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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.

Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age

In 1895, Birsa Munda emerged as a significant figure among the tribal communities of Chottanagpur in Jharkhand. He was believed to possess miraculous powers, such as curing diseases and multiplying grain, and declared that God had appointed him to save his people from the oppression of the dikus, meaning outsiders. Thousands of tribals, including Mundas, Santhals, and Oraons, began following him, seeing him as a divine figure who could solve their problems. These tribal groups were unhappy with the changes under British rule, which threatened their traditional ways of life, livelihoods, and religious practices. The chapter explores the problems Birsa aimed to resolve, the identity of the dikus, and the impact of British colonialism on tribal societies. It also revisits the social structure of tribal groups, highlighting their kinship ties and the absence of rigid caste divisions, while acknowledging internal social and economic differences. This introduction sets the stage for understanding the tribal resistance and the vision of a golden age that Birsa inspired.

📊 Diagram: Figure 1 shows women of the Dongria Kandha tribe in Orissa wading through a river on their way to the market, illustrating the daily life and environment of tribal communities.

🔗 Connection: Leads into the next section discussing how tribal groups lived, their economic activities, and social organization.

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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