NCERT Solutions for Class 8 History Chapter 4 Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age

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NCERT Class 8 History Chapter 4 PDF Download

Students can easily download Class 8 History Chapter 4 PDF for free. This PDF includes:

• Detailed NCERT Solutions for Class 8 History Chapter 4 Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age
• Important short and long answers
• MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions) for quick practice
• Extra questions and answers for revision

These resources ensure that you understand the chapter completely and are well-prepared for exams.

Class 8 History Chapter 4 Questions Answers​

Fill in the blanks:

(a) The British described the tribal people as ____________.

Ans. Wild and Savage

(b) The method of sowing seeds in jhum cultivation is known as ____________.

Ans. broadcasting

(c) The tribal chiefs got ____________ titles in central India under the British land settlements.

Ans.land

(d) Tribals went to work in the ____________ of Assam and the ____________ in Bihar.

Ans: tea plantations, coal mines

2. State whether true or false:

(a) Jhum cultivators plough the land and sow seeds.

Ans: False

(b) Cocoons were bought from the Santhals and sold by the traders at five times the purchase price.

Ans: True

(c) Birsa urged his followers to purify themselves, give up drinking liquor and stop believing in witchcraft and sorcery.

Ans: True

(d) The British wanted to preserve the tribal way of life.

Ans: False

3. What problems did shifting cultivators face under British rule?

Ans:

1. The British were uncomfortable with groups who moved about and did not have a fixed home.
2. They wanted tribal groups to settle down and become peasant cultivators.
3. The British wanted regular revenue.
4. So the British introduced land settlements. But this effort was not successful.
5. Life of the tribals connected directly to the forests and the forest Laws by the british had adverse effect on their lives.
6. They were not allowed to move freely in the forest. This made them to migrate in search of work.

4. How did the powers of tribal chiefs change under colonial rule?

Ans:

The tribal chiefs were important people. They enjoyed a certain amount of economic power and had the right to administer and control their territories. Under the British rule, the functions and powers of these tribal chiefs changed to a great extent:

1. They were allowed to keep their land titles over a cluster of villages and rent out lands, but they lost much of their administrative power and were forced to follow laws made by British officials in India
2. They had to pay tribute to the British and discipline the tribal groups on behalf of the British.
3. They lost the authority they had earlier enjoyed amongst their people, and were unable to fulfil their traditional functions.
4. 5. What accounts for the anger of the tribals against the dikus?

Ans: The Dikus were outsiders for the tribals. Outsiders means -missionaries, moneylenders, Hindu landlords, and the government because they saw them as the cause of their misery. The tribals were against the dikus for the following reasons.

1. The land policies of the British were destroying their traditional land system.
2. Hindu landlords and moneylenders were taking over their land.
3. Missionaries were criticizing their traditional culture.

6. What was Birsa’s vision of a golden age? Why do you think such a vision appealed to the people of the region?

Ans:

• Birsa was deeply influenced by many of the ideas he came in touch within his growing- up years.
• The movement that he led aimed at reforming tribal society. He urged the Munda to give up drinking liquor, clean their village, and stop believing in witchcraft and sorcery.
• He often remembered the golden past of the Mundas, when they lived a good life constructed embankments, tapped natural springs, planted trees and orchards, practised cultivation to earn their living.
• They did not kill their brethren and relatives. They lived honestly.
• Birsa wanted to restore this glorious past.

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.

Ans:

• Guru Govind and other Bhil tribe leaders revolted against the British in 1913.
• Alluri Sitaram Raju led the revolt at Rampa with the help of Koya community in Andhra Pradesh.
• Lakshmana Naik led the revolt against British in Koraput, Orissa.
• Alluri Sitarama Raju was an Indian revolutionary involved in the Indian independence movement. After the passing of the 1882 Madras Forest Act, its restrictions on the free movement of tribal people in the forest prevented them from engaging in their traditional podu agricultural system, which involved shifting cultivation.
• Alluri led the Rampa Rebellion of 1922, during which a band of tribal people and other sympathizers fought in the border areas of the East Godavari and Visakhapatnam regions of Madras Presidency, in present-day Andhra Pradesh, against the British Raj, which had passed the law. They killed many outsiders and burned houses. This armed resistance went on for two years after which it was brutally suppressed by the British with their superior weaponry.

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.

Ans:

1. The Baiga Tribe are found extensively in Baiga-Chuk in the Mandla District in Madhya Pradesh and in the remote areas of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkand.
2. The tribe is also divided into several sub-castes and are considered as the schedule tribe in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
3. They speak in a language ‘Baigani’ which is said to be much like Gondi, though they do know how to communicate with others in Hindi.
4. Tattoo is an integral part of the women in the tribe and men earn their livelihood by shifting cultivation.

MCQs on Chapter 4 – Tribals, Dikus, and the Vision of a Golden Age

Ques: Who were Dikus according to the tribals?

a) Teachers and priests

b) Outsiders and exploiters

c) Tribal leaders

d) British officials

Answer: b) Outsiders and exploiters

Ques: Which tribal leader started the famous revolt in 1895-1900?

a) Mangal Pandey

b) Birsa Munda

c) Rani Laxmi Bai

d) Tipu Sultan

Answer: b) Birsa Munda

Ques: What was the primary occupation of the tribals?

a) Trade

b) Agriculture and shifting cultivation

c) Metalworking

d) Carpentry

Answer: b) Agriculture and shifting cultivation

Ques: Which of the following is not a tribal community?

a) Santhals

b) Bhils

c) Mundas

d) Brahmins

Answer: d) Brahmins

Ques: What is 'Jhum cultivation'?

a) Growing crops along riverbanks

b) Permanent farming in fertile soil

c) Shifting cultivation practiced by tribals

d) Plantation of cash crops

Answer: c) Shifting cultivation practiced by tribals

Ques: What vision did Birsa Munda have for his people?

a) Adoption of British lifestyle

b) A return to the Golden Age, free from Dikus

c) Building schools for tribals

d) Expansion of trade with Europeans

Answer: b) A return to the Golden Age, free from Dikus

Ques: Why did the British introduce laws to restrict tribal practices?

a) To preserve tribal culture

b) To promote education among tribals

c) To gain control over forests and agricultural land

d) To encourage tribals to join the army

Answer: c) To gain control over forests and agricultural land

Ques: Which tribal community was involved in the Santhal Rebellion of 1855-56?

a) Bhils

b) Santhals

c) Gonds

d) Mundas

Answer: b) Santhals

Ques: How did Dikus exploit the tribals?

a) By providing free education

b) Through heavy taxation and forced labor

c) By offering financial help

d) By gifting agricultural tools

Answer: b) Through heavy taxation and forced labor

Ques: What did the term 'Golden Age' mean for Birsa Munda and his followers?

a) An era of British rule

b) A time with no oppressors and self-rule for tribals

c) A period of religious reforms

d) Introduction of modern farming methods

Answer: b) A time with no oppressors and self-rule for tribals

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 History Chapter 4 Questions and Answers

Below are the Class 8 History Chapter 4 questions and answers from Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age. These solutions are written in a clear NCERT style to help students in exams and assignments.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. Who were known as “Dikus” by the tribals?
Solution: The tribals used the term “Dikus” for outsiders such as moneylenders, landlords, traders, missionaries, and British officials. They exploited the tribals by taking their land, forcing them into bonded labour, and charging heavy interest on loans.

Question 2. What is jhum cultivation?
Solution:Jhum cultivation was the traditional form of shifting cultivation practiced by many tribal groups. A patch of forest land was cleared by burning, crops were sown, and after harvest the land was left fallow for regeneration. This practice was disturbed by British forest laws.

Question 3. Why did the tribals resent forest laws introduced by the British?
Solution: The new forest laws restricted shifting cultivation, hunting, and free movement of tribals in the forests. This destroyed their traditional livelihood and made them dependent on plantation work, moneylenders, and landlords.

Question 4. Who was Birsa Munda and why is he remembered?
Solution:Birsa Munda was a tribal leader from Chotanagpur who led a powerful movement against Dikus and the British. He envisioned a “golden age” (satyug) where tribals would live freely on their land without exploitation. He is remembered as a freedom fighter and a symbol of tribal identity.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1. Explain the impact of British land and forest policies on tribal life.
Solution: The British land settlements and forest laws completely changed tribal life. The forest laws banned shifting cultivation and restricted hunting. Tribals were forced to work as labourers in tea plantations of Assam and coal mines of Bihar. They also became victims of moneylenders and traders. The loss of traditional livelihood caused poverty and anger, leading to tribal uprisings across India.

Question 2. What was Birsa Munda’s vision of a golden age (satyug)?
Solution: Birsa Munda preached about a satyug (golden age) where tribals would live free from the control of Dikus and the British. He urged tribals to give up drinking, stop believing in witchcraft, and remain united. His movement was both a social reform and a political resistance against colonial rule. The vision gave hope and inspired later tribal struggles in India.

Question 3. How did different tribal groups sustain themselves before colonial interference? Give examples.
Solution: Tribals had diverse ways of living:

• Shifting cultivators: Like the Santhals and Mundas, practiced jhum cultivation.
• Pastoralists: Groups such as Van Gujjars of Punjab, Gaddis of Kulu, and Bakarwals of Kashmir herded cattle and moved seasonally.
• Hunters and gatherers: Tribes like the Khonds of Odisha lived by hunting and collecting forest produce.
• Agricultural labourers: Some settled tribals worked on the lands of others.
  This variety showed the richness of tribal economies before colonial restrictions.

NCERT Activity Questions

Question: Locate and mark the major tribal groups on the Class 8 History map of India. Identify the areas where they lived and explain briefly about their lifestyle.

Solution: On the Class 8 History map, the following tribal groups can be marked:

• Santhals: Lived in present-day Jharkhand, practiced agriculture and shifting cultivation.
• Mundas: Also from Chotanagpur plateau, known for their struggle under Birsa Munda.
• Khonds: Lived in Odisha, depended on hunting and forest produce.
• Van Gujjars: Migratory pastoralists of Punjab and the western Himalayas.
• Gaddis: Shepherd community of Himachal Pradesh, moved seasonally with their flocks.
• Bakarwals: Nomadic herders of Jammu & Kashmir.

These tribal groups had unique lifestyles based on their environment and resources. The Class 8 History maps in the textbook visually show their spread across India.

What does one Learn from Class 8 History Chapter 4?

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• NCERT History for sophistication 8 History Chapters

Chapter - 4 Colonialism and Tribal Societies

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• Class 8 science History Chapter Wise Marks Weightage

Chapter 4 Colonialism and Tribal Societies are a neighborhood of History (Social Science). The book is Our Past 3. Many questions of the History are formed from this chapter, thus browsing NCERT Solutions will help the scholars score better in their exams. These are often easily mentioned by students as they're prepared from the exam point of view. From a competitive exam just like the UPSC point of view, the chapter is basically important.

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