Answers - Forest Society and Colonialism

Forest Society and
Colonialism
QUESTION ANDANSWERS
Ans1. i) Shifting Cultivators: European foresters regarded shifting cultivation practice as harmful for the forests. They
felt that the land which was used for cultivation every few years could not grow trees for railway timber. When a forest
was burnt, there was the added danger of the flames spreading and burning valuable timber. Shifting cultivation also
made it harder for the government to calculate taxes.
ii) Nomadic and Pastoralist Communities: When the forest department took control of the forests, many people lost
out in many ways. With the coming of the British, however, trade was completely regulated by the government. In the
process, many pastoralists and nomadic communities like Korava, Karacha and Yerukula of the Madras Presidency lost
their livelihoods.
iii) Firms trading in timber/forest produce: The British government gave many large European trading firms the sole
right to trade in forest products in particular areas. Grazing and hunting by the local people were restricted.
iv) Plantation owners: Large areas of natural forests were cleared to make way for tea, coffee, and rubber plantations
to meet europe’s growing need for these commodities. The colonial government took over the forests and gave vast
areas to European planters at cheap rates.
v) : Kings/British officials engaged in hunting; The new forest laws changed the lives of forest dwellers in many
ways. Before the forest laws, many people who lived in or near forest areas had survived by hunting.
Ans2. Java is a famous rice producing island in Indonesia. Earlier, it was covered mostly with forests. The colonial power in
java was the Dutch.
1. Strict laws were made in both the places to prohibit hunting and grazing.
2. The Dutch enacted forest laws in Java restricting villagers access to forests.
3. Villagers were punished for grazing cattle in young stands transporting wood without a permit, or travelling on forest road
with horse carts or cattle.
4. In India, hunting and grazing were prohibited and the British government took over the forests giving no rights to the
people to access forests resources.
Ans 3. Railways: In nineteenth century the growth of industries and railways, a new demand for timber and other forest
products was created. Railways were essential for colonial trade and for the movement of imperial troops. To run
locomotives, wood was needed as fuel, and to lay railway lines sleepers were essential to hold the tracks together.
Ship-building: By the early nineteenth century, oak forests in England were disappearing. This created a problem of timber
supply to the Royal Navy. Hence, search parties were sent to explore the forest resources of India.
Agricultural Expansion: In colonial period, cultivation expanded rapidly for a variety of reasons. First, the British directly
encouraged the production of commercial crops. Second, in the early nineteenth century, the colonial state thought that
forests were unproductive.
Commercial Farming: The British directly encouraged the production of commercial crops like jute, sugar, wheat and
cotton. The demand for these crops increased in the nineteenth century Europe where food grains were needed to feed the
growing urban population and raw materials were required for industrial productions.
Tea/Coffee Plantations: Large areas of natural forests were cleared to make way for tea, coffee, and rubber plantations to
meet Europe’s growing need for these commodities.
Adivasis and other peasant-users: Adivasis were hired by the forest department to cut trees, and make smooth planks
which would serve as sleepers for the railways. At the same time, they were not allowed to cut trees to make their own
houses.
Ans4. The Allies would not have been successful in the First World War and the Second World War if they had not been
able to exploit the resources and people of their colonies.
2. Both the World Wars had a devastating effect on the forests of India, Indonesia and elsewhere.
3. The Japanese then exploited the forests recklessly for their own war industries forcing forest villagers to cut down
forests. Many villagers used this opportunity to expand cultivation in the forest.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
Q5. Why did oak forests in England disappear?
Ans5. Oak forests in England were disappearing fast because oak wood was used to build ships
Q6. Name any two beverage crops.
Ans6. Tea and coffee are beverage crops.
Q7. Why did the British feel the locals were destroying forests?
Ans7. According to the Britishers, the use of forests by local people, the reckless felling of trees by traders would
destroy forests.
Q8. What do you mean by devsari, dand or man?

Ans8. If people from Bastar village want to take some wood from the forests of another village they pay a small fee
called devsari, dand or man.
Q9. What was the blandongdiensten system?

Ans9. It was a system which exempted villagers from rent in exchange for free labour and supply of buffaloes for
transporting timber.
Q10. Why is it necessary to increase area under forests? Give three reasons.
Ans10.1. Forests are useful as the people use forest products in a variety of ways. Fruits and tubers were eaten because
they were nutritious and herbs were used for medicinal purposes.
2. Bamboo was used to make fences, baskets and umbrellas. The wood was used to make agricultural implements like
yokes and ploughs.
3. A dried scooped-out gourd was used as a portable water bottle. Oil for cooking and lighting lamps was acquired from
the fruit of the Mahuna tree.

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Forest Society and

Q8. What do you mean by devsari, dand or man?

Q9. What was the blandongdiensten system?

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