- CBSE Notes For Class 9
- Class 9 Social Science Notes
- Class 9 History Notes
- Chapter 4 Forest Society And Colonialism
CBSE Class 9 History Notes Chapter 4 - Forest Society and Colonialism
Chapter 4 – Forest Society and Colonialism will take you into the forest. It talks about the growth of industries and urban centres, ships and railways, and new demand in the forests for timber and other forest products. Students will also get to learn topics such as new rules of forest use, new ways of organising the forest, colonial control, how forest areas were mapped, trees were classified, and plantations were developed. The chapter will give you an idea of the history of such developments in India and Indonesia. CBSE Class 9 notes on history will help the students to study the subject in a very detailed and concise way. These CBSE Class 9 History notes are all prepared by subject experts and have kept the study material very simple, including the language and the format.
- Chapter 1 The French Revolution
- Chapter 2 Socialism In Europe and The Russian Revolution
- Chapter 3 Nazism and The Rise Of Hitler
- Chapter 5 Pastoralists In The Modern World
CBSE Class 9 History Notes Chapter 4 – Forest Society and Colonialism
Why deforestation.
Deforestation means the disappearance of forests and is not a recent problem. It began many centuries ago, but under colonial rule, it became more systematic and extensive.
Land to be Improved
Over the centuries, as the population grew and the demand for food went up, peasants started clearing forests and breaking new land. British encouraged the production of commercial crops like jute, sugar, wheat and cotton. In the 19th century, the demand for these crops increased. The colonial state thought that forests were unproductive in the early 19th century. So between 1880 and 1920, cultivated areas and the expansion of cultivation showed a sign of progress.
Sleepers on the Tracks
In England, by the early nineteenth century, oak forests were disappearing. Search parties were sent to India to explore the forest resources. Railways spread from the 1850s. Railways were essential for colonial trade and for the movement of imperial troops. From the 1860s, the railway network expanded rapidly. Trees started falling as the railway tracks spread through India. The government gave out contracts to individuals to supply the required quantities. Forests around the railway tracks started disappearing.
Plantations
Large areas of natural forests were cleared to make way for tea, coffee and rubber plantations to meet Europe’s growing need for these commodities. The forests were taken over by the colonial government, which gave vast areas to European planters at cheap rates to plant tea or coffee.
The Rise of Commercial Forestry
British were worried that the reckless use of trees by traders and the use of forests by local people would destroy forests. Dietrich Brandis, a German expert, became the first Inspector General of Forests in India. He realised that a proper system had to be introduced to manage the forests, and people needed to be trained in the science of conservation. But it needed legal sanction. In 1864, Indian Forest Service was set up in Dehradun in 1906. In scientific forestry, natural forests, which had lots of different types of trees, were cut down. In 1906, the Forest Act was enacted, which was amended twice, once in 1878 and then in 1927. The Act of 1878 divided forests into three categories: reserved, protected and village forests. The best forests were called ‘reserved forests’.
How Were the Lives of People Affected?
Villagers wanted forests with species of different types to satisfy their needs for fuel, fodder and leaves. On the other hand, the forest department wanted trees like teak and sal suitable for building ships or railways. Roots, leaves, fruits and tubers were used for many things. In the forest, almost everything was available such as herbs, yokes, ploughs, bamboo, etc. From the fruit of the mahua tree, oil was extracted for the purpose of cooking and lighting lamps. The Forest Act meant severe hardship for villagers across the country. People were forced to steal wood from the forests. Forest guards used to take bribes if they got caught. Police constables and forest guards harass people by demanding free food from them.
How Did Forest Rules Affect Cultivation?
The practice of shifting cultivation or swidden cultivation was introduced during European colonialism or swidden agriculture. It is a traditional agricultural practice in many parts of Asia, Africa and South America. In shifting cultivation, parts of the forest are cut and burnt in rotation. After the first monsoon rains, seeds are sown in the ashes, and the crop is harvested by October-November. For a couple of years, such plots are cultivated and then left for 12 to 18 years. On these plots, a mixture of crops is grown. According to European foresters, this practice is harmful to the forests. This type of cultivation also made it difficult for the government to calculate taxes. So, the government decided to ban shifting cultivation.
Who Could Hunt?
People who lived near forests survived by hunting deer, partridges and a variety of small animals. The practice was prohibited by the forest laws, and those who were caught hunting were punished for poaching. In India, hunting of tigers and other animals is a part of the culture of the court and nobility for centuries. The scale of hunting increased under colonial rule to such an extent that various species became almost extinct. Rewards were given for killing wild animals. Some areas of the forest were reserved for hunting.
New Trades, New Employment and New Services
New opportunities opened up in trade. In India, forest trade was not new. It existed from the medieval period when Adivasi communities used to trade elephants and other goods like hides, horns, silk cocoons, ivory, bamboo, spices, fibres, grasses, gums and resins through nomadic communities like the Banjaras. But, trade was completely regulated by the government, which gave many large European trading firms the sole right to trade in the forest products of particular areas. New opportunities for work did not improve the well-being of the people.
Rebellion in the Forest
Forest communities rebelled against the changes that were being imposed on them. Some of the leaders of these movements are the Siddhu and Kanu in the Santhal Parganas, Birsa Munda of Chhotanagpur or Alluri Sitarama Raju of Andhra Pradesh.
The People of Bastar
Bastar is located in the southernmost part of Chhattisgarh and borders Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Maharashtra. The Bastar central part is on a plateau, and to the north is the Chhattisgarh Plain and to its south is the Godavari Plain. Different communities live in Bastar, such as Maria and Muria Gonds, Dhurwas, Bhatras and Halbas. The people of Bastar believed that each village was given its land by the Earth, and in return, they looked after the Earth by making some offerings at each agricultural festival. Local villagers look after all the natural resources within their boundaries, and people pay a small fee called devsari, dand or man in exchange if they want to take some wood from the forests of another village.
The Fears of the People
In 1905, the colonial government proposed to reserve two-thirds of the forest and stop shifting cultivation, hunting and collection of forest produce. Some people used to stay in forests by working for free for the forest department, and these are called forest villagers. Villagers, in the long run, suffered from increased land rents and frequent demands for labour and goods. People started discussing these issues in their village councils, bazaars, and festivals. Dhurwas of the Kanger forest took the initiative where reservation first took place. Bazaars were looted, the houses of officials and traders, schools and police stations were burnt and robbed, and grain was redistributed. British troops were sent to suppress the rebellion. After Independence, the same practice of keeping people out of the forests and reserving them for industrial use continued.
Forest Transformations in Java
Java is famous as a rice-producing island in Indonesia. But, there was a time when it was covered mostly with forests. In Java, the Dutch started forest management. Villages existed in the fertile plains, and there were also many communities living in the mountains and practising shifting cultivation.
The Woodcutters of Java
The Kalangs of Java were skilled forest cutters and shifting cultivators. They are experts in harvesting teak and for the kings to build their palaces. When the Dutch began to gain control over the forests in the eighteenth century, they tried to make the Kalangs work under them. In 1770, the Kalangs resisted by attacking a Dutch fort at Joana, but the uprising was suppressed.
Dutch Scientific Forestry
In the nineteenth century, the Dutch enacted forest laws in Java, restricting villagers’ access to forests. Wood could only be cut for making riverboats or constructing houses. Villagers were punished for grazing cattle, transporting wood without a permit, or travelling on forest roads with horse carts or cattle. Firstly, the Dutch imposed rents on land being cultivated in the forest and then exempted some villages from these rents if they worked collectively to provide free labour and buffaloes for cutting and transporting timber. This was known as the blandongdiensten system.
Samin’s Challenge
Surontiko Samin of Randublatung village, a teak forest village, questioned the state ownership of the forest and argued that the state had not created the wind, water, earth and wood, so it could not own it. Soon a widespread movement developed. Some of the Saminists protested by lying down on their land when the Dutch came to survey it, while others refused to pay taxes or fines or perform labour.
War and Deforestation
The First World War and the Second World War had a major impact on forests. In Java, the Dutch followed ‘a scorched Earth policy’, destroying sawmills and burning huge piles of giant teak logs. After the war, it was difficult for the Indonesian forest service to get this land back.
New Developments in Forestry
Conservation of forests has become a more important goal. In many places, across India, from Mizoram to Kerala, dense forests have survived only because villages protected them in sacred groves known as sarnas, devarakudu, kan, rai, etc.
Students can go through Geography, History, Political Science and Economics notes by visiting the CBSE Class 9 Social Science page at BYJU’S. Keep learning and stay tuned for further updates on CBSE and other competitive exams.
Frequently Asked Questions on CBSE Class 9 History Notes Chapter 4: Forest Society and Colonialism
What is the colonial rule.
The policy or practice of a wealthy or powerful nation’s maintaining or extending its control over other countries, especially in establishing settlements or exploiting resources.
What is a plantation?
A usually large group of plants, and especially trees under cultivation, is called a plantation.
What are the effects of deforestation?
1. Soil erosion 2. Landslope 3. Increased amounts of carbon dioxide 4. Loss of biological activity
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- Forest Society and Colonialism
What is Forest Society?
From an ancient time, Indian farmers were using the forest for their cultivation. In the British period, the government thought that the farmers are destroying the forest for agriculture. To put a restriction on the farmer’s use of the forest, the Britishers made several laws. Also, they formed a society to supervise all the laws and their execution, which was named the forest society. It was established in 1946. It was incorporated in 1955. The society was mainly for forest preservation. Though conservation was the sole purpose, the British Government used it for their commercial purpose. In this article, we are going to discuss the rise of commercial forestry, and forest society and colonialism.
Deforestation Under the British Rule
During British rule, there was major deforestation in India. The problem of deforestation has become more complicated for some reasons. For a huge increase in population, the food demand increased and the cultivation area was extended by clearing forests. The British government started cultivating commercial crops for which they had to clear a huge forest area. These were the two main reasons for deforestation in the British period. They went for deforestation and increased the land for cultivation. Between 1880 and 1920, this deforestation occurred.
The Rise of Commercial Forestry
The British rulers restricted the overused forests by the Indians. They started it for the conservation of the forest. But later, they started using the forest for commercial purposes. The British rulers had requirements of wood and some commercial crops. They used the forest area for commercial crop cultivation, which increased the rate of deforestation. In 1865, they enacted the Indian Forest Act. After that, they introduced the term commercial forestry in 1878. By this act, the forest was divided into three areas- reserved, protected, and village forests.
Explanation of Forest Society and Colonialism
The British rulers restricted the forest area with the thought that the farmers are wasting the area by cultivation. Therefore, the British Government made a rule so that the forest areas are not destroyed. Though the forest area was preserved, the colonial Government started using it for their commercial purpose. Thus, the forest act and the forest society turned into colonialism. The British rulers were taking advantage of the forest society and colonialism for their commercial crop and wood production.
Forest Society and Colonialism Summary
In this process of the forest society and colonialism, the large areas of forest were cleared for cultivating commercial crops such as rubber, tea, coffee, etc. The British rulers used the areas because they can produce the crops at cheap rates and sell them in Europe at a high price.
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Questions and Answers
1. What Were the Main Reasons for Deforestation in India?
Solution: The main reasons for deforestation in India were the increasing population, huge food demand, commercial crop and wood production, etc.
2. Name the Categories of Forest Area.
Solution: In 1878, the forest act was enacted. According to this act, the forest area was divided into three parts, which are protected forests, reserved forests, and village forests.
3. Define the Reserved Forest and Village Forest.
Solution: The forest, which is reserved for commercial purposes, is called a reserved forest. Village forest is the area, where the Indians can live and use the forest for their purpose such as cutting and transporting trees.
FAQs on Forest Society and Colonialism
1. Why Should the Students Learn the Topic of Forest Society and Colonialism?
Ans: History is a vital subject for students. As they are the future citizens of the country, they should know their country well. For that, the students have to know the history of their country. The forest society and colonialism are a vital part of Indian history. In this topic, the students will learn about the causes of deforestation in India, the rise of commercial forestry, rebellion in the forest, forest transformation in Java, etc. By learning these topics, the students will get an idea about the British period of India. Also, the students have to read these topics to score good marks in the final exam of history.
2. What Kinds of Questions Appear in the Exam from the Forest Society and Colonialism?
Ans: The topic of forest society and colonialism is a vital chapter of history. In the exam, different types of questions appear from this chapter such as MCQ, short question, and long question. The students have to read the topic thoroughly to answer all the questions. They have to read the textbook correctly. The answers to those questions are in the textbook in detail. The students can practice different sample papers and important questions on the topic. They can find solutions to those questions on several educational websites. They can download the solutions in pdf format to study them for the exam.
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