CBSE Class 9 History Notes Chapter 4 Forest Society and Colonialism
Here, we have provided CBSE Class 9 History Notes Chapter 4. Students can view these forest society and colonialism class 9 notes before exams for better understanding of the chapter.
Neha Tanna17 Jan, 2025
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CBSE Class 9 History Notes Chapter 4 Overview
We must educate ourselves on the history of our forests in a world where the number of natural resources we have is decreasing dramatically every day. Forests have always provided us with natural resources, but these have long been commercialized, particularly during British colonial control in India. Using natural resources as efficiently as possible is great for the economy, but it is not as good for the woods. This is under the important points section of the textbook on Forest Society and Colonialism, Class 9. This chapter discusses how colonization created a demand for the commercialization of all naturally occurring resources on Earth and provides examples to illustrate this point.CBSE Class 9 History Notes Chapter 4 PDF
Here we have provided CBSE Class 9 History Notes Chapter 4 for the ease of students so that they can just download the pdf and use it easily without the internet. These CBSE Class 9 History Notes Chapter 4 will help students understand the chapter better.CBSE Class 9 History Notes Chapter 4 PDF
CBSE Class 9 History Notes Chapter 4
Here we have provided forest society and colonialism class 9 notes for the ease of students so that they can prepare better for their exams.Why Deforestation?
The loss of forests is known as deforestation, and it has long been an issue. Although it started several centuries ago, it expanded and became more organized throughout the colonial era.Land to be Improved
Over the ages, peasants began clearing forests and breaking new ground as the population increased and the need for food increased. The British promoted the cultivation of economic crops such as cotton, sugar, wheat, and jute. The demand for these crops grew during the 1800s. In the early 19th century, the colonial state believed that woodlands were unproductive. Thus, there was progress in the cultivated lands and the expansion of cultivation between 1880 and 1920.Sleepers on the Tracks
By the early 1800s, oak woods were becoming extinct in England. To investigate the forest resources in India, search groups were dispatched. The 1850s saw the expansion of railroads. The transportation of imperial armies and colonial trade depended heavily on railroads. Beginning in the 1860s, the railway network grew quickly. Trees began to fall as railway tracks extended across India. Individuals were awarded contracts by the government to provide the necessary amounts. The forests that surrounded the railway tracks began to disappear.Plantations
To accommodate Europe's expanding need for tea, coffee, and rubber, large tracts of natural forests were removed for plantations. The colonial administration took control of the forests and granted large tracts of land at little cost to European planters so they could grow coffee or tea.The Rise of Commercial Forestry
The British were concerned that local people's and traders' careless use of trees would cause forests to be destroyed. German specialist Dietrich Brandis was appointed India's first Inspector General of Forests. He came to see that people needed to be educated in the science of conservation and that an appropriate system needed to be put in place to manage the woods. However, legal authorization was required. Indian Forest Service was established in Dehradun in 1864. Natural forests with a wide variety of tree species were cleared for scientific forestry. The Forest Act was passed in 1906 and subsequently revised twice, in 1878 and 1927. Village, protected, and reserved forests were the three divisions of forests formed by the Act of 1878. "Reserved forests" were the best forests.How Were the Lives of People Affected?
The villagers want forests with a variety of species to meet their needs for leaves, fuel, and fodder. The forest department, on the other hand, desired trees like sal and teak that might be used to build railroads or ships. There were numerous uses for tubers, fruits, leaves, and roots. Almost everything could be found in the forest, including bamboo, yokes, plows, and herbs. Oil was taken from the mahua tree's fruit to be used in cooking and lamp lighting. Every village in the nation faced extreme hardship as a result of the Forest Act. The woodlands were pushed to provide timber for people to steal. When forest guards were apprehended, they would accept bribes. People are harassed by police constables and forest guards who want free meals from them.How Did Forest Rules Affect Cultivation?
During European colonization, shifting cultivation, also known as swidden agriculture, was first practiced. In various regions of South America, Africa, and Asia, it is a customary agricultural method. A portion of the woodland is periodically burned and cleared for shifting farming. Seeds are sown in the ashes following the first monsoon rains, and the crop is harvested by October or November. These plots are farmed for a few years and then abandoned for a period of twelve to eighteen years. Various crops are planted in these areas. Foresters in Europe claim that this technique is bad for the forests. Additionally, this kind of cultivation made it challenging for the government to determine taxation. Thus, the government decided to outlaw shifting cultivation.Who Could Hunt?
People who lived close to woodlands hunted partridges, deer, and other small game to subsist. The forest rules forbade the practice, and individuals found hunting faced penalties similar to those for poaching. Tiger and other animal hunting have long been ingrained in the nobility's and court's traditions in India. During colonial authority, hunting expanded to such a degree that certain species nearly went extinct. It was rewarded to kill untamed creatures. The forest had designated zones for hunting.New Trades, New Employment, and New Services
In trade, new opportunities emerged. The trade of forests was not new in India. The Banjaras and other nomadic communities were the intermediaries for the Adivasi communities' trading of elephants and other items, including hides, horns, silk cocoons, ivory, bamboo, spices, fibers, grasses, gums, and resins, during the medieval era. However, the government controlled every aspect of the trade, giving some sizable European trading companies the exclusive authority to deal in the forest products of specific regions. The well-being of the populace did not improve with new employment options.The People of Bastar
Bastar is a region in southern Chhattisgarh that has borders with Maharashtra, Orissa, and Andhra Pradesh. The Chhattisgarh Plain lies to the north of the central region of Bastar, while the Godavari Plain lies to the south. The region of Bastar is a plateau. Bastar is home to a variety of communities, including the Halbas, Dhurwas, Bhatras, and Maria and Muria Gonds. The Bastar people thought that the Earth had given each village its land and that the villages had to take care of the Earth by giving offerings at every agricultural festival. The indigenous people take care of all the natural resources that are found within their borders. If they want to remove any wood from another village's trees, they must pay a small price known as devsari, dand, or man.The Fears of the People
The colonial authorities suggested in 1905 setting aside two-thirds of the forest and ceasing to engage in shifting cultivation, hunting, and the gathering of forest products. Previously, a group of individuals known as "forest villagers" lived in forests and worked for the forest department in exchange for free. Over time, villagers suffered from rising land rents and constant labor and product demands. People began talking about these topics at local festivals, bazaars, and village councils. Where reservations were first made, the Dhurwas of the Kanger Forest took the lead. Grain was redistributed, schools and police stations were burned and robbed, bazaars were looted, and the homes of authorities and traders were broken into. British forces were dispatched to put an end to the uprising. The same policy of keeping people out of the forests and reserving them for industrial purposes persisted after independence.The Woodcutters of Java
Java's Kalang people were expert forest cutters and shifting farmers. They are skilled in gathering teak, which is needed by the monarchs to construct their palaces. The Kalangs were forced to labor for the Dutch as they started to take control of the forests in the eighteenth century. The Kalangs revolted in 1770 and attacked a Dutch fort at Joana, but their uprising was put down.Dutch Scientific Forestry
The Dutch placed restrictions on peasants' access to forests in Java throughout the 1800s. The only purpose for cutting wood was to build houses or riverboats. Cattle grazing, unauthorized wood transportation, and using horse-drawn carriages or livestock to traverse forest routes were all grounds for punishment for the villagers. The Dutch first levied rents on forest land that was being farmed, but they also released some towns from these levies provided they banded together to supply free labor and buffaloes for the transportation and cutting of wood. The blandongdiensten system was the name given to this.Samin’s Challenge
The state's ownership of the forest was questioned by Surontiko Samin of Randublatung village, which is surrounded by teak forests. Samin contended that as the state did not create the wind, water, earth, or wood, it was not entitled to hold the forest. A broad movement quickly emerged. When the Dutch came to survey their land, some Saminists protested by lying down on it, while others refused to work or pay taxes or fines.War and Deforestation
The First and Second World Wars had a significant effect on woodlands. The Dutch implemented "a scorched Earth policy" in Java, demolishing sawmills and setting massive stacks of enormous teak logs on fire. Regaining control of this land after the war proved to be challenging for the Indonesian Forest Service.New Developments in Forestry
The preservation of forests is now a top priority. Dense woods have only persisted in several parts of India, from Mizoram to Kerala, because the people have safeguarded them in sacred groves called saunas, devarakudu, kan, rai, etc.Benefits of CBSE Class 9 History Notes Chapter 4
Studying CBSE Class 9 History Notes Chapter 4 on Forest Society and Colonialism offers several benefits: Understanding Colonial Impact : It provides insights into how British colonial policies affected forest societies in India, highlighting the socio-economic and cultural changes brought about by colonial rule. Awareness of Environmental Issues : The chapter explores the ecological consequences of colonial exploitation of forests, raising awareness about environmental degradation and the importance of sustainable resource management. Cultural and Social Insights : Students gain an understanding of the diverse lifestyles, cultural practices, and social structures of forest-dwelling communities in pre-colonial and colonial India. Historical Context : It places historical events like the Santhal Rebellion in context, illustrating how local communities resisted colonial policies and asserted their rights. Critical Thinking Skills : By analyzing the impact of colonialism on forest societies, students develop critical thinking skills to evaluate historical events and their repercussions on contemporary issues. Relevance to Modern Issues : The chapter's focus on resource exploitation, displacement of indigenous peoples, and environmental conservation remains relevant to current debates on sustainable development and indigenous rights. Exam Preparation : Notes help in summarizing key points, making it easier for students to revise and prepare for examinations effectively. .CBSE Class 9 History Notes Chapter 4 FAQs
What is the main point of Class 9 History Chapter 4?
The British colonised India and this benefitted the crown. They enacted forest laws, made huge profits, regulated cultivation, and collected taxes. Furthermore, India lost its forest cover between 1880 and 1920. Timber was cut, transported for shipbuilding, and used to expand railways.
What was the Forest Society short note?
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.
Why deforestation class 9 history notes?
As the population increased over the centuries and the demand for food went up, peasants extended the boundaries of cultivation by clearing forests. The British encouraged the production of commercial crops like jute, sugar, wheat, and cotton for their industries as raw material.
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