Important Questions for Chapter 4 Forest Society and Colonialism Class 9 History
Important Questions1
What is meant by 'sleepers' ?
Answer
Sleepers are wooden planks laid across railway tracks to hold the tracks in position.
VSAQ
2
When did the railway network expand rapidly in India?
Answer
From the 1860s.
VSAQ
3
What is meant by scientific forestry?
Answer
Scientific forestry seeks to ensure that the different types of trees in a forest are cut down and replaced by only type of tree planted in straight rows.
VSAQ
4
Who was Dietrich Brandis?
Answer
Dietrich Brandis was the first Inspector General of Forests in India.
VSAQ
5
Who started the Bastar Rebellion?
Answer
The Bastar rebellion first started in the Kanger forest area and soon spread to other parts of the state.
VSAQ
6
When was the Indian Forest Service set up?
Answer
The Indian Forest Service was set up in 1864.
VSAQ
7
Where was the Imperial Forest Research Institute set up?
Answer
The Imperial Forest Research Institute was established at Dehradun.
VSAQ
8
What is shifting cultivation called in Sri Lanka?
Answer
It is known as chena in Sri Lanka.
VSAQ
9
Where is Bastar located?
Answer
Bastar is located in Chhattisgarh.
VSAQ
10
When did the first rebellion take place in Bastar?
Answer
The first rebellion took place in Bastar in 1910.
VSAQ
11
When was the Indian Forest Act passed?
Answer
The Indian Forest Act was passed in 1865.
VSAQ
12
Who was the tribal leader of Chhotanagpur?
Answer
Birsa Munda was a tribal leader in Chhotanagpur region who led a rebellion against the British.
VSAQ
13
How were the forests classified under the Forest Act of 1878?
Answer
Forest Act of 1878 Act divided the forests divided into three categories: reserved, protected and village forests.
VSAQ
14
Which two trees were promoted for building ships or railways?
Answer
Teak and Sal were promoted for building ships or railways.
VSAQ
15
From which fruit, oil was extracted for cooking and lighting lamps during British colonial rule?
Answer
Mahua.
VSAQ
16
What is meant by shifting cultivation?
Answer
Shifting cultivation is a practice in which parts of the forest are cut and burnt in rotation.
VSAQ
17
Why did European foresters regard shifting cultivation, harmful for the forest?
Answer
They felt burning down forests would destroy timber and the flames would spread and burn valuable timber and also lead to forest fire.
VSAQ
18
Name the British administrator who killed 400 tigers during his tenure in India.
Answer
George Yule
VSAQ
19
Why did the Dutch feel the need to enact forest laws in Java?
Answer
It became important to control territory also and not just people hence, the Dutch enacted forest laws in Java.
VSAQ
20
Who were the colonial powers in Indonesia?
Answer
The Dutch.
VSAQ
21
Which place is now famous as a rice-producing island in Indonesia?
Answer
Java.
VSAQ
22
Where did the Dutch start the forest management in Indonesia?
Answer
Java.
VSAQ
23
Who were Kalangs of Java?
Answer
They are skilled forest cutters and shifting cultivators.
VSAQ
24
Who was Swrontiko Samin?
Answer
Samin was from Randublatung village of Java, who began questioning state ownership of the forests.
VSAQ
25
Which forests were considered the best on the basis of their utility?
Answer
Reserved forests were considered the best for utility purposes.
VSAQ
1
Why did the British appoint the Inspector General of Forests in India ? Explain any three reasons.
Answer
• The British needed forests in order to build ships and railways.
• They were worried that the use of forests by local people and the reckless felling of trees by traders would destroy forests.
• They wanted forests for the development of plantations.
SAQ
2
Explain the system of scientific forestry.
Answer
• Scientific forestry seeks to ensure that the different types of trees in a forest are cut down and replaced by only one type of tree planted in straight rows.
• Forest officials surveyed the forests estimated the area under different types of trees and planned how much of the plantation area to be cut every year.
• The area cut was then to be replanted so that it was ready to be cut again in some years.
SAQ
3
Who was Dietrich Brandis? Why was he invited to India? Mention his two major contributions.
Answer
Dietrich Brandis was a German expert in forestry. He was invited to India by the British for advice and help who were worried that the use of forests by local people and the reckless felling of trees by traders would destroy forests.
His two major contributions are as follows:
• Scientific Forestry was introduced.
• He introduced proper system to manage the forests.
• Rules about the use of forest resources were also laid down.
SAQ
4
State the reasons why Shifting cultivation was banned under European colonialism in India.
Answer
• European foresters felt that land used for cultivation every few years could not support trees like Sal and Oak for railway timber.
• Also, when a forest was burnt, there was a danger of the flames spreading and burning valuable timber.
• Shifting cultivation also made it harder for the government to calculate taxes.
SAQ
5
How did the forest acts affect the lives of foresters and villagers?
Answer
• The daily practices of villagers such as cutting wood for their houses, hunting, fishing and collecting fruits nowbecome illegal.
• People were forced to steal wood from the forests and if caught were at the mercy of the forest guards who would take bribes from them.
• It was common for police constables and forest guards to harass people.
SAQ
6
When was the Forest Act enacted during the British period? How many times and when was it amended? Name the three categories of forests according to the Forest Act?
Answer
Forest Act was enacted in 1865. It was amended twice, once in 1878 and then in 1927. The 1878 Act divided the forests into three categories:
reserved, protected and village forests.
SAQ
7
Mention any three provisions of forest laws passed by the Dutch.
Answer
• The access to the forests was restricted for the villagers.
• Timber was now allowed to cut only for specific purposes like making boats.
• Forests were kept under strict supervision. Those villagers who grazed their cattle in the forests were severely punished.
SAQ
8
What contribution did Dietrich Brandis make towards the development and preservation of forest?
Answer
• Brandis believed that a proper system had to be introduced to manage the forests and people had to be trained in the science of conservation.
• This system would need legal sanction and rules about the use of forest resources had to be framed.
• Felling of trees and grazing had to be restricted so that forests could be preserved for timber production.
• Anyone who cut trees without following the regulations had to be punished.
SAQ
9
How were forests classified on the basis of the Forest Act, 1878?
Answer
• Reserved forests: The best forests were called reserved forests. Villagers could not take anything from these forests.
• Protected forests: They were also protected by the villagers but they could collect wood from the protected forests.
• Village forests: They were located near the villages and could be exploited by the villagers but not for commercial purposes.
SAQ
10
"A growing population in England was responsible for deforestation in India." Justify the statement.
Answer
• The British directly encouraged the production of crops like jute, sugarcane, wheat and cotton.
• The demand for these crops increased in the 19th century in England where food grains were needed to feed the growing urban population.
• The colonial state thought that forests were unproductive and had to be brought under cultivation so that the land could yield agricultural products and revenue, and enhance the income of the state.
SAQ
11
Discuss in brief the Saminist movement of Indonesia.
Answer
• Around 1890, Surontiko Samin of Randublatung village challenged state ownership of forests and argued that the state had not created the wind, water, earth and wood, so it could not own it.
• A widespread movement started soon and by 1907, 3000 families were following Samin's ideas.
• Some refused to pay taxes, fines or perform labour and some lay down on their land when the Dutch came to survey it.
SAQ
12
Why were the people of Bastar dissatisfied with the forest policies of the British?
Answer
The people of Bastar were dissatisfied because of the following:
• Two third of forest land being declared reserved area.
• The ban on shifting cultivation, hunting and gathering of forest products.
• The people of many villages were displaced without notice or compensation.
• The increased rent and frequent demand of free labour and goods by colonial officials.
SAQ
13
Why was the railway network spread by the British in India from 1850s onwards? Why was there a need for forest timber spread for railways?
Answer
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.
SAQ
14
Why did land under cultivation increase during colonial rule?
Answer
• During the colonial rule, the British encouraged the production of commercial crops like jute, sugar, wheat and cotton as the demand for these crops increased in nineteenth-century Europe.
• The forests were considered unproductive by the British government and hence large areas of forests were cleared for agriculture.
• This forest land could be cultivated to enhance the income of this state.
SAQ
15
Explain why the Dutch adopted the ‘scorched earth policy’ during the war.
Answer
• In Java, just before the Japanese occupied the region, the Dutch followed the ‘scorched earth policy’ to prevent the resources going in the hands of the enemy.
• They destroyed saw mills, burned huge piles of giant teak logs so that they could not fall into Japanese hands.
• The Japanese then exploited the forests recklessly for their own war industries, forcing forest villagers to cut down forests.
SAQ
16
Why did forests around railway tracks in India start disappearing after 1860 ?
Answer
• From the 1860s, the railway network expanded rapidly.
• As the railway tracks spread through India, a larger and larger number of trees were felled.
• The government gave out contracts to individuals to supply the required quantities who began cutting trees indiscriminately. Thus, Forests around the railway tracks fast started disappearing.
SAQ
17
How was plantation promoted in India at the cost of forest during the British period?
Answer
• Large areas of natural forests were cleared to make way for tea, coffee and rubber plantation in order to meet Europe's growing need for these commodities.
• The colonial government took over the forests and gave vast areas to the European planters at cheaper rates.
• These areas were enclosed and cleared off forests which were then planted with tea or coffee.
SAQ
18
Under colonial rule, why did the scale of hunting increase to such an extent that various species became almost extinct?
Answer
• The British saw large animals as signs of a wild, primitive and savage society.
• They believed that by killing the dangerous animals, the British would civilize India.
• They gave rewards for the killing of tigers, wolves and other large animals on the grounds.
SAQ
1
"Deforestation became more systematic and extensive under the colonial rule." Explain this statement with suitable examples.
Answer
• With the increase in population, the demand for food went up thus, peasants extended boundaries for cultivation by clearing forest.
• British encouraged production of commercial crops like jute, sugar, wheat and cotton as the demand for these crops increased in nineteenth-century Europe.
• British thought forests are unproductive thus they had to be brought under cultivation so that the land could yield agricultural products and revenue.
• Oak forests disappeared and problem of timber supply for the Royal Navy started. Hence, trees were felled at a massive scale.
• The spread of railways demanded more sleepers which was fulfilled by felling trees.
• A large number of natural forests were also cleared to make way for plantation agriculture such as tea, coffee, etc.
LAQ
2
Why were forests important to the villagers?
Answer
• Fruits and tubers were eaten because they were nutritious and herbs were used for medicinal purposes.
• Bamboo was used to make fences, baskets and umbrellas.
• The wood was used to make agricultural implements like yokes and ploughs.
• A dried out gourd was used as a portable water bottle.
• The creeper can be used to make ropes, and the thorny bark of the semur tree is used to grate vegetables.
• Oil for cooking and lighting lamps was acquired from the fruit of the Mahua tree.
LAQ
3
Describe some of the common customs and beliefs of the Baster people.
Answer
• The people believed that each village was given its land by the Earth and thus they look after the earth by making some offerings at each agricultural festival.
• Respect is also shown to the spirits of the river, the forest and the mountain.
• As each village was aware of their boundaries, all the natural resources within that boundary were looked after by the local people.
• If people from a village want to take some wood from the forests of another village, they pay a small fee called dand or man.
• Some villages also protect by engaging watchmen and every household contributes some grain to pay them.
LAQ
4
What is shifting cultivation ? Why did the British Government ban it ? Give any three reasons.
Answer
Shifting agriculture is a traditional agricultural practice in many parts of Asia, Africa and South America.
In shifting cultivation, parts of the forest are cut down and burnt in rotation. Seeds are sown in the ashes after the first monsoon rains and the crop is harvested by October - November.
Colonial impacts on shifting agriculture:
• Europeans regarded this practice harmful for the forests. They felt that the burning down forest would destroy timber and the dangerous flames would spread and burn valuable timber.
• Shifting cultivation made it harder for the government to calculate taxes, so British government decided to ban shifting cultivation.
• As a result, many communities were forcibly displaced from their homes in forest
• Some had to change occupations, while some resisted through large and small rebellions.
LAQ
5
Describe any five special features of the life of the people of Bastar.
Answer
• Bastar is a district of the state of Chhattisgarh in Central India.
• Different communities live in Bastar such as Maria and Muria Gonds, Dhurvas, Bhalras, etc.
• They speak different languages but share common customs and beliefs.
• They believe that each village is given its land by the earth and in return, they look after the earth by making offerings during the festivals.
• In addition to the earth, they pay respect to the spirits of river, forest and mountain.
• Some villages protect their forests by keeping watchmen and each house contributes grains to pay them.
• They meet once a year to discuss issues of concern, including that of forest.
LAQ
6
Which tribal communities live in Bastar and how are their lives intertwined with each other?
Answer
A number of different communities live in Bastar such as Maria and Muria Gonds, Dhurwas, Bhatras and Hallas. Their lives were intertwined with each other in this manner:
• The people of Bastar believe that each village was given its land by the Earth, and in return, they look after the earth by making some offerings at each agricultural festival.
• They show respect to the spirits of the river, the forest and the mountain.
• Every year there is one big hunt where the headmen of villages meet and discuss issues of concern, including forests.
LAQ
7
How did the British suppress the revolt of the Bastar?
Answer
• The Adivasi leaders tried to negotiate but the British surrounded their camps and fired on them.
• The British sent troops to suppress the rebellion.
• Most villages were deserted as people fled into the jungle out of fear.
• It took three months for the British to regain control on the people of Bastar.
• But the British government could never manage to capture Gunda Dhur.
LAQ
8
Why did the people of Bastar rise in revolt against the British? Explain.
Answer
• In 1905, the British put a stop on shifting cultivation, hunting and collection of forest produce, which affected the people of Bastar.
• Some of the villagers were allowed to stay in the Reserved forests on the condition that they would cut and transport trees and protect the forests from fire for forest department for free.
• People of other villages were displaced without any notice or compensation.
• For long, villagers had been suffering from increased land rents and frequent demands for free labour and goods by colonial officials.
• The terrible famines in 1899–1900 and again in 1907– 1908 made the life of people miserable and they blamed the colonial rule for their sorry plight.
LAQ
9
Describe the effects of world wars on forests with reference to the ‘Scorched earth Policy’.
Answer
• In India, working plans were abandoned during the world wars, and the forest department cut trees freely to meet British war needs.
• In Java, just before the Japanese occupied the region, the Dutch followed ‘a scorched earth’ policy, destroying sawmills, and burning huge piles of giant teak logs so that they would not fall into Japanese hands.
• 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.
• After the war, it was difficult for the Indonesian forest service to get this land back.
LAQ
1
Write any five examples to show how villagers used forests in a variety of ways.
Answer
• Fruits and tubers were eaten because they were nutritious and herbs were used for medicinal purposes.
• Bamboo was used to make fences, baskets and umbrellas. The wood was used to make agricultural implements.
• A dried out gourd was used as a portable water bottle.
• Oil for cooking and lightning lamps was acquired from the fruit of Mahua tree.
• The Siadi creeper was used to make ropes and leaves could be stitched together to make disposable cups and plates.
VBQ
2
‘The British are largely responsible for the extinction of tiger population in India’. Justify the statement with suitable arguments.
Answer
• The British saw large animals as signs of a wild, primitive and savage society.
• They believed that by killing dangerous animals the British would civilize India.
• They gave rewards for the hunting of tigers, wolves and other large animals on the grounds that they posed a threat to cultivators.
• Over 80,000 tigers, 150,000 leopards and 200,000 wolves were killed for the reward in the period 1875- 1925.
• Gradually, hunting tigers came to be seen as a sporting trophy. The Maharaja of Sarguja alone shot 1,157 tigers and 2,000 leopards upto 1957. A British administrator, George Yule killed 400 tigers.
VBQ