NCERT Class 8 History — Chapter 3: Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age

mcqeasy

Who among the following was a British anthropologist who lived among the Baigas and Khonds in the 1930s and 1940s?

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

AVerrier Elwin
BWilliam Jones
CJames Mill
DBirsa Munda

Did you get this right?

Solution

Correct Option

The correct option is

Verrier Elwin

Explanation

The anthropological study of tribal communities in India during the colonial period. It specifically targets a British scholar who integrated into tribal society to document their culture and advocate for their protection.

Detailed Analysis:

Verrier Elwin (Correct): He was a British-born anthropologist, ethnologist, and tribal activist. He came to India initially as a missionary but later abandoned the clergy to work for the welfare of tribal communities.
- In the 1930s and 1940s, he lived extensively among the Baigas and Gonds of central India (specifically in the Mandla district of present-day Madhya Pradesh) and later among the Khonds of Odisha.
- He authored significant ethnographic works such as The Baiga (1939) and The Agaria (1942).
- Post-independence, he became an Indian citizen and served as an advisor to the Government of India on tribal affairs, influencing the "Tribal Panchsheel" policy advocated by Jawaharlal Nehru.
James Mill: A Scottish historian and economist known for his massive work, The History of British India (1817). He was a utilitarian thinker who never visited India and held critical views of Indian society.
William Jones: An 18th-century philologist and jurist who founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1784. He is famous for establishing the link between Sanskrit and European languages, not for 20th-century tribal anthropology.
Birsa Munda: A legendary tribal freedom fighter and religious leader from the Munda tribe who led a rebellion against the British in the late 19th century. He was not a British anthropologist.

Key Takeaway:

Verrier Elwin is the anthropologist renowned for his immersive fieldwork with the Baigas and Khonds and his advocacy for the protection of tribal culture against rapid modernization.

Your note

More from Chapter 3: Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age

With reference to the practice of jhum cultivation (shifting cultivation) in the nineteenth century, consider the following statements: 1. It was primarily practised on small patches of land in forests. 2. Cultivators used chemical fertilizers to fertilise the soil. 3. Seeds were broadcast or scattered on the field instead of ploughing the land. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

medium

Consider the following pairs regarding tribal groups and their traditional occupations in the nineteenth century: 1. Khonds : Hunter-gatherers 2. Baigas : Reluctant to work for others 3. Van Gujjars : Settled plough cultivators How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

medium

Consider the following statements regarding the Baiga tribe of Central India: 1. They readily accepted work as labourers for the British. 2. They were known as the best hunters among the adivasis in Central India. 3. Women were responsible for gathering forest produce like firewood. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

medium

Which of the following tribal groups were considered "more civilised" by British officials compared to hunter-gatherers?

easy

Why were the British uncomfortable with shifting cultivators? 1. They were easier to control and administer compared to settled peasants. 2. Their movement made it difficult for the state to collect a regular revenue. 3. Shifting cultivation destroyed the timber required for railway sleepers. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

medium

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Correct Option

The correct option is

Verrier Elwin

Explanation

Detailed Analysis:

Verrier Elwin (Correct): He was a British-born anthropologist, ethnologist, and tribal activist. He came to India initially as a missionary but later abandoned the clergy to work for the welfare of tribal communities.
- In the 1930s and 1940s, he lived extensively among the Baigas and Gonds of central India (specifically in the Mandla district of present-day Madhya Pradesh) and later among the Khonds of Odisha.
- He authored significant ethnographic works such as The Baiga (1939) and The Agaria (1942).
- Post-independence, he became an Indian citizen and served as an advisor to the Government of India on tribal affairs, influencing the "Tribal Panchsheel" policy advocated by Jawaharlal Nehru.
James Mill: A Scottish historian and economist known for his massive work, The History of British India (1817). He was a utilitarian thinker who never visited India and held critical views of Indian society.
William Jones: An 18th-century philologist and jurist who founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1784. He is famous for establishing the link between Sanskrit and European languages, not for 20th-century tribal anthropology.
Birsa Munda: A legendary tribal freedom fighter and religious leader from the Munda tribe who led a rebellion against the British in the late 19th century. He was not a British anthropologist.

Key Takeaway:

Verrier Elwin is the anthropologist renowned for his immersive fieldwork with the Baigas and Khonds and his advocacy for the protection of tribal culture against rapid modernization.