Notes on Forest Society and Colonialism | MCQs & Q&A

Multiple Choice Questions of Forest Society and Colonialism

CLASS 09 | NCERT | SOCIAL SCIENCE | HISTORY | CHAPTER 04 | MCQs | QUESTIONS

Notes on Forest Society and Colonialism

1. 500 different plant species can be found in one forest patch in
(a) Eastern Ghats
(b) Amazon
(c) Chhattisgarh
(d) North American plains

2. Industrialization resulted in loss of what % of forests?
(a) 9.3%
(b) 3.9%
(c) 19.3%
(d) 13.9%

3. Deforestation refers to
(a) Planting of trees
(b) Cultivation of crops
(c) Disappearance of forests
(d) Depletion of forests

4. Colonial state regarded forests as
(a) No man's land
(b) Unproductive and wilderness
(c) Source of revenue
(d) Sign of balanced Eco-system

5. Why did colonists need durable timber?
(a) To build ships for the Royal Navy
(b) To construct bridges
(c) For furniture
(d) To build beautiful homes

6. Each mile of railway track required
(a) Between 1670-2200 sleepers
(b) 3 to 5 sleepers
(c) 1760-2000 sleepers
(d) 35,000 trees

7. Which of the following was the reason for forests disappearing near railway tracks?
(a) Wood was used to make railway sleepers
(b) 'Scorched earth' policy of imperial troops
(c) Indiscriminate exploitation by tribals
(d) Indiscriminate cutting of trees by contractors

8. Which of the' following was the factor in development of timber plantations?
(a) Natural forests were left untouched
(b) Lands used for cultivation of food crops were converted into timber plantations
(c) Natural forests were cleared to make way
(d) Tribals were encouraged to settle in forest villages

9. Which of the following was not a feature of 'scientific forestry'?
(a) Natural forests were cut down
(b) One type of trees were planted in rows
(c) Area cut was replanted
(d) Forest officials did not survey and estimate the area

10. Forests were categorized by the Forest Act of
(a) 1865
(b) 1906
(c) 1927
(d) 1878

11. The best forests were
(a) Protected forests
(b) Village forests
(c) State forests
(d) Reserved forests

12. Imperial Forest Reserve Institute was set up in
(a) Dehradun
(b) Mussourie
(c) Bangalore
(d) Simla Bangalore

13. Which of the following is not a feature of shifting cultivation?
(a) Parts of the forest are cut and burnt in rotation
(b) Seeds are sown in the ashes
(c) Plots cleared are cultivated for a few years and then left follow
(d) Single crop is grown on these plots

14. Which of the following species of trees were suited for building ships and railways?
(a) Sal and Semur
(b) Teak and Mahogany
(c) Rosewood and Sal
(d) Teak and Sal

15. Local name for Swidden Agriculture in India
(a) Milpa
(b) Lading
(c) Kumri
(d) Chena

16. In which parts is Swidden agriculture practised?
(a) Asia, Africa and S. America
(b) Asia, S. America and Thailand
(c) Asia, Africa and China
(d) Asia, S. America and Europe

17. What was not a factor in discouragement of shifting agriculture?
(a) Land so used could not grow timber
(b) It made it harder for government to calculate taxes
(c) Many local communities were displaced
(d) There was danger of flames spreading

18. Which of the following was true under colonial rule?
(а) Forest people retained customary right of hunt
(b) Scale of hunting decreased
(c) Scale of hunting increased
(d) Killing of large animals was discouraged

19. Who among the following was leader of rebel foresters in Andhra Pradesh?
(a) Birsa Munda
(b) Siddhu
(c) Kanu
(d) Alluri Sita Ram Raju

20. Bastar people believe each village was given land by
(a) The British
(b) The Gods
(c) The Earth
(d) The Chief

21. Birsa Munda belonged to
(a) Andhra Pradesh
(b) Maharashtra
(c) Konker
(d) Chhotanagpur

22. Which of the following was not a feature of blandongdiensten system?
(a) Rent exemption
(b) Free labour and buffaloes for cutting forests
(c) Right to cultivate forest land
(d) Free labour for transportation

23. Fee paid by people from one village to another
(a) Grazing tax
(b) Rent
(c) devsari
(d) mand

24. Which of the following was not a method adopted by Saminists?
(a) Lying down on the land
(b) Refusing to pay taxes and fines
(c) Refusing to perform labour
(d) Flogging the Dutch

25. Which of the following is a new development in forestry?
(a) Conservation of forests
(b) Collecting timber
(c) Scientific forestry
(d) Keeping communities away from forests

26. Which among the following is the main reason for survival of some dense forests in India?
(a) Conservationists
(b) Environmentalists
(c) Scientific forestry
(d) Villages protected them as sacred grooves

27. Sacred grooves are known as
(a) sarnas, kan, rai, devarakudu
(b) dhya, penda, bewar
(c) nevad, jhum, podu
(d) siadi, semur, Chena tavi,

28. The scorched earth followed by policy was
(a) Japanese in Java
(b) British in India
(c) French in Vietnam
(d) Dutch in Java

29. Which of the following was not a tribal community?
(a) Karacha
(b) Jhum
(c) Korava
(d) Yerukula

30. The system of scientific forestry stands for
(a) The system whereby local farmers were allowed to cultivate temporarily within a plantation
(b) System of cutting old trees and plant new ones
(c) Division of forests in three categories
(d) Disappearance of forests

31. Indian Forest Service was set up in the year
(a) 1865
(b) 1864
(c) 1854
(d) 1884

32. In England, Oak forests were used for
(a) Building ships
(b) Carpentry
(c) Building railway tracks
(d) Constructing houses

33. The system of blandongdiensten implies
(a) Forced villagers to cut trees as per the new forest laws
(b) Exempting villagers from rent if they worked collectively to provide free labour and buffalos for cutting and transporting timber
(c) Exempting villagers to collect wood from reserved forests
(d) Arresting villagers who found stealing timber from forests

34. Which of the following categories of forests is considered as the best on the basis of their utility?
(a) Reserved forests
(b) Protected forests
(c) Village forests
(d) Community forests

35. Which of the following is not associated with swidden agriculture?
(a) Karacha
(b) Jhum
(c) Bewar
(d) Penda

36. The Imperial Forest Institute was set up at:
(a) Kucknow
(b) Jamshedpur
(c) Dehradun
(d) Chennai

37. In which year the Baster rebellion took place?
(a) 1910
(b) 1909
(c) 1911
(d) 1912

38. Why did the government decide to ban shifting cultivation?
(a) To grow trees for railway timber
(b) When a forest was burnt, there was a danger of destroying valuable timber
(c) Difficulties for the government to calculate taxes
(d) All the above reasons

39. Colonial rulers considered forests as unproductive because
(a) The forests were not fit for habitation
(b) Forests had wild grown trees only
(c) Forests did not yield revenue to enhance income of the state
(d) Forests were full of wild animals

40. Which of the following trees were promoted for building ships or railways?
(a) Firs and Pines
(b) Bushes and creepers
(c) Teak and Sal
(d) Shisham and Acacia


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ANSWERS of the MCQs of Forest Society and Colonialism

1. (b) Amazon
2. (a) 9.3%
3. (c) Disappearance of forests
4. (b) Unproductive and wilderness
5. (a) To build ships for the Royal Navy
6. (c) 1760-2000 sleepers
7. (d) Indiscriminate cutting of trees by contractors
8. (c) Natural forests were cleared to make way
9. (d) Forest officials did not survey and estimate the area
10. (d) 1878
11. (d) Reserved forests
12. (a) Dehradun
13. (d) Single crop is grown on these plots
14. (d) Teak and Sal
15. (c) Kumri
16. (a) Asia, Africa and S. America
17. (c) Many local communities were displaced
18. (c) Scale of hunting increased
19. (d) Alluri Sita Ram Raju
20. (c) The Earth
21. (d) Chhotanagpur
22. (c) Right to cultivate forest land
23. (c) devsari
24. (d) Flogging the Dutch
25. (a) Conservation of forests
26. (d) Villages protected them as sacred grooves
27. (a) sarnas, kan, rai, devarakudu
28. (d) Dutch in Java
29. (b) Jhum
30. (b) System of cutting old trees and plant new ones
31. (b) 1864
32. (a) Building ships
33. Exempting villagers from rent if they worked collectively to provide free labour and buffalos for cutting and transporting timber
34. (a) Reserved forests
35. (a) Karacha
36. (c) Dehradun
37. (a) 1910
38. (b) When a forest was burnt, there was a danger of destroying valuable timber
39. (c) Forests did not yield revenue to enhance income of the state
40. c) Teak and Sal

Questions and Answers of Forest Society and Colonialism

Short Questions and Answers of Forest Society and Colonialism

1. List at any six items around you which come from forests.
Ans: (i) Paper in books, (ii) wood for desks and tables, (iii) dyes that colour your clothes, (iv) honey, coffee, tea, (v) oil in chocolates, (vi) tanin.

2. Define the term forests.

Ans: A forest is an area with high density of trees.

3. Define deforestation.
Ans: Disappearance of forests is referred to as deforestation.

4. (a) Who was Dietrich Brandis? What were his achievements? (b) What was the prime aim of Brandis's System of Scientific Forestry?

Ans: (a) Dietrich Brandis was the first Inspector General of Forests of India.

His greatest achievement was he set up the Indian Forest Service in 1864 and helped formulate the 1865 Indian Forest Act.

(b) The prime aim of Brandis's System of Scientific Forestry was to restrict felling of trees and grazing, so that forests could be preserved for timber production.

5. Where is Bastar located?
Ans: Bastar is located in the southern most part of Chhattisgarh. It borders states of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Maharashtra.

6. Give any two local terms for swidden agriculture.
Ans: Dhya, Penda, Jhum, Kumri (any 2).

7. How did forest laws change lives of forest dwellers?
Ans: Forest laws deprived forest dwellers of their customary rights of food, fodder and hunt example: to hunt for deer, partridges and a variety of small animals.

8. Under what names is shifting cultivation or swidden agriculture practiced in the following areas:
(i) South East Asia (ii) Central America (iii) Africa (iv) Sri Lanka (v) India.
Ans: The local names of shifting cultivation in the following areas are:
(i) South East Asia - Lading

(ii) Central America - Milpa

(iii) Africa - Chitmene or Lavy

(iv) Sri Lanka - Chena

(v) India - Dhya, Penda, Jhum, Kumri.

9. Write a short note on Surontiko Samin.

Ans: Surontiko Samin was a villager who lived in Randublatung village, a teak forest in Indonesia. He started a movement questioning state ownership of forests. Under him the movement gained momentum and by 1907, 3,000 families were following his ideas. Some protested by lying down on their lands when the Dutch surveyors came. Others refused to pay taxes, fines or perform any labour.

10. What were siadi creepers used for?

Ans: They were used to make ropes.

11. Which three states does Bastar in Chhattisgarh border?
Ans: Bastar borders Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Maharashtra.

12. Name any four communities that live in Bastar.
Ans: Some of the communities that live in Bastar are: Maria and Muri Gonds, Dhurwas, Bhatras and Halbas.

13. What was the chief cause of worry for the people of Bastar during the colonial rule?
Ans: People of Bastar were most worried because the colonial government (British) proposed to reserve 2/3rd of the forests in 1905 and stop shifting cultivation, hunting and collection of forest produce.

14. What were 'forest villages'?
Ans: Forest villages were those villages which were allowed to stay on in the reserved forests. In return the people had to work free for the forest department. They had to help in cutting, transporting trees and protecting forests from fire.

15. Why are forests useful to us?
Ans: Forests are useful to us because they:
(i) Provide bamboo and wood for fuel, charcoal, grass for fodder and fruits for consumption.

(ii) They also provide herbs and roots for medicinal purposes, paper, and commodities like gum, honey, coffee and tanin.

16. Who started the Bastar rebellion?
Ans: The Bastar rebellion first, started in the Kanger forest area and soon spread to other parts of the state.

17. What was meant by the Blandongdiensten System?
Ans: Under the Blandongdiensten system the Dutch in Indonesia

(i) Imposed rents on land cultivated in the forests.

(ii) Those villages which were exempted had to in return work collectively to provide free labour and buffaloes for cutting and transporting timber.

18. Why are Mahua trees precious?
Ans: Mahua trees are precious because they are an essential part of village livelihood. The flowers of the tree can be consumed or used to make alcohol. The seeds are used to extract oil for cooking purposes and lighting lamps.

Answers of ACTIVITIES of Forest Society and Colonialism

1. Have there been changes in forest areas where you live? Find out what these changes are and why they have happened?
Ans. There have been many changes in forest areas where I live. I talked to my grandfather and came to know that most of the land that I see today as constructed area was not so always. He tells me that the hill slopes were green and covered with forests.

There were lush green trees all around. One could walk through them without the sun troubling you. There was no need for fans inside houses and the windows were enough to cool you during a hot summer day. The chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves were sounds that you heard all around. But today, the green trees have been replaced by cement structures — hotels, houses, shopping areas, parking lots, etc. The green area is decreasing and the cemented area is increasing. The hillslopes have become bare and barren. The forest cover has reduced tremendously.

This decrease in green cover has happened because of a number of reasons. I live in Nainital and feel that this change has occurred due to population rise and tourism. People are increasing in number and need to be accommodated. Secondly, tourism is gaining importance in Nainital. Hotels, shopping areas and parking lots are being made for the tourists. All these facilities require land and this can be acquired only by clearing the forest area. In addition, approach roads need to be constructed which again requires clearing of new forest land. All these factors have necessitated the clearing of forests in areas where I live.


2. Write a dialogue between a colonial forester and an Adivasi discussing the issue of hunting in the forest.
Ans:
Adivasi — Namaste, Sahib.
Colonial Forester — What are you doing here?
Adivasi — Nothing, sir.
Colonial Forester — What do you mean nothing? I’m sure you have been hunting here. Come on, show me what you have hunted!
Adivasi — Sahib, you can see that I have not hunted. But tell me why can’t I hunt in this forest!
Colonial Forester — The forests are no longer your hunting grounds. If you hunt here you will be punished.
Adivasi — But Sahib, this hunting has been a customary practice since ancient days. How can you stop it?
Colonial Forester — It is no longer so now. You are prohibited by forest laws to do so.
Adivasi — But the English Sahib hunts in the forests.
Colonial Forester — Yes! he can do it. He is a British. He has come to civilise you all. The wild animals are a sign of a primitive and savage society. These animals must be killed by the white man to help you to become civilised.

NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS OF FOREST SOCIETY AND COLINIALISM

Q.1. Discuss how the changes in forest management in the colonial period affected the following groups of people :
1. Shifting cultivators
2. Nomadic and pastoralist communities
3. Firms trading in timber/forest produce
4. Plantation owners
5. Kings/British officials engaged in hunting.
Ans:
1. Shifting cultivators — Forest management had a great impact on shifting cultivators. In shifting cultivation parts of the forest are cut and burnt in rotation. European foresters regarded this practice as harmful for the forests. They felt that such land could not be used for growing trees for railway timber and was dangerous while being burnt as it could start a forest fire. This type of cultivation also made dificult for the government to calculate taxes.

The government, hence, decided to ban shifting cultivation. As a result, many communities were forcibly displaced from their homes in the forests. Some had to change occupations, while some resisted through large and small rebellions.

2. Nomadic and pastoralists communities — Nomadic and pastoralist communities were also affected by changes in forest management. Their traditional customary grazing rights were taken away and their entry into the forests was restricted. Passes were issued to them which had details of their entry and exit into and out of the forests. The days and hours they could spend in the forest were also restricted. This was in contrast to the earlier system that allowed them unrestricted entry into forests.

Pastoralists had to lessen the number of cattle in their herds which reduced their income. As their entry into forests was restricted they could not gather forest products. Earlier the forests were open for them and they would collect forest products and sell them. This had supplemented their income. Now they were deprived of this additional income. Some pastoralists even had to change their lifestyle, leave pastoralism and work in mines, plantations, factories. Some were branded as the ‘criminal tribes’.

3. Firms trading in timber/forest produce — Firms trading in timber products were given the sole trading rights to trade in the forest products of particular areas. They made huge profits and became richer. The entire timber and forest trade passed on to them. They became powerful and began to cut down trees indiscriminately.

4. Plantation owners — Plantation owners found that more and more forest land could be cleared for plantations. The British had made it very clear that their system of forestry would be scientific forestry, i.e., plantations. Plantation owners began to reap profits as the British government gave large areas of forest land to European planters.

5. Kings/British officials engaged in shikar — The kings/British officials engaged in shikar found that now the villagers were prohibited from entering the forests. They had the forest and wild animals to themselves. Hunting animals became a big sport for them. Thus hunting increased to such an extent that various species became almost extinct.


Q.2. What are the similarities between colonial management of the forests in Bastar and in Java?
Ans. The similarities between colonial management of the forests in Bastar and Java were :
(i). Forest laws were enacted in Java and Bastar.
(ii) These laws restricted villagers’ access to forests.
(iii) Timber could be cut from only specified forests and under close supervision.
(iv) Villagers were punished for entering forests and collecting forest products without permit.
(v) Permits were issued to the villagers for entry into forests and collection of forest products.
(vi) Both had a forest service.
(vii) Both followed a system of forestry which was known as scientific forestry.
(viii) In both places Forest Acts meant severe hardship for villagers. Their everyday practices — cutting wood for their houses, grazing their cattle, collecting fruits and roots, hunting and fishing became illegal.
(ix) Constables and forests guards began to harass people.


Q.3. Between 1880 and 1920, forest cover in the Indian subcontinent declined by 9.7 million hectares, from 108.6 million hectares to 98.9 million hectares. Discuss the role of the following factors in this decline :
1. Railways
2. Shipbuilding
3. Agricultural expansion
4. Commercial farming
5. Tea/Coffee plantations
6. Adivasis and other peasant users.
Ans:
1. Railways — Railways contributed significantly to the decline of forests in India. Whereever railway tracks had to be laid land had to be cleared. This land was forest land. Apart from clearing area for tracks, railway locomotives required timber for fuel and sleepers. For all these needs forests had to be cut down. The British government gave contracts to individuals to supply the required quantity of timber. These individuals cut
down trees indiscriminately.

2. Shipbuilding — Oak forests in England were decreasing in number and the shipbuilding industry was in trouble. They did not have enough timber for making ships. They turned their attention towards India. Huge forest areas were cleared and the timber transported to shipbuilding yards in England. British ships were being constructed and as a consequence trees were cut down indiscriminately in India.

3. Agricultural expansion — Population was on the rise and the demand for food increased. Peasants extended the boundaries of cultivation by clearing forests. This gave them more land available for cultivation. In addition, there was great demand for cash crops such as tea, cotton, jute, sugar, etc., which were needed to feed the industries of England.

4. Commercial farming — The British directly encouraged the production of commercial crops like jute, sugar, wheat and cotton. The demand for these crops increased in the 19th century in Europe, where foodgrains were needed to feed the growing urban population and raw materials were required for industrial production. Hence, large tracts of forest land were cleared to make land available for commercial farming.

5. Tea/Coffee plantations — The colonial state thought that forest land was unproductive. It did not yield agricultural produce nor revenue. Large areas of natural forests were hence cleared to make way for tea, coffee and rubber plantations to meet Europe’s growing need for these commodities. The colonial government took over the forests and gave vast areas to European planters at cheap rates. The areas were enclosed and cleared of forests and planted with tea or coffee.

6. Adivasis and other peasant users — Adivasis and other peasant users do not cut down forests except to practice shifting cultivation or gather timber for fuel. They also gather forest products and graze their cattle. This does not destroy the forests except sometimes in shifting agriculture. In fact, now the new trends that promote forest conservation tend to involve local villagers in conservation and preservation. The adivasis and other peasant communities regard the forests as their own and even engage watchmen to keep a vigil
over their forests.


Q.4. Why are forests affected by wars?
Ans. Forests are affected by wars and this often leads to deforestation. Forests during wars are freely cut to meet the needs of war. Forests are as important resource and hence during wars they are destroyed by their own country under the 'a scorched earth policy'. This prevents the enemy from using this resource. Many villagers used this opportunity to expand cultivation in the forest.