History class IX CBSE

1. FOREST SOCIETY AND COLONIALISM
• Introduction:
• Forest society: People living in forest( Tribal)
• Colonialism: A country subjugating another country
politically, Economically and socially. Ex. Britishers colonised India)
What are we going to study in this chapter?
i) Deforestation and issues related to it ( Reasons and impacts)
ii) Commercial forestry ( Meaning, impact, process etc) and issues related to it.
iii) Story of Bastar and Java( Indonesia ) in reference to colonialism.

2. WHY DEFORESTATION?-LAND TO BE IMPROVED
What is Deforestation?
• The disappearance of forest referred as deforestation. OR reckless cutting down of
tees in a large scale is called deforestation.
• It is not a new phenomenon but during colonial rule it became more systematic and
extensive.
Reasons for deforestation:
i) Land to be improved ( Industrial raw material, food grains for growing population
and considering forest as unproductive)
ii) Sleepers on the tracks( Railways, Royal British Navy)
iii) Plantation( Plantation farming by European planters.

3. LAND TO BE IMPROVED ( INDUSTRIAL RAW MATERIAL,
FOOD GRAINS FOR GROWING POPULATION AND
CONSIDERING FOREST AS UNPRODUCTIVE)
• In 1600 1/6th of India’s land mass was under cultivation , now that figure gone up about half,
because : increase in population, increase in the demand of food, peasants extended boundaries of
cultivation.
• During British period- Production of commercial crops like Jute, sugar, wheat and cotton
expanded ( Why?)
- industrial raw material
• Growing urban population demanded more food.
• Colonial government considered forest as unproductive and full of wilderness.
• Land to be brought under cultivation: Between 1880-1920 cultivation areas increased by 6.7
million hectares, so that they ( British) could get extra revenue.
• Expansion of cultivation is seen as a sign of progress in this regard forest was cleared which in
turn gave many other problems.

4. SLEEPERS ON THE TRACKS( RAILWAYS, ROYAL
BRITISH NAVY)
What are Sleepers?
-Sleepers are wooden planks laid across railway tracks, thy hold the tracks in position.
• After 1850s spread of Railways ( Essential for colonial trade and the movement of imperial
troops)
• Wood was required for the development of Railways. Wood was used as fuel and to lay
railway line.
Eg: Each mile of railway track required between 1760 to 2000 sleepers.
• Over the period of time Railway network expanded- in 1890, 25,500 km to 7,65,000 km in
1946.
• Due to this there was huge deforestation. Eg: In Madras Presidency alone about 25000 trees
were being cut annually.
• Role of contractors in accelerating the problem.

5. CONT…..
British’s Royal Navy also created a problem of deforestation in India. How?
• By early 19th century Oak forest in England were disappearing.
• Problem of timber supply for Royal Navy of Britain for building ships.
• So search parties were sent to India to explore resources in India then vast
quantity of timber were being exported from India to England.
• This led to the huge deforestation.

6. PLANTATION( PLANTATION FARMING BY
EUROPEAN PLANTERS.
• Another important reason for deforestation was plantation farming.
What is plantation farming? How it led to deforestation?
• It is a form of commercial farming in which crop is cultivated on a large
track of land for profit.
• Large area of natural forests were cleared to cultivate crops such as tea,
coffee and rubber. (Why?). To meet the Europe’s growing need of industries
and trade demands.
• Large areas of land was cleared by European planters ( East India company
invited most of the European planters and sold the land at cheaper rates to
grow plantation crops).

7. RISE OF COMMERCIAL FORESTRY
What is commercial forestry? Why Commercial Forestry? How Commercial
forestry was introduced in India?
• Plantation for the point of earning monetary benefit.
• British needed timber for Royal Navy and expansion of Railway, but they
worried about the use of forest by local people.
• They thought that they might destroy the forest, in this regard of
conservation of forest, British invited Dietrich Brandis a German expert in
forestry.
• He was made the First Inspector General of Forest in India.

8. CONTI…..
Dietrich Brandis and his contribution: ( What did Dietrich Brandis do?)
- He believed in the Science of conservation which should be backed by legal
sanction.
Science of conservation: Timber production through conservation( Felling of trees and
grazing by the tribal to be restricted).
legal sanction: Rules about the use of forest resources and punishment to those who
violate them.
• In this regard Brandis set up Indian Forest Service in 1864 and helped formulate the
Indian Forest Act of 1865. This was amended twice in 1878 and 1927.
• He set up Imperial Forest Research Institute at Dehradun in 1906- in this institution
Scientific forestry was taught.

9. CONTI…..
• Amendment in Forest Act of 1865 in 1878: Forests were divided in to Three
categories.
i) Reserved Forests ii) Protected Forests iii) Village Forests
Best forests, villagers But in case of protected
Could not take anything forests permission is granted
from these forest even for on particular issues
their own use Eg: Wood could be collected
for fuel or house building

10. SCIENTIFIC FORESTRY
• Based on the ideas of Dietrich Brandis “ Scientific Forestry was introduced in India.
What is scientific forestry?
- Natural forests ( lots of different types of trees) were cut down . Now in their place
one type of tree was planted in straight rows. This is called plantation( Teak and Sal
trees).
- Forest officials surveyed the forest, made working plans for forest management.
- They planned how much of the plantation area to cut every year.
- The area cut was then to be replanted.
- So, that it would be ready to be cut again after a period of time.

11. HOW WERE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE
AFFECTED?
• Different perspective regarding what a good forest look like:
For Villagers:
Wanted a forest with a mix of species to satisfy different needs like food,
fodder, leaves, fuel, etc.
For Forest department:
Wanted a forest suitable for ship building and railways. Needed trees with
hardwood, tall and straight. Eg, Teak And Sal.

12. DEPENDENCE OF PEOPLE ON FOREST AREA
- Forest products as food( fruits & tubers), herbs as (Medicine), wood for
agricultural implements like Yokes, plough etc, Bamboo is used for fences
baskets etc.
- They obtained water bottles, disposable plates, cups, ropes, oil etc.
- But the forest act meant severe hardship for villagers across the country.
- Cutting wood, grazing their cattle, collecting fruits, roots, hunting , fishing
became illegal.
- Due to this people were forced to steal wood and other items from forest and
if they were caught they face many problems. Like bribing forest guards,
harassment( women) providing free food to the forest guards.

13. HOW DID FOREST RULE AFFECT CULTIVATION?
The major impact of European colonisation was on the practice of shifting cultivation.
What is shifting cultivation? How it was affected during colonial period?
-A Type of traditional framing practiced in many parts of Asia, Africa, South America ( mainly
by tribes).
- It is also known as Sweden agriculture.
- Shifting cultivation is called with different names in different parts of the world:
South East Asia- Lading
Central America- Milpa
Africa- Chitemene or Tavy
Srilanka- Chena
Many local names in India- Dhya, Penda, Podu, Nevad, Jhum, Bewar, Khandad, Kumari.

14. HOW SHIFTING CULTIVATION IS PRACTICED?
• A part of forest is cut- Then burnt- Seeds are sown in the ashes after the first monsoon rains- then
crops are harvested by Oct- Nov.
• Such activity is performed for a couple of years on a same plot, then the plot is left for 12 to 18
years and new plot is cleared for farming. The same activity is reaped there.
• Mixture of crop is grown on these plots ( millets, maize, manioc, beans etc).
How it was affected during colonial period?
• European foresters regarded it as harmful. (Why?)
• Land cultivated every few years could not grow trees for railway timber.
• Burning of forest added danger of the flames spreading and burning valuable timber.
• It was difficult to calculate and collect tax from them.
• Because of the above reasons government decided to ban shifting cultivation.
• Many communities were forcibly displaced from their homes in forests, changed their
occupations, while some resisted through large and small rebellion but they were suppressed.

15. WHO COULD HUNT?
• New forest laws affected the lives of forest dwellers.
• People living in or near forest survived by hunting deer, patriges and variety of small animals.
• But under new laws their customary practices was prohibited.
• If they caught hunting, they were punished for poaching ( illegal entry).
There was also another side of hunting
While tribes were deprived of the customary rights of hunting at the same time hunting of big
game became a sport.
- Hunting of tiger and other animals was a culture in ancient India.
- But during colonial period Hunting reached to such extent that various species became almost
extinct. ( why they killed many wild life?)
- British was large animals as signs of wild, primitive and savage society.
- They believed that by killing wild animals they could civilize India.
- People were rewarded for killing tiger, wolves and other large animals.

16. SOME FACTS AND FIGURES MIGHT SURPRISE YOU
• During 1875- 1925, over 80,000 tigers, 150,000 leopards were killed for
rewards.
• Killing tiger= Sporting trophy
- Maharaja of Surguja alone shot 1157 tigers And 2000 leopards up to 1957.
- British administrator George Yule killed 400 tigers .
- Later environmentalist and conservators argued for protection of all these
species.

17. NEW TRADES, NEW EMPLOYMENT AND NEW
SERVICES
• Colonial control over forest had a positive impact also, some opportunities
opened up in trade.
• Many communities left their traditional occupations and started trading in
forest products ( Honey & Rubber).
• This opportunity was enjoyed across the world. Eg, Mundurukcu people of
Brazilian Amazon shifted from cultivation of Manioc to the cultivation of
latex from wild rubber.
• Gradually they became suppliers of latex to traders.

18. COLONIALISM, TRADE, TRIBAL AND INDIA
• In India trade in forest product was not new phenomenon.
• From medieval period adivasis use to trade- hides, silk, gums horn, cocoons, ivory, bamboo,
spices, fibres, grasses and resins etc ( Banjaras).
What happened to this trade during colonial period?
• British came in India Regulations were imposed over trade.
• Trading rights were given to European trading firms.
• Grazing and hunting by local people were restricted.
• Many pastoralists and nomadic communities like the Korava, Karach and Yerukula of
Madras presidency lost their lively hood.
• They were called as criminal tribes.
• Forced to work instead in factories, mines and plantations under government supervision.

19. DO YOU THINK TRIBALS GOT WORK? THEN THEY
SHOULD BE HAPPY. BUT THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.
• Work did not always mean improved well being for the people.
• Their wages were low and working conditions for work were very bad.
• They could not return back to their home easily.
• Eg: people from Assam, Santals and Oraons from Jharkhan, Gonds from
Chattisgarh were restricted to work on tea plantations

20. REBELLION IN THE FOREST
What do you understand by the heading?
What can be the reason for rebellion?
In many parts of India and across the world.Forest communities rebelled against the
changes that were being imposed on them.
• These rebellions were led by different leaders in different parts of the country.
• Siddu and Kanu in Santhal paragana ( Jharkhand)
• Birsa Munda of Chotanagpur plateau.
• Allurisitaram Raju of Andhrapradesh.
They all rebelled because of suppression, injustice and atrocities over them and most
important reasons for rebellion was interference in their forest, culture and life.
One such rebellion took place in the kingsom of Bastar in 1910.

21. GEOGRAPHICAL STRUCTURE OF BASTAR
• Located in southernmost part of Chhattisgarh ( its borders Andhra Pradesh,
Orissa and Maharashtra).
• Central part is plateau, Chattisgarh plain lies in its north and its south lies
Godavariplain.
• River Indravati flows across east to west of Bastar.
The People of Bastar:

22. PEOPLE OF BASTAR
• Communities such as Maria and Muria Gonds, Dhurwas, Bhatras and Halbas live in
Bastar, they speak different languages but share common customs and beliefs.
• They worship earth because they believe village was given its land by earth.
• Looks after earth by making offerings at each agricultural festival.
• Show respect to the spirit of the rivers, forest and mountains.
• Each village uses natural resources in their village boundary. In case they use the
resources from other boundary they used to pay a small fee called Devasari, Dand or
Man in exchange.
• Engaging watch man to protect the forest.
• In annual hunt( gathering) the village headmen of villages in the paragana( cluster
of villages) meet and discuss issues of concern, including forests.

23. THE FEAR OF THE PEOPLE
What were the reasons of the rebellion in Bastar?
• Colonial government proposed to reserve two-third of forest in 1905.
• Banned shifting cultivation, hunting and collection of forest produce.
• Only some villagers were allowed to stay on in the reserved forest.(Why?)
• So that the forest department get people for work such as cutting and
transporting trees, protecting forest form fire.
• People of other villages were displaced without any notice of compensation.
• People were already not happy due to increased land rent ,demand of free
labour and food by colonial officers.
• People of Bastar were worried.

24. HOW DID REBELLION START?
• Discussion over the issues at public places ( changes brought by the Colonial
Govt).
• The initiative was taken by Dhurvas of Kanger forest where reservation first
took place.
• The rebellion was led by Gundadhur from Village Netahanar.
• In 1910, Mango boughs, a lump of earth, chilies and arrows began
circulating between villages to rebel against the British.
• Every village contributed something to the rebellion expenses.
• Finally there was an out break. Bazars were looted, houses of officials and
traders , robbed and grains redistributed police stations were burnt.

25. WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE OF THE BRITISH?
• British sent troops to suppress the rebellion.
• Surrounded their camps and fired upon them.
• Punishing all those who participated in rebellion.
• Most villages were deserted as people fled into the jungle.
• within 3 months(Feb-May) the British regain control.
Was the rebellion a failure?
No, Rebellion was a victory for the relbels because ,
i) British did not manage to capture Gunda Dhur ( the leader).
ii) The reservation was temporarily suspended and area to be reserved was reduced
roughly half of that planned before 1910 ( which was 2/3rd ).

26. AFTER THE REBELLION
• The struggle of the people does not end there.
• The practice of keeping people out of the forests and reserving them for
industrial use continued after independence also.(How?).
• In 1970a proposal of World Bank, was that, 4,600 hectares of natural sal
forest should be replaced by tropical pine to obtain pulp for paper industry.
• Against this proposal local environmentalists protested and the project was
stopped.
Similar story of struggle can be seen in Indonesia also.

27. FOREST TRANSFORMATION IN JAVA
• Colonial rule in Java was by Dutch( Netherland).
• Today Java is famous as a rice producing island in Indonesia. But once upon a time it was
covered mostly with forest.
• Dutch started forest management in Java. Because of timber to build ships.
People of Java:
Kalangs a community of skilled wood cutters and shifting cultivators of Java.
They were so important community that in 1755, during the split of Mataram kingdom the
6000 Kalang families were equally divided between two kingdoms, because they were
expertise in harvesting teak, and building palaces.
Under Colonial period:
Dutch tried to make Kalangs work under them. In 1770, Kalangs resisted by attacking a Dutch
fort at Joana, but the uprising was suppressed.

28. DUTCH SCIENTIFIC FORESTRY
• Dutch enacted forest laws in Java.
• Restricted villagers access to forest.
• Cutting of wood was allowed from specific forest and under supervision.
• Villagers were punished for grazing cattle in young stands, transporting
without a permission or travelling on forest road with horse cart or cattle.

29. SAMINS CHALLENGE ( SURANTIKO SAMIN)
• He lived in the Randublatung having teak forest.
• Began questioning state ownership of the forest. His argument was that wind
, water, earth and wood was not created by the state. Therefore state should
not own it.
• Soon his ideas turned into a widespread movementby his son-in-law.
• Saminists protested by lying down on their land when the Dutch came to
survey it, while other refuse to pay taxes or fines or perform labour.
• By 1907, 3000 families were following his idea.

30. WAR AND DEFORESTATION
• The First world war and the second world war had a major impact on forest( How?)
• In case of India- Cutting of trees abundantly for war needs).
• In case of Java – As the Japanese were going to occupy the region, Dutch followed
the “Scorched Earth” policy.
“Scorched Earth” policy: Dutch colonial officers, destroyed saw mills and burnt huge
piles of giant teak logs, so that the Japanese should not get that.
• At the same time Japanese also exploited the forests recklessly for war industries.
• Villagers use this opportunity to expand cultivable land . This all lead to huge
deforestation.

31. NEW DEVELOPMENTS
• Since 1980s governments across Asia and Africa realized the conflicts of
scientific forestry and conservation of forests is important than collecting
timber became a more important goal.
• How this could be done?
• People who live near the forests must be included in conservation.
• People protecting forest in the name of sacred groves ( as we have seen in
case of Bastar).
• Villages patrolling their own forests.
• This opens up an opportunity of thinking of different terms of forest
management.