Question

How did the British exploit the Paharias of Rajmahal hills during the 18th century? Explain with examples.

Hint:

• The hoe vs. plough struggle is the defining metaphor for the conflict in the Rajmahal hills.
• British officials like Augustus Cleveland were central to the early pacification attempts.

Answer 1

Concept:

• The Paharias were hunter-gatherers and shifting cultivators living in the Rajmahal hills.
• British colonial policy favored settled agriculture as it provided a stable source of revenue and a more "ordered" society.
• This led to a direct conflict between the 'hoe' (represented by the Paharias) and the 'plough' (represented by the British-backed settled cultivators).

Step 1: Encroachment on forest lands and resources
In the late 18th century, the British began encouraging the clearing of forests in the Rajmahal hills to expand settled agriculture.
As forests were cut down, the Paharias lost their primary source of livelihood—hunting and shifting cultivation (jhum). Their access to forest produce like mahua, silk cocoons, and resin was restricted, and their grazing lands for cattle were increasingly enclosed by the state.

Step 2: Policy of Pacification and the 'Santhal Factor'
Initially, the British tried to "pacify" the Paharias by giving their chiefs annual allowances in exchange for maintaining peace. However, many chiefs refused this, leading to violent clashes.
To permanently settle the issue, the British began settling the more industrious Santhals on the peripheries of the Rajmahal hills (Damin-i-Koh). The Santhals were given land and incentives to clear forests and practice settled plough agriculture. This effectively "boxed in" the Paharias to the higher, more barren parts of the hills, leading to extreme poverty and starvation.