and agitated tribals. They disobeyed the new rules and continued their practices.

Note: The consequence of the forest reforms is the revolt of Songram Sangam in Assam in 1906 and forest Satyagraha in central provinces in the 1930s.