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Social ScienceClass 8Tribals, Dikus and the

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.

A time to hunt, a time to sow, a time to move to a new field

The lives of shifting cultivators and hunters were governed by a natural calendar and division of labor between men and women. British anthropologist Verrier Elwin documented the Baigas and Khonds of central India, describing their seasonal activities. For example, in the month of Chait, women cleared stalks while men cut large trees and went on ritual hunts starting at full moon. Women gathered fruits like sago and tamarind, while Baiga women collected roots and mahua seeds. Hunting was a significant activity, especially for Baigas, known as expert hunters. In Baisakh, forest firing occurred, and men hunted closer to villages. Sowing happened in Jeth, followed by fieldwork from Asadh to Bhadon. The cycle included harvesting, winnowing, dances, marriages, and shifting to new fields in Magh. This calendar regulated subsistence activities and social events, reflecting a harmonious relationship with nature. The division of tasks also showed gender roles, with men focusing on hunting and fieldwork, and women on gathering and clearing. This cyclical lifestyle was disrupted by colonial policies that sought to settle shifting cultivators.

📊 Diagram: Figure 4 shows a Santhal girl carrying firewood in Bihar (1946), illustrating the role of women in gathering forest produce as part of their seasonal tasks.

🧪 Activity: Students are asked to observe the division of tasks between Baiga men and women and identify patterns and differences in their work.

🔗 Connection: Leads to discussion on settled cultivation and how some tribal groups began adopting plough cultivation and land rights under British rule.

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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