Question

How did forest rulers affect cultivation and how were the lives
of people affected by forest law?​

Answer 1

Affected cultivation:

• The main impact of the European colonialism was on the practice of Jhum farming or the shifting cultivation. In this type of farming, a clearing is made in the forest. Once the trees are cut down they were burnt to provide ashes, after this the general process of farming was implemented.  
• In the shifting cultivation, the piece of land is used for a few years and is then left unused for 10 to 12 years.
• In order to develop railways and to control the tribal groups easily, the British government took control of the forests and declared those forests as Reserved Forests for they produced timber.

Affected people:

• Everyday taxes were illegal like: cutting wood, grazing the cattle, collecting fruits, hunting
• People were forced to steal wood from forests. If they ever got caught then the forest guards would decide what to do and even bribe them

Answer 2

Question :-

Discuss how the changes in forest management in the colonial period affected the following groups of people:

(a) Shifting cultivators

(b) Nomadic and pastoralist communities

(c) Firms trading in timber/forest produce

(d) Plantation owners

(e) Kings/British officials engaged in a shikar.

Answer :-

(a) Shifting Cultivators

Shifting cultivation was a traditional agricultural practice in many parts of Asia, Africa, and South America. Parts of the forest are cut and burnt in rotation. After the first monsoon rains, seeds are sown in the ashes, and crops are cultivated. Cultivation is continued for a couple of years. Then the forest is allowed to grow in the area for 12 to 18 years. Then they are cut and burnt once more. This rotation is called Shifting cultivation.

The Colonial government banned Shifting cultivation, as European foresters felt that this would harm the forests and valuable timber would be lost. The Government also found it difficult to calculate taxes when Shifting cultivation was practiced.

The ban displaced many Shifting cultivators. Many of them had to change their occupation. A few Shifting cultivators agitated against the ban.

(b) Nomadic and Pastoralist Communities

Nomadic and pastoralist communities moved about in the mountains and deserts and in the plains and plateaus of India and Africa. The pastoralist communities formed an important part of the population in both countries during the Colonial era. When the Colonial government established control over the forests it affected the pastoralist communities in a big way.

The pastoralist communities always moved from place to place with their cattle. When forests were destroyed by the government to expand agriculture, the Nomads lost grazing fields for their cattle. This brought a lot of hardship to the pastoralist communities.

(c) Firms Trading in Timber/Forest Produce

Large expanses of forests were cut for timber and forest produce. The Colonial Government was worried about this reckless felling of trees. It passed the Indian Forest Act in 1865. This Act was amended in the year 1878. Under this amendment the forests were divided into 3 categories, – reserved, protected and village forests. Villagers and local firms trading in timber and forest produce could not take anything from the reserved or protected forests which had the best trees. This affected the traders immensely.

(d) Plantation Owners

Vast areas of forests were given to European Planters, at a very cheap rate by the Colonial government. Natural forests were cleared to cultivate tea coffee and rubber trees. There was a great demand for these commodities in Europe. These plantations were fenced off and others were not allowed inside.

(e) Kings/British Officials engaged in Shikar

Forest laws banned hunting of deer, partridges, and small animals. People who lived near the forests were deprived of their livelihood and food because of this ban. Contrary to this ban hunting of big animals like the tiger, leopard and wolves became a sport for the kings and the British. The British felt that by killing dangerous animals they could civilize India. The indiscriminate hunting by the British and the Kings almost made certain species of animals extinct.

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