UPSC Mains 2023 GS1 Q13 — Tribal Movements
How did the colonial rule affect the tribals in India and what was the tribal response to the colonial oppression? (Answer in 250 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Howwhat
- Scope keywords
- colonial ruletribals in Indiatribal responsecolonial oppression
- Implicit sub-parts
- Structural changes in forest laws and land ownership (Alienation)
- Impact of the entry of 'Dikus' (moneylenders/traders) and Christian missionaries
- Categorization of responses into restorative, religious, and violent revolts
- The geographic spread of the response from North-East to Central India
- Common pitfalls
- Focusing only on the Santhal or Munda rebellions while ignoring the North-East frontier tribes
- Describing general British atrocities without specifically linking them to 'Forest Acts' or 'Criminal Tribes Act'
- Failing to mention the transition from traditional 'Jhum' cultivation to settled agriculture as a core grievance
- Treating all tribal responses as purely violent/armed, ignoring socio-religious reform movements like Tana Bhagat
- Dimensions required
- HistoricalEconomic-EnvironmentalLegislative/LegalSocio-ReligiousGeographical
- Marks allocation hint
Allocate 100 words to the 'affect' part, focusing on three pillars: forest laws, land tenure, and social interference. Reserve 100 words for the 'response', categorizing them by nature (armed vs reformist) with specific examples like Santhal Hul or Ulgulan. Use the remaining 50 words for a crisp intro on the pre-colonial tribal status and a conclusion on their contribution to the National Movement.
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