Gonds and Santhals
Explanation
During the colonial period, British administrators sought to extend settled cultivation across India to ensure a steady flow of land revenue and maintain easier administrative control. Consequently, they developed a classification of tribal societies based on their mode of subsistence.Analysis of British Perceptions:
- Settled Cultivators vs. Hunter-Gatherers: British officials perceived settled tribal groups, such as the Gonds and the Santhals, as being "more civilised" compared to hunter-gatherers or shifting cultivators.
- Reasoning: Settled communities were easier to tax, monitor, and govern. In contrast, people who lived in forests and moved frequently (such as shifting cultivators and hunter-gatherers) were often viewed as wild, savage, and difficult to control.
- Other Groups:
- The Baigas were traditionally associated with shifting cultivation and forest dwelling, often refusing to work as labourers for others.
- The Van Gujjars and Labadis were pastoralists (cattle herders), who also moved with their herds and were viewed with suspicion by the colonial state compared to settled peasants.
Key Takeaway:
The British colonial state favored settled agriculture over shifting cultivation or pastoralism because it facilitated regular revenue collection and political stability, leading them to categorize settled tribes as more "civilised."