4.1.4. Some took to settled cultivation

Even before the nineteenth century, many from within the tribal groups had begun settling down, and cultivating their fields in one place year after year, instead of moving from place to place.

Before the 1800s, many tribal groups in India started to change their traditional ways of life. Instead of practicing shifting cultivation (where they would move to different areas for farming), they began to settle down in one place and cultivate the same fields every year. This marked a major transition from being mobile agriculture practitioners to settled farmers.

Imagine a group of nomads who used to live in tents and move around to find food, similar to how some people go camping. Now, think about how they would decide to build a permanent house, stay in one place, and grow their own crops like vegetables or grains in a garden. This is what settled cultivation means.

They began to use the plough, and gradually got rights over the land they lived on. In many cases, like the Mundas of Chottanagpur, the land belonged to the clan as a whole.

As tribes settled down, they started to adopt new tools like the plough to cultivate their fields more efficiently. Over time, they established rights to the land they worked on, meaning they owned and could use the land legally. For groups like the Mundas, the land was collectively owned by the clan, indicating a shared responsibility and connection to their territory.

Think of it like a family investing in a community garden where everyone shares the responsibilities and benefits of growing fruits and vegetables. Instead of just picking whatever they find in the wild, they work together to cultivate the garden each year.

All members of the clan were regarded as descendants of the original settlers, who had first cleared the land. Therefore, all of them had rights on the land. Very often some people within the clan acquired more power than others, some became chiefs and others followers.

In settled communities, the ties to land became more formalized. Members of a clan were seen as descendants of the first people who settled and cleared that land, thus having common rights over it. However, as they settled down, some individuals gained more influence and leadership roles, creating a hierarchy where some were chiefs and others were followers or helpers.

Imagine a school project where a group of friends works together on a science fair. They all contribute, but one person naturally takes the lead because they know more about the project. That leader becomes the 'chief,' while others support, even though all contributed to the project equally.

British officials saw settled tribal groups like the Gonds and Santhals as more civilised than hunter-gatherers or shifting cultivators.

British officials perceived settled tribes as more civilized compared to those who were still practicing traditional hunting and gathering or shifting cultivation. They believed that those who had settled down and farmed land were more orderly and easier to govern because they were not constantly moving.

It's like viewing different communities in a city. Some might believe that people who live in houses and have stable jobs are more established or 'civilized' than those who live in transient situations like in tents or mobile homes, even though both communities have their advantages and traditions.

The lives of tribal groups changed during British rule. Let us see what these changes were.

With the introduction of British rule, significant changes occurred in the lives of tribal groups. The laws and policies implemented by the British affected their traditional ways of living, social structures, and rights to land. This led to a shift in power dynamics and a challenge for tribes to maintain their traditions and autonomy.

Consider how new regulations in a small town can change how local businesses operate. When new rules are introduced, businesses must adapt to survive, just like tribes had to adjust to the pressures imposed by British colonial policies.

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