Question

Who were kalangs why were they important justify with examples

Answer 1

The Kalangs of Java were a community of skilled forest cutters and shifting cultivators. In 1755 the Mataram kingdom of Java split, the 6000 Kalang families equally divided between the two kingdoms. Without their help to harvest the teak and for the kings to build their palaces was not possible.

Answer 2

The Kalangs were tribals who lived in Java. They were expert woodcutters. They practised shifting cultivation. They were important because it was difficult to harvest teak without their expertise.

For example:

1. When the Mataram kingdom of Java was split in 1755 the 6,000 Kalang families were divided equally between the two kingdoms.

2. In the 18th century when the Dutch gained control over the forests of Java they tried to make the Kalangs work under them to use the timber from the forest. The Kalangs resisted this and attacked the Dutch fort but the uprising was suppressed.