How did the Paharias respond to the coming of outsiders?
Paharias live in the hills of Rajmahal. The British people began to interact with them and later Santhals began to settle down there. The response of the Paharias was as follows:
1.Paharias resisted the settlement of Santhals initially but had to accommodate them in course of time.
2.The Paharias shifted to deeper areas into the hills.
3.They were confined to more barren and rocky areas of the hills in course of time.
4.The paharias did shifting cultivation. Now shifting cultivation was becoming more and more difficult as proper and stable settlements.
5.As forest began to be cleared, the paharis could not depend on it for livelihood. Thus, the lifestyle and living of Paharias underwent change due to coming of outsiders.
What are the problems of using official sources in writing about the history of peasants?
Why was the jotedar a powerful figure in many areas of rural Bengal?
How did the American Civil War affect the lives of ryots in India?
In what way was the livelihood of the Paharias different from that of the Santhals?
Why did the Santhals rebel against British rule?
Why were many zamindaris auctioned after the Permanent Settlement?
On an outline map of the subcontinent, mark out the areas described in this chapter. Find out whether there were other areas where the Permanent Settlement and the ryotwari system were prevalent and plot these on the map as well.
What explains the anger of the Deccan ryots against Fig. 10.20 the moneylenders?
How did zamindars manage to retain control over their zamindaris?
Why did the mutinous sepoys in many places turn to erstwhile rulers to provide leadership to the revolt?
To what extent are census data useful in reconstructing patterns of urbanisation in the colonial context?
How did Mahatma Gandhi seek to identify with the common people?
What did the Muslim League demand through its resolution of 1940?
What were the ideals expressed in the Objectives Resolution?
Discuss the evidence that indicates planning and coordination on the part of the rebels.
What do the terms “White” and “Black” Town signify?
How was Mahatma Gandhi perceived by the peasants?
Why did some people think of Partition as a very sudden development?
How was the term minority defined by different groups?
How did the Constituent Assembly seek to resolve the language controversy?
To what extent are census data useful in reconstructing patterns of urbanisation in the colonial context?
Examine any two sources presented in the chapter, choosing one visual and one text, and discuss how these represent the point of view of the victor and the vanquished.
What were Mahatma Gandhi’s arguments against Partition?
Why did some people think of Partition as a very sudden development?
What were the new kinds of public places that emerged in the colonial city? What functions did they serve?
How were urban centres transformed during the eighteenth century?
Why is Partition viewed as an extremely significant marker in South Asian history?
What were the arguments in favour of greater power to the provinces?
Why were the dialogues at the Round Table Conference inconclusive?