What happened to the shifting cultivators?
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, shifting cultivators in India faced significant challenges due to British colonial policies. Jhum cultivation, or shifting cultivation, required free movement within forests, a practice severely disrupted by colonial land settlements and stringent forest laws.
Impacts of British Policies:
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Land Settlements: The British aimed to settle nomadic tribal groups to facilitate tax collection and administrative ease, deeming settled peasants easier to control. They introduced land settlements that defined land rights and fixed revenue, leading to a loss of the traditional communal land system.
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Forest Laws: The British classified forests as state property, enforcing restrictions that prohibited traditional practices like jhum cultivation and foraging. Many shifting cultivators were forced to seek work elsewhere as access to their livelihoods was curtailed.
Economic Struggles:
- The introduction of exploitative practices by traders and moneylenders exacerbated the plight of tribal people. As they depended on external goods for survival, many found themselves trapped in debt cycles, leading to poverty.
Cultural Resilience:
- Despite these challenges, some tribal groups resisted colonial encroachments and sought to maintain their cultural practices. Others adapted by semi-settling while still practicing shifting cultivation where possible, reflecting their resilience in the face of colonization.
These historical dynamics illustrate the profound transformations in the lives of shifting cultivators, often erasing their traditional ways of life during a critical period of colonial governance.