Tribals, Dikus, and the Vision of a Golden Age – Short Answer Type Questions
Class 8
Social Science
History - Chapter 4
Tribals, Dikus, and the Vision of a Golden Age — 50 Short Answer Questions (NCERT-aligned)
CBSE Board Examinations — Quick Guidance
- Write concise 3–5 line answers for 3–5 mark questions; include causes, effects and one example where relevant.
- Use NCERT key terms: shifting cultivation, commons, diku, Birsa Munda, Santhal.
- Structure answers: brief intro, 2–3 points, short conclusion or example.
Content Bank — Topics Covered
Tribal Life
- Shifting cultivation
- Commons and customary rules
Dikus (Outsiders)
- Moneylenders, traders, officials
Revolts & Responses
- Santhal, Kol, Munda; British suppression and limited reforms
Topic: Tribal Life Before British Rule
1. Briefly describe shifting cultivation.
Shifting cultivation involves clearing forest patches, cultivating them for a few years, then moving to a new patch while the old one regenerates.
2. What are 'commons' in tribal contexts?
Commons are community lands such as forests and grazing areas used collectively for livelihood activities like grazing, fuel collection and hunting.
3. How did tribes view land ownership traditionally?
Many tribes viewed land as a community resource regulated by customary rules rather than as private property to be bought and sold.
4. Give one example of a livelihood of tribal people.
Examples include hunting, gathering, shifting cultivation, and small-scale horticulture or fishing depending on region.
5. What role did customary councils play?
Customary councils and elders settled disputes, managed commons and enforced community norms without formal courts.
Topic: 'Diku' — Outsiders and Their Effects
6. What does 'diku' mean?
'Diku' is a tribal term for outsiders — often referring to moneylenders, traders, missionaries or colonial officials regarded as intruders.
7. Name two types of 'dikus' who entered tribal areas.
Moneylenders and traders were common dikus, along with colonial officials and missionaries in some regions.
8. How did moneylenders affect tribal communities?
Moneylenders provided credit at interest; inability to repay often led tribespeople to lose land or mortgage rights to outsiders.
9. What impact did traders have on tribal economies?
Traders integrated tribal produce into markets, encouraged cash sales and increased dependence on money rather than subsistence goods.
10. How did missionaries sometimes change tribal society?
Missionaries could alter social and religious practices through conversion, education and introducing new cultural influences.
Topic: Colonial Changes & Impact
11. What was the effect of forest laws on tribes?
Forest laws restricted traditional access to forests, curbing rights to gather fuel, food and materials, harming livelihoods.
12. How did land surveys change land rights?
Land surveys formalised ownership documents and often ignored customary titles, enabling outsiders to claim land legally.
13. What was the result of enclosing common lands?
Enclosure reduced access to grazing and forest resources, forcing communities to seek wage labour or sell produce for cash.
14. Why did tribals sometimes mortgage land?
They mortgaged land to raise cash for taxes, emergencies or to pay debts to moneylenders and traders.
15. How did colonial courts affect tribal disputes?
Courts often applied written law that did not recognise customary practices, disadvantaging those without formal documentation.
Topic: Major Tribal Revolts
16. When did the Santhal rebellion take place?
The Santhal rebellion occurred in 1855–1856 against exploitation by moneylenders and outsiders.
17. Who led the Santhal rebellion?
Sidhu and Kanhu were the main leaders who mobilised the Santhals against exploitative practices.
18. What were the Kol rebellions?
Kol rebellions were uprisings by tribal communities in central India protesting land loss and intrusion by outsiders.
19. Who was Birsa Munda?
Birsa Munda was a tribal leader who led the Munda movement around 1899–1900, fighting land alienation and cultural intrusion.
20. What common demand featured in many tribal revolts?
A common demand was restoration or protection of land and forest rights from outsiders and landlords.
Topic: Features of Tribal Revolts
21. Were tribal revolts usually local or national?
They were usually local and issue-specific, focusing on immediate grievances like land loss or forest restriction.
22. What kinds of actions did tribals take in revolts?
Actions ranged from petitions and protests to attacking moneylenders, official buildings and attempts to reclaim land or forest.
23. Did tribal movements have leaders?
Yes — many movements had charismatic local leaders like Birsa Munda who organised resistance and articulated demands.
24. Did religion play a role in tribal revolts?
Often religious revival and invocation of traditional beliefs accompanied political mobilisation, giving moral legitimacy to movements.
25. How did communities sustain revolts?
They relied on kinship networks, local support, resource sharing and coordinated actions led by community leaders.
Topic: British Response
26. How did the British often suppress revolts?
They frequently used military force or police action to quell uprisings and punish leaders.
27. Did the British ever investigate grievances?
Sometimes the British appointed inquiries or offered temporary relief, but major reforms were rare.
28. What legal measures did the British use to control forests?
They introduced forest reservation and regulations that limited traditional access and use by tribals.
29. How did administration change after uprisings?
Administration sometimes reorganised local governance and tightened control, increasing official oversight and land records.
30. Were leaders of revolts punished?
Yes, many leaders were arrested, imprisoned or faced violent reprisals to discourage further resistance.
Topic: Impact & Long-term Consequences
31. What long-term economic change affected many tribes?
Many tribes experienced loss of land and resources leading to poverty, marginalisation and increased wage labour.
32. How did revolts contribute to later political awareness?
Revolts fostered regional political consciousness and sometimes provided leaders and networks for later movements.
33. What happened to customary rights over time?
Customary rights eroded as colonial laws and documented ownership became dominant, reducing traditional safeguards.
34. How did market links change tribal livelihood choices?
Market links encouraged cash-crop production, selling forest produce and seeking wage labour beyond subsistence activities.
35. Why is protection of commons important today?
Protecting commons preserves livelihoods, local biodiversity and resilience against environmental and economic shocks.
Topic: Glossary & Exam Tips
36. Define 'tribal' as used in NCERT.
A tribal refers to communities with distinct cultural practices, often dependent on natural resources and governed by customary laws.
37. Define 'shifting cultivation' briefly.
Shifting cultivation is the practice of cultivating a plot briefly and then moving to a new area as soil fertility declines.
38. Who was Sidhu and Kanhu?
Sidhu and Kanhu were leaders who led the Santhal rebellion against exploitation in 1855–56.
39. Mention one primary cause of tribal revolts.
Land alienation and forest restrictions imposed by outsiders were primary causes of many revolts.
40. Give one tip for answering short questions in exams.
Use NCERT language, state the point clearly, support with a brief example, and avoid unnecessary detail.
41. How can students remember dates and leaders?
Use mnemonic devices, timelines and associate leaders with key events (e.g., Birsa Munda — Munda movement, 1899–1900).
42. Why did some tribal movements combine religion and politics?
Religion provided moral authority and unity, making it easier to mobilise people and articulate a vision of justice.
43. Name one immediate effect of suppression on villages.
Suppression often led to imprisonment, loss of lives, and short-term breakdown of local resistance structures.
44. What is one modern policy lesson from this chapter?
Recognise and protect customary land rights and commons to prevent marginalisation and support tribal livelihoods.
45. Mention one source type useful for studying tribal revolts.
Government reports, contemporary accounts, missionary records and oral histories are useful primary sources.
46. How did forest reservation impact food availability?
Reservation reduced access to wild foods and forest produce, decreasing local food security for many communities.
47. What role did local festivals play in tribal life?
Festivals reinforced community bonds, collective identity and connection to nature and seasonal cycles.
48. How did colonial land records affect future disputes?
Documented land records often became legally binding, making it hard for those with customary claims to challenge dispossession.
49. Suggest a quick revision method for this chapter.
Create one-page summaries for each topic, practise 3–5 mark answers, and memorise a few key dates and leaders.
50. What is the key message of the chapter?
Colonial disruption of tribal life led to resistance and long-term challenges; protecting customary rights and understanding tribal agency are vital lessons.
These Short Answer Questions and Answers are aligned with NCERT Class 8 and designed for CBSE exam preparation. Use them to practise structured answers and improve clarity.