QA: Forest Society And Colonialism

 Chapter: Forest Society And Colonialism 

I. Choose the correct option:

 

1. 500 different plant species can be found in one forest patch in __________
     a) Eastern Ghats                 b) Amazon               c) Chhattisgarh         d) North American plains

2. Industrialization resulted in loss of what _____ percentage of forests?
     a) 9.3%                                b) 3.9%                     c) 19.3%                     d) 13.9%

3. Colonial state regarded forests as ___________
     a) No man's land                                                   b) Unproductive and wilderness
     c) Source of revenue                                            d) Sign of balanced Eco-system

4. Why did colonists need durable timber?
     a) To build ships for the Royal Navy                   b) To construct bridges
     c) For furniture                                                        d) To build beautiful homes

 

5. Forests were categorized by the Forest Act of ____________
      a) 1865                                 b) 1906                          c) 1927                    d) 1878

6. The best forests were _____________
      a) Protected forests              b) Village forests           c) State forests        d) Reserved forests

7. Imperial Forest Reserve Institute was set up in ____________
     a) Dehradun                          b) Mussourie                c) Bangalore             d) Shimla

 

8. What was not a factor in discouragement of shifting agriculture?
     a) Land so used could not grow timber
     b) It made it harder for government to calculate taxes
     c) Many local communities were displaced
     d) There was danger of flames spreading

 

II. Answer in one or two sentences:

1. What is deforestation? Why is it considered harmful?

The disappearance of the forests is referred to as deforestation. Deforestation is considered harmful as forests provide us with day to day products like dyes, spices, gum, honey, coffee, tea and rubber etc. They are home to birds and animals. They preserve our ecological diversity and life support systems. Forests are cleared for industrial uses, cultivation, pastures and fuelwood.

 

2. What was the Blandongdiensten system?

The Dutch first imposed rents on land being cultivated in the forest and then exempted some villages from paying these rents, if they provided free labour and buffaloes for cutting and transporting timber. This system was known as Blandongdiensten system.

Later, instead of rent exemption forest villagers were given small wages, but their right to cultivate forest land was restricted.

 

3.By whom was the Saminist movement started?

  The Saminist movement was started by Surontiko Samin of Randublatung village, known  

   for its teak forests.

 

4. Name the tribes found in the Bastar region in India.

    The tribes of Bastar are Maria & Muria Gonds , Dhu, Bhatras and Halbas

 

5. Kalanga tribe of Java were skilled forest cutters and shifting cultivators.

6. Birsa Munda belonged to Chhotanagpur.

7. Fee paid by people from one village to another was called Devsari.

   

8. Name the nomadic and the pastoralist communities of the Madras Presidency. Why were some

    of them known as the criminal tribes.

 The Korava, Karacha the Yerukula were communities who lived in the Madras Presidency. Some of them were known as the criminal tribes as they had lost their livelihoods and were forced to work in factories, mines and the plantations under government supervision.

 

9. Mention the local names by which Swidden Agriculture is known in the following countries:

a.     South east Asia -Lading

b.     Central America – Milpa

c.     Chitemene/ Tavy - Africa

d.     Sri Lanka - Chena

e.     India - Dhya, Penda, Bewar, Nevad, Podu, Khandad and Kumri 

 

10.Name the Forest community of Central India.

     Baigas

 

11.Mention the tribes who were recruited to work on tea plantations.

   Santhals and Oraons from Jharkhand and Gonds from Chhattisgarh.

 

12.Mention the usefulness of the following to the forest dwellers:

a.	Fruits and tubers	Nutritious to eat
b.	Herbs	Medicine
c.	Wood	Agricultural implements like yokes and ploughs
d.	Bamboo	Making fences, baskets and umbrellas
e.	Leaves of trees	Disposable plates and cups
f.	Trees	Building ships or railways
g.	Mahua Tree	The seeds are pressed to extract oil for cooking and for lighting lamps. Mahua flowers can be eaten or used to make alcohol.
h.	Semur Tree	to grate vegetables
i.	Siadi creeper	to make ropes

 

13. What was the main cause of worry for the people of Bastar?

a.     The colonial government proposed to reserve 2/3^rd of the forests in 1905.

b.    The government stopped shifting cultivation, hunting and collection of forest produce.

 

14. Give any three reasons why cultivation expanded rapidly in the colonial period.

a.     Cultivation expanded rapidly in the colonial period as the British encouraged the cultivation of commercial crops like jute, sugar, wheat and cotton.

b.    They tried to increase the yield of agricultural products.

c.     They tried to increase their revenue and enhance the income of the state.