who were kalangs of java .how did samin challenge the dutch
Answers
Kalangs were a community of skilled forest cutters and shifting cultivators of Java. They were expert in building palaces for the kings. The Kalangs had their own importance for the kings. When the dutch began to gain control over the forests of Indonesia in Eighteenth Century, they also tried to take the Kalangs under their control. But they resisted the Dutch by attacking them but their rebellion was suppressed by the Dutch.
Samin's Challenge -
Around 1890, Surontiko Samin of Randublatung village, which was a teak forest village, began to question about state ownership of the forests. He began to convince his fellow folks about the wrong doings of the colonial rulers. Many families were inspired from his ideology and joined the rebellion. People protested by lying down on their own land when the Dutch came there to survey their land. Many others refused to pay taxes or fines or do work.
The Kalangs of Java
They were a community of skilled forest cutters. They engaged in shifting cultivation. They harvested teak. They played an important role in constructing the palaces of the kings in Java. In 1755 when the Mataram kingdom of Java was split, 6000 Kalang families were divided equally between the two kingdoms. This shows that they were very valuable for the kings.
Samin's Challenge
Surontiko Samin lived in the Randublatung village in Java. It was a teak forest village. He challenged the Dutch that wind, water, earth and wood were not created by the state so the Dutch could not own it.
Samin's Challenge grew into a widespread movement. His ideology was followed by 3000 families. They protested against the forest laws made by the Dutch. They lay down on their land when the Dutch came to survey it. Some of them refused to cut down the trees for the Dutch. Many of them refused to pay taxes and fines.