NCERT Book Class 8 Social Science (History) Chapter 4 Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age

4 Tribals, Dikus and the
Vision of a Golden Age

In 1895, a man named Birsa was seen roaming the forests and
villages of Chottanagpur in Jharkhand. People said he had
miraculous powers – he could cure all diseases and multiply
grain. Birsa himself declared that God had appointed him
to save his people from trouble, free them from the slavery
of dikus (outsiders). Soon thousands began following Birsa,
believing that he was bhagwan (God) and had come to solve
all their problems.
Birsa was born in a family of Mundas – a tribal group
that lived in Chottanagpur. But his followers included Fig. 1 – Women of the
other tribals of the region – Santhals and Oraons. All of Dongria Kandha tribe
in Orissa wade through
them in different ways were unhappy with the changes the river on the way to
they were experiencing and the problems they were facing the market
under British rule. Their familiar ways of life seemed to be
disappearing, their livelihoods were under
threat, and their religion appeared to be
in danger.
What problems did Birsa set out to resolve?
Who were the outsiders being referred to as
dikus, and how did they enslave the people of
the region? What was happening to the tribal
people under the British? How did their lives
change? These are some of the questions you
will read about in this chapter.
You have read about tribal societies last
year. Most tribes had customs and rituals
that were very different from those laid
down by Brahmans. These societies also
did not have the sharp social divisions
that were characteristic of caste societies.
All those who belonged to the same tribe
thought of themselves as sharing common
ties of kinship. However, this did not mean
that there were no social and economic
differences within tribes.

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