Forest Society and Colonialism ||History|| Chapter 3 Notes
Expansion of Agriculture: As the population grew, there was an increased demand for food. Peasants cleared forests to create more agricultural land.
Commercial Crops: The British encouraged the cultivation of commercial crops like jute, sugar, wheat, and cotton to supply raw materials for their industries.
Railways: The expansion of the railway network required a large number of wooden sleepers. This led to extensive felling of trees.
Plantations: Large areas of natural forests were cleared to make way for tea, coffee, and rubber plantations to meet the growing demand in Europe.
Colonial Policies: The colonial government considered forests unproductive and aimed to bring more land under cultivation to increase revenue.
Scientific Forestry: The British introduced scientific forestry, replacing diverse natural forests with single-species plantations like teak and sal to ensure a steady supply of timber.
Forest Acts: Several Forest Acts were enacted, categorizing forests into reserved, protected, and village forests. Reserved forests were primarily for commercial exploitation.
Impact on Locals: Traditional rights of local communities were restricted. Activities like shifting cultivation, hunting, and gathering became illegal, disrupting their way of life.
Dietrich Brandis: A German expert, Dietrich Brandis, was appointed as the first Inspector General of Forests in India, promoting scientific forestry and establishing the Indian Forest Service.
Economic Exploitation: The British exploited Indian forests to meet industrial demands, leading to large-scale deforestation and ecological changes.
Resistance by Forest Communities: Many forest communities rebelled against the British policies that restricted their traditional rights and access to forest resources. Leaders like Siddhu and Kanu in the Santhal Parganas, Birsa Munda of Chhotanagpur, and Alluri Sitarama Raju of Andhra Pradesh led these movements.
Bastar Rebellion: One notable rebellion occurred in Bastar, located in present-day Chhattisgarh. The people of Bastar, including various tribes like the Maria and Muria Gonds, Dhurwas, Bhatras, and Halbas, opposed the British proposal to reserve two-thirds of the forest and restrict activities like shifting cultivation, hunting, and gathering.
Causes of Rebellion: The British policies led to displacement, loss of livelihood, and severe famines. The local communities were forced to work for the forest department without compensation, leading to widespread discontent.
The 1910 Rebellion: In 1910, the people of Bastar organized a rebellion. They circulated messages using mango boughs, lumps of earth, chilies, and arrows to invite villagers to join the revolt. The rebels looted bazaars, burned houses of officials, and redistributed grain.
Suppression by the British: The British responded by sending troops to suppress the rebellion. Despite the harsh measures, the rebellion highlighted the resistance of forest communities against colonial exploitation.
The Woodcutters of Java: The Kalangs, a community of skilled forest cutters and shifting cultivators, played a crucial role in harvesting teak. When the Dutch gained control, they tried to make the Kalangs work under them.
Dutch Scientific Forestry: In the 19th century, the Dutch introduced scientific forestry, enacting laws that restricted villagers’ access to forests. Villagers were punished for grazing cattle, transporting wood without permits, or using forest roads.
Samin’s Challenge: Around 1890, Surontiko Samin of Randublatung village began questioning state ownership of forests. He argued that the state did not create natural resources and thus could not own them. By 1907, his ideas had gained a following of about 3,000 families.
War and Deforestation: The World Wars had a significant impact on forests. The Dutch adopted a scorched earth policy, destroying sawmills and burning teak logs to prevent them from falling into Japanese hands.
New Developments in Forestry: Since the 1980s, there has been a shift towards conservation rather than exploitation. Governments have recognized the importance of involving local communities in forest management to reduce conflicts and promote sustainable practices.