Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age Class 8 Extra Questions and Answers Free PDF Download
FAQs on CBSE Important Questions for Class 8 Social Science Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age - 2025-26
1. What are some important short-answer questions from Chapter 4, "Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age"?
For the 2025-26 exams, important short-answer (1-2 mark) questions from this chapter often focus on key definitions. For example:
- Who were the 'dikus'? The term 'dikus' was used by tribal people to refer to outsiders, specifically moneylenders, traders, missionaries, Hindu landlords, and the British.
- What is 'bewar'? 'Bewar' is a term used in Madhya Pradesh for shifting or jhum cultivation.
- Who was Birsa Munda? He was a tribal leader from the Munda tribe who led a powerful religious and political movement against the British and dikus in the Chotanagpur region.
2. Who were considered 'dikus', and why were they seen as a problem by the tribal communities?
The tribal communities referred to outsiders as 'dikus'. This group primarily included:
- Moneylenders and Traders: They gave loans at high interest rates and sold goods at high prices, trapping tribals in a cycle of debt.
- Landlords: They took over tribal lands, reducing the original owners to tenants.
- The British: They introduced new land and forest laws that disrupted traditional tribal life and systems of governance.
3. What was Birsa Munda's vision of a 'golden age' for his people?
Birsa Munda's vision of a golden age, or satyug (the age of truth), was a future free from the oppression of dikus like moneylenders, landlords, missionaries, and the British. In this ideal age, the Munda people would:
- Cultivate their own lands and live with dignity.
- Rebuild embankments and tap natural springs.
- Practice honest cultivation and not kill each other.
- Rule themselves in their own kingdom (Munda raj) without any external interference.
4. How did the British forest laws critically affect the lives of the tribal people?
The British forest laws had a severe impact on tribal communities. Key effects included:
- Loss of Livelihood: Many tribals depended on forests for hunting, gathering fruits and roots, and grazing their animals. The new laws declared forests as state property and restricted these activities.
- Displacement: Large areas of forest were classified as 'Reserved Forests', forcing tribals to move out and seek other means of survival, often as labourers.
- Impact on Jhum Cultivation: The British discouraged shifting (jhum) cultivation, as it made forest management and revenue collection difficult for them. This forced many jhum cultivators to abandon their traditional practice.
5. What were the primary reasons that led to widespread tribal rebellions during the British period?
The tribal rebellions, such as the Kol rebellion (1831-32) and the Santhal rebellion (1855), were not caused by a single issue but a combination of factors. Important reasons include:
- New Colonial Laws: The implementation of British laws and administrative systems that were unfamiliar and oppressive.
- Economic Exploitation: The activities of moneylenders and traders who trapped them in debt.
- Loss of Land and Forests: New land settlements and restrictive forest laws that took away their traditional rights and lands.
- Threat to Identity: The feeling that their traditional culture, religion, and way of life were being destroyed by outsiders (dikus).
6. Why is understanding the different tribal occupations like 'jhum cultivation' and 'settled cultivation' important for exams?
Understanding the different tribal occupations is crucial as it forms the basis for many analytical questions (3-5 marks). It helps explain:
- Diversity within Tribal Societies: Not all tribal groups lived the same way; some were nomadic hunter-gatherers, some were jhum cultivators, and some had settled down.
- The Impact of British Policies: You can better analyse how a specific policy, like the forest laws, affected a jhum cultivator differently from a settled peasant.
- Causes of Conflict: The clash between British commercial interests and traditional tribal occupations was a major source of conflict.
7. For the CBSE Class 8 Social Science exam, which topics from Chapter 4 carry the most weightage?
Based on the 2025-26 syllabus and previous exam trends, the most important topics from "Tribals, Dikus and the Vision of a Golden Age" are:
- The Birsa Munda Movement: His vision, the reasons for the movement, and its impact are frequently asked in long-answer questions (5 marks).
- Impact of British Forest Laws: This is a key analytical topic often tested as a 3 or 5-mark question.
- The role of 'Dikus': Understanding who they were and their exploitative relationship with tribals is essential for short-answer questions.











