Tribals Dikus And The Vision Of A Golden Age - Class 8 History - Extra Questions

How did tribal societies practise jhum cultivation?

The tribal society practiced jhum cultivation in the Northeast regions of India. First, the forest land is cleared of trees and vegetation by setting it on fire. The ash remained after burning acts as a fertilizer for the soil. The seeds are scattered on the land instead of sowing. When the crop is ready, it is harvested, and the tribal groups move to another part of the area, leaving the previous land barren for a couple of years.


What did Birsa do, after he was released from jail?

 After Birsa's release from jail in 1897. He and his followers stepped up their attack against the British. In August 1897, Birsa Munda, along with 400 of his men armed with bows and arrows, attacked the Khunti Police Station.


Make a list of tribal leaders of India and their contribution during the Indian National movement.

Tribal leaders fought for Independence of the Nation India : 
1. Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh: Pride of Sonakhan, Chattisgarh Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh looted trader’s grain stock and distributed them amongst poor after the 1856 famine. He was then arrested by the British, but managed to escape the prison with the help of other prisoners and reached Sonakhan. Veer Narayan Singh formed an army of just 500 men and rose up against the British army, which was led by Deputy Commissioner Smith. 
2. Birsa Munda : Birsa Munda was a tribal hero from the tribal belt of Chotanagpur. Though he died at the age of 25, he is still remembered as a freedom fighter, religious leader and folk hero. He believed in the importance of cultural roots and influenced people to understand the importance of land and the rights that they possess with the land. Under his leadership, many protests took place making his vision into a revolution. He was arrested and passed away in prison on June 9, 1900. 
3. Shri Alluri Seetha Ram Raju : A brave son of Andhra Pradesh, Alluri Seetha Ram Raju sacrificed his life in the freedom struggle against the British. He was known as “Manyam Veerudu” (“Hero of the Jungle”) by the local people. He was a revolutionary at heart from a very young age. He inspired tribals to stand united as one against the British. He taught them guerrilla warfare, so that they can not only safeguard themselves, but also fight against the English army. 
4. Rani Gaidinliu : Rani Gaidhinliu was a Naga leader from Manipur known for her armed resistance against the British. Gaidinliu joined the Heraka movement in 1927, with an aim to end the British rule and establish the self-rule of Nagas. By the time she was 16, she became a leader of guerrilla forces fighting against the British rulers. In a surprise attack, she along with her followers were arrested by the English troops and was then taken to Imphal where she was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.


What are the major features of tribal societies ?

Below are the significant features of tribal societies

  1. Each society has a distinct name of its own which distinguish it from other community.
  2. The tribal society was not divided into various castes.
  3. Each tribal society had a particular language, culture, and festivals.
  4. There is practice of marrying within one's own society.


Give the name of some famous tribal groups who rebelled in nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Some famous tribal groups who rebelled in 19th and 20th century are-
1.The Nagas in North- Eastern India
2. The Koyas in Orissa
3.The Bhils in Maharashtra
4. The Gond and the Kolams in Telangana
5. The Mundas in Jharkhand and West Bengal


Where was Birsa born? What did he declared himself and what did people begin to think about him?

Birsa Munda was born on 15 November 1875 in the Khunti district of Jharkhand. He declared that he was sent by God to save his people from trouble, free them from the slavery. He was regarded as the "Father of Earth" by the people.


Name the region where the slash and burn agriculture is known as 'Jhumming'.

In North-Eastern region of India, the slash and burn agriculture Is known as 'Jhumming'.


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

The tribal chiefs were important people. They enjoyed a certain amount of economic power and had the right to administer and control their territories. Under the British rule, the functions and powers of these tribal chiefs changed to a great extent:
(i) They were allowed to keep their land titles over a cluster of villages and rent out lands, but they lost much of their administrative power and were forced to follow laws made by British officials in India.
(il) They had to pay tribute to the British and discipline the tribal groups on behalf of the British.
(iii) They lost the authority they had earlier enjoyed amongst their people, and were unable to fulfil their traditional functions.


Find out from your parents, friends or teachers, the names of some heroes of other tribal revolts in the twentieth century. Write their story in your own words.

 Jatra Oraon:

  • He was a tribal freedom fighter from the Chhotanagpur region is the present day state of Jharkhand. During his leadership Oraon movement against the British colonial rule during 1914-19. 
  • He fought for Oraon Raj. He criticised liquor drinking and superstitious practices among Oraons. His religious movement gave way to a "no-rent payment" campaign. Jatra declared that his followers should stop ploughing the field of landlords and not work anymore as coolies or labourers for non-Oraons or for the government. 
  • He also questioned the traditional leadership of the pahans and mahtos the village headmen. The basic idea behind this movement was that land was a gift of God and that no one had the right to interfere with the tribals right over land. 
  • Jatra, along with his leading disciples was arrested in 1814. After his release, he abandoned the leadership of the movement. Later he came in contact with Gandhi and joined the Non-Cooperation Movement against the British.                                       

Rani Gaidinliu:

  • Rani Gaidinliu was born in the present day state of Manipur. At the age of 13, she joined in the Indian freedom struggle with Hasipau Jodonang. Jodonang was the political and spiritual leader of Naga. 
  • Jodonang started a movement to drive away the British from Manipur. He was captured and hanged by the British. 
  • After the death of her Guru, Gaidinliu assumed leadership of the movement. The British tried to suppress the movement. Rani went underground. But, very soon she was arrested in 1932. She was sent to jail.
  • Gaidinliu was released after India gained its independence. She was honored with Tamrapatra and Padma Bhushan awards, Jawaharlal Nehru called her 'Rani' of the Nagas. She passed away on February 17, 1993.  


What do you understand by the term Jhum cultivation?

Jhum cultivation is also called as shifting cultivation and is practiced by tribal groups in northeastern states on a small patch of land. In this cultivation, the area is first cleared of trees and vegetation and then burnt after that. The ash that remained after burning acts as fertilizer for the soil. The seeds are scattered on the ground. The tribal groups move to another land after harvesting the crop.


Give reason why Birsa Munda was a tribal revolutionary.

Even though he lived for a very short span of 25 years, he aroused the mindset of the tribals and mobilized them in a small town of Chotanagpur. He was a terror to the British rulers. After his death, the movement faded out. However, the movement was significant in many ways. 

1. It forced the colonial government to introduce laws so that the land of the tribals could not be easily taken away by the foreigners.

2. It showed that the tribal people had the capacity to protest against injustice and express their anger against colonial rule. 

3. He inspired a feeling of nationalism in his people. He was a tribal revolutionary.



Class 8 History Extra Questions