Tribals, Dikus and the | Class 8 Social Science Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 4 min read
Tribals, Dikus and the – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of Tribals, Dikus and the from Class 8 Social Science, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
How did Tribal Groups Live?
By the nineteenth century, tribal people across India engaged in diverse economic activities adapted to their environments. One major practice was jhum cultivation or shifting cultivation, where small forest patches were cleared by cutting treetops and burning vegetation to prepare the soil. The ash fertilized the land, and seeds were broadcast rather than sown in ploughed fields. After harvesting, the cultivators moved to new fields, leaving the old ones fallow for several years to regain fertility. This method was common in hilly and forested regions of northeast and central India and depended on free movement within forests. Other tribal groups lived as hunters and gatherers, relying on collective hunts and gathering fruits, roots, and medicinal herbs from forests. The Khonds of Orissa exemplify this lifestyle, using forest resources for food, medicine, and trade. Some tribes were pastoralists, herding cattle, sheep, or goats and moving seasonally to find grazing. Examples include the Van Gujjars of Punjab and the Bakarwals of Kashmir. These diverse livelihoods highlight the close relationship between tribal communities and their natural environments, and their dependence on forests for survival. However, these ways of life also made them vulnerable to external pressures and changes under colonial rule.
📊 Diagram: Figure 2 depicts Dongria Kandha women in Orissa carrying pandanus leaves from the forest to make plates, illustrating the gathering of forest produce for daily use.
🔗 Connection: Prepares for understanding the economic exchanges and challenges faced by tribal groups, including their interactions with traders and moneylenders.
Frequently asked questions
1. Fill in the blanks: (a) The British described the tribal people as __________. (b) The method of sowing seeds in jhum cultivation is known as __________. (c) The tribal chiefs got _______ titles in central India under the British land settlements. (d) Tribals went to work in the _______ of Assam and the _______ in Bihar.
(a) The British described the tribal people as 'primitive'. (b) The method of sowing seeds in jhum cultivation is known as 'broadcasting'. (c) The tribal chiefs got 'zamindari' titles in central India under the British land settlements. (d) Tribals went to work in the 'tea gardens' of Assam and the 'coal mines' in Bihar.
Imagine you are a jhum cultivator living in a forest village in the nineteenth century. You have just been told that the land you were born on no longer belongs to you. In a meeting with British officials you try to explain the kinds of problems you face. What would you say?
As a jhum cultivator, I would explain that shifting cultivation depends on the availability of forest land to clear and cultivate for a few years before moving on. Losing my ancestral land means I cannot continue this traditional practice, threatening my livelihood. I would highlight problems such as lack of land for cultivation, inability to sustain my family, loss of forest resources, and the disruption of our social and cultural life. I would also explain that the British land policies do not
2. State whether true or false: (a) Jhum cultivators plough the land and sow seeds. (b) Cocoons were bought from the Santhals and sold by the traders at five times the purchase price. (c) Birsa urged his followers to purify themselves, give up drinking liquor and stop believing in witchcraft and sorcery. (d) The British wanted to preserve the tribal way of life.
(a) False. Jhum cultivators do not plough the land; they clear forest patches and broadcast seeds. (b) True. Traders bought cocoons from Santhals and sold them at much higher prices. (c) True. Birsa urged his followers to give up liquor and witchcraft. (d) False. The British policies disrupted tribal ways of life.
3. What problems did shifting cultivators face under British rule?
Shifting cultivators faced several problems under British rule:
- The British introduced permanent land settlements that did not recognize shifting cultivation, depriving cultivators of their traditional rights.
- Forest land was declared government property, restricting access to land needed for jhum cultivation.
- Moneylenders and landlords took over tribal lands, leading to loss of land and indebtedness.
- Tribals were forced to work as labourers in tea gardens and mines due to loss of land.
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