Tribals Dikus and the vision of a golden age question answer: History class 8 chapter 4 question answer
| Textbook | Ncert |
| Class | Class 8 |
| Subject | History |
| Chapter | Chapter 4 |
| Chapter Name | Tribals Dikus and the vision of a golden age ncert solutions |
| Category | Ncert Solutions |
| Medium | English |
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Question 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.
Answer 1: (a) The British described the tribal people as wild and savage.
(b) The method of sowing seeds in jhum cultivation is known as broadcasting.
(c) The tribal chiefs got land titles in central India under the British land settlements.
(d) Tribals went to work in the tea plantations of Assam and the coal mines in Bihar.
Question 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.
Answer 2: (a) Jhum cultivators plough the land and sow seeds – False
(b) Cocoons were bought from the Santhals and sold by the traders at five times the purchase price – True
(c) Birsa urged his followers to purify themselves, give up drinking liquor and stop believing in witchcraft and sorcery – True
(d) The British wanted to preserve the tribal way of life – False
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Question 3: What problems did shifting cultivators face under British rule?
Answer 3: The life of shifting cultivators was directly connected to the forest. So, when the British brought changes in forest laws, their life was badly affected. The British extended their control over all forests and declared that forests were state property.
Some forests were classified as Reserved Forests for they produced timber which the British wanted. In these forests, people were not allowed to move freely and practice jhum cultivations. As a result, many jhum cultivators had to move to other areas in search of work.
Question 4: How did the powers of tribal chiefs change under colonial rule?
Answer 4: Under the British rule, the functions and powers of the tribal chiefs changed considerably. They were allowed to keep their land titles over a cluster of villages and rent outlands, but they lost much of their administrative power and were forced to follow laws made by the British officials in India.
They also had to pay tribute to the British, and discipline the tribal groups on behalf of the British. They lost the authority that they had earlier enjoyed among their people and were unable to fulfil their traditional functions.
Question 5: What accounts for the anger of the tribals against the dikus?
Answer 5: The forest law, introduced by the Britishers was the accounts of the anger of the tribals. The tribals disobeyed these new forest laws/rules, and continued with the practices that were declared illegal and at time rose in open rebellion.
Question 6: What was Birsa’s vision of a golden age? Why do you think such a vision appealed to the people of the region?
Answer 6: Birsa talked about a golden age which was to be an age of truth in which the tribal people would have access to development. This took place at a time when the Mundas had no enemies or dikus. They wanted to restore the ancestral rights of their communities as they had been in the past.
The golden age was supposed to be a reformed society where people would be away from intoxication, sorcery and also outside influences such as the Christian Missionaries and other foreigners who wanted to change their tribal culture. Thus, this vision had appealed a lot to the tribals of the region.
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Question 7: Find out from your parents, friends or teachers, the names of some heroes of other tribal revolts in the twentieth century. Write their story in your own words.
Answer 7: Dedan Kimathi (Kenya – Mau Mau Uprising):
- Led a guerrilla movement in the 1950s against British colonial rule.
- Organized small, determined fighters in the highlands, symbolizing the spirit of resistance.
- Captured and executed, yet his sacrifice remains a powerful inspiration for freedom fighters.
Rani Gaidinliu (Northeast India – Naga Movement):
- A young Naga leader who united her people against colonial domination.
- Blended spiritual guidance with active resistance to preserve Naga culture and autonomy.
- Despite enduring imprisonment, her courage continues to inspire struggles for self-determination.
Question 8: Choose any tribal group living in India today. Find out about their customs and way of life, and how their lives have changed in the last 50 years.
Answer 8: The Santhal community, one of the largest tribal groups in India, is known for its vibrant cultural heritage and strong communal ties. Traditionally, Santhals have lived a life closely connected to nature, engaging in subsistence agriculture, forest foraging, and artisanal crafts, while upholding unique customs such as the Sohrai and Karam festivals, which celebrate harvests and natural elements through dance, music, and ritual.
Over the past 50 years, however, their way of life has seen significant transformation. Modernization and government-led development initiatives have introduced formal education, healthcare, and alternative economic opportunities, gradually shifting many from traditional livelihoods to wage labor and urban employment.
At the same time, issues such as land dispossession and environmental degradation have disrupted their age-old practices, prompting community efforts to preserve their language and cultural identity even as they adapt to a rapidly changing world.