Page 29 - SST Class 08
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Around this time, the Christian missionaries were tribals to Christianity on the promise of land,
working to convert tribals to Christianity on the money and other means of livelihood. At this
promises of money, land and social status. time, the tribals were made to disrespect their clan
However, most of the times, these promises were gods, which offended their sentiments. Also, the
not kept, which resulted in the disillusionment of missionaries seldom kept their promises.
the tribals, so they reverted back to their clan faith
Repression of Tribals
or Hinduism. We can find this fact from the life of
Birsa Munda, whom we shall study a little later. Whenever the tribals tried to raise their voice,
they were violently repressed. They were arrested
Activity and punished in full public view even on trivial
Prepare a pictorial on the tribal people of any state matters only to instil fear in other tribals. This
or your state describing their food, dresses, caused a lot of resentment among the tribals.
culture, occupations and religions.
Government Archives as Sources of History
TRIBAL REVOLTS of Tribal Revolts
The government archives has preserved many
The degradation of economic, social and cultural
records which show the dates, causes and people
aspects of tribal life made the tribals rise in revolt.
There occurred many major and minor revolts in concerned with tribal revolts in different parts of
different parts of the country. The massive tribal the country. These records can be reconstructed to
construct history of the tribal records. Of course,
revolts were by the Santhals in Bengal and Bihar,
the Kolis in Maharashtra, the Khasis in Meghalaya, as these records had been created by the British
the Bhils in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, the government, these are somewhat prejudiced
against the tribals, still a great many facts can be
Mundas in Bihar, the Gonds and the Khonds in
Orissa, the Mers in Rajasthan, besides many made out from them.
others. Characteristics of Tribal Revolts
Causes of Tribal Revolts In most cases, the tribals were, and still are,
We have discussed above the important causes of simple primitive people living in far-flung areas.
tribal revolts. We can study the important of them Their resources were limited, so their revolts were
under the following headings : characterised by a large number of people but
inadequate weapons. In most cases, the tribals
Exploitation
were unarmed, or at the most, armed with sticks,
The British exploited the tribals by dispossessing bows-arrows, lances etc., which could stand
them of their land and means of livelihood. Also, nowhere in comparison to the firepower of the
they compelled them to grow cash crops which British forces. Each time the tribals rose in revolt,
wreaked havoc with the fertility of land. In most they were violently suppressed resulting in a large
cases, the tribals were not allowed to use the number of casualties of the tribals.
forest resources and mines for their own purposes,
and the outsiders were given this right. Quiz Time
Interference into Tribal Customs and Fill in the blanks :
Traditions
1. The ___________ generally live in heavily
The tribals have always guarded their peculiar forested areas.
customs and traditions from any outside
interference. The interference of the outside 2. Tribals realised the importance of ___________ .
people offended them. 3. The lion’s share in the crops and forests
products was taken away by the ___________
Work by Christian Missionaries
and their ___________ .
The Christian missionaries worked to convert the
Colonialism and Tribal Societies
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