Question

The British wanted to preserve the tribal way of life. (True or False)

Answer 1

Answer: False, the British did not want to preserve the tribal way of life, they tried to disrupt it through various ways. There were many tribal rebellions against the British.

• If people settled in one place British could collect regular revenues from them.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• British wanted to civilize and settle the tribal groups who lived in forests as they believed these tribals were savage and wild.