NCERT Solutions for Class 8 History Chapter 4 Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science Chapter 4 Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age contain solutions to the exercises given in the History book Our Pasts -III. These answers have been explained in a manner that you will easily understand all the concepts and get your doubts cleared without even seeking anyone’s assistance. You can read and download all the questions and answers in PDF format.

Class 8 History Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age Questions and Answers

Question 1: Fill in the blanks:

(a) The British described the tribal people as ______________.

Answer: The British described the tribal people as wild and savage.

(b) The method of sowing seeds in jhum cultivation is known as __________.

Answer: The method of sowing seeds in jhum cultivation is known as broadcasting or scattering.

(c) The tribal chiefs got ________ titles in central India under the British land settlements.

Answer: The tribal chiefs got land titles in central India under the British land settlements.

(d) Tribals went to work in the __________ of Assam, and the _________ in Bihar.

Answer: Tribals went to work in the tea plantations of Assam and the coal mines in Bihar.

Question 2: State whether true or false:

(a) Jhum cultivators plough the land and sow seeds.

Answer: False

(b) Cocoons were bought from the Santhals and sold by the traders at five times the purchase price.

Answer: True

(c) Birsa urged his followers to purify themselves give up drinking liquor and stop believing in witchcraft and sorcery.

Answer: True

(d) The British wanted to preserve the tribal way of life.

Answer: False

Question 3: What problems did shifting cultivators face under British rule?

Answer: Under British rule, shifting cultivators faced several problems:

  • British policies restricted movements of shifting cultivators and the use of forest land.
  • The British encouraged tribal people to become settled farmers, which was unsuitable for their jhum (shifting) cultivation practices.
  • The British introduced land settlements, measuring land and fixing revenue demands. This often led to the people losing their land.
  • The enactment of forest laws declared forests as state property and restricted tribal activities like jhum cultivation, hunting, and gathering.

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

Answer: The functions and powers of the tribal chiefs changed considerably under the British rule. They lost much of their administrative power. They were forced to follow the laws made by the British. They had to pay tribute to the British. They were expected to discipline their people on behalf of the British government. Hence, under the colonial rule they lost the authority they had earlier enjoyed amongst their people and were unable to fulfill their traditional functions.

Question 5: What accounts for the anger of the tribals against the dikus?

Answer: The anger of the tribals against the dikus (outsiders) was fueled by several factors:

  • Dikus, including traders, moneylenders, and landlords, often took over tribal lands.
  • Traders sold goods to tribals at high prices and bought tribal produce at very low prices, exploiting them economically.
  • Moneylenders provided loans to tribals at very high interest rates, leading to debt and poverty among tribal communities.
  • The presence and practices of dikus disrupted traditional tribal social and cultural practices, creating resentment.

Question 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 envisioned a return to a time when the Mundas lived freely, cultivating their land without oppression from outsiders (dikus) or the British. Birsa spoke of a perfect age (satyug) where people were honest, took care of the environment, and were kind to each other. This vision appealed to the people because it promised the restoration of their lands, preservation of their culture, economic independence, and unity against exploitation. Birsa’s dream offered hope for a better future, free from the injustices and hardships imposed by colonial and external forces.

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