Question

The British described the tribal people as ____________.

Answer 1

Answer: The correct answer is wild and savage.

• British looked at tribal groups like Santhals and Gonds as civilised when compared to tribal groups who were shifting cultivators and hunter gatherers.
• British wanted to civilize and settle the tribal groups who lived in forests as they believed these tribals were savage and wild.
• The British wanted the tribal groups to become peasant cultivators and settle down; they were uncomfortable with groups who did not have a fixed home and moved about.
• British found that Tribals who were on the move were difficult to administer and control when compared to peasants who were settled in one place.
• If people settled in one place British could collect regular revenues from them.
• The British made some of the peasants as tenants and declared others as land owners.
• The British fixed the revenue demand for the state, defined the rights of each individual to that land, and measured the land.
• The powers and functions of tribal chiefs were changed dramatically during the British rule.
• The laws made by the British officials had to be followed by the tribal chiefs, these tribal chiefs lost their administrative powers but they were allowed to rent out lands and over a cluster of villages, tribal chiefs were allowed to keep their land titles.
• Tribal chiefs were unable to fulfil their functions which were traditional, they had no authority, but on behalf of the British they had to discipline the tribal groups and pay tribute to the British.