UPSC Mains 2023 · GS I · Q13 · 15 marks · 250 words

How did the colonial rule affect the tribals in India and what was the tribal response to the colonial oppression?

हिन्दी में

भारत में औपनिवेशिक शासन ने आदिवासियों को कैसे प्रभावित किया और औपनिवेशिक उत्पीड़न के प्रति आदिवासी प्रतिक्रिया क्या थी?

Tribals British Policies and Their Impact Freedom Struggle

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Examine the socio-economic changes experienced by tribal communities during British colonial rule in India. Discuss how these impacts led to various forms of resistance and adaptation among the tribes.”

Aakash GargAIR 5 · CSE 2024 · 143 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Tribal communities prior to British rule lived in relative isolation. Colonial policies of land revenue, moneylenders, christian missionaries etc. broke this isolation.

Socio - Economic Changes:

Body · points

Loss of traditional rights on land and forest.
Ban on shifting cultivation. e.g. Jhoom cultivation
Actions by christian missionaries leading to loss of primitive religions like animism, totemism etc.
The communal ownership of land replaced by private ownership by moneylenders, zamindars etc.

Response to changes: It has been seen in various tribal movements:

a) Santhal Hul (1855): It led to formation of Santhal Pargana later.

b) Birsa Munda Revolt (1899-1900): Against Christian missionaries and moneylenders.

c) Rampa Rebellion (1922-24): by Alluri Sitararam Raju in Andhra Region.

Close · a summary

Others like Khand revolt, Naga movement etc. challenged British authority.

While the earlier movements were backward looking but in 20th century, it aligned with Indian National Movement.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2023, General Studies Paper I, Q13. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.