Presenting 15 important dates, figures, and events from class 9 history chapter 4, “Forest Society and Colonialism”. These will act as short notes for exam preparation and help you solve the MCQ questions.
- 1755: Mataram kingdom of Java split, Kalang families divided between two kingdoms
- 1770: Kalangs resisted by attacking a Dutch fort at Joana, but the uprising was suppressed
- 1864: Dietrich Brandis set up the Indian Forest Service
- 1865: Indian Forest Act was formulated by Dietrich Brandis
- 1878: Indian Forest Act was amended
- 1880-1920: Cultivated area rose by 6.7 million hectares
- 1906: Imperial Forest Research Institute set up at Dehradun
- 1907: 3,000 families following Samin’s ideas
- 1910: Rebellion in Bastar
- 1917: Indian Munitions Board, War Timber Sleepers piled at Soolay pagoda
- 1946: Length of railway tracks increased to over 765,000 km
These points cover the colonial impact on forests, significant resistances like the Samin movement and Bastar Rebellion, legislative changes, and the evolution of forestry management philosophies. Get ready with Class 9 Social Science MCQ Questions with Answers, aligned with the latest exam guidelines.
MCQ Questions and Answers for Class 9 History Chapter 4 Forest Society and Colonialism
Question 1: What is deforestation?
a) Clearing forests to grow crops or for industrial use
b) Planting trees in large areas
c) Conserving forests for wildlife
d) Restricting human activities in forests
Answer:
a) Clearing forests to grow crops or for industrial use
Question 2: Why did deforestation become more systematic under colonial rule?
a) To increase food grain production
b) For industrial purposes and timber supply
c) To preserve forests for future generations
d) To expand animal habitats
Answer:
b) For industrial purposes and timber supply
Question 3: By how much did the cultivated area rise between 1880 and 1920 in colonial India?
a) 5.2 million hectares
b) 6.7 million hectares
c) 8.5 million hectares
d) 10 million hectares
Answer:
b) 6.7 million hectares
Question 4: Why were forests cleared for plantations during the colonial period?
a) To produce food crops
b) To meet Europe’s demand for tea, coffee, and rubber
c) To allow local people to grow crops
d) To increase forest cover
Answer:
b) To meet Europe’s demand for tea, coffee, and rubber
Question 5: Which colonial industry created a major demand for timber?
a) Textile industry
b) Shipbuilding industry
c) Steel industry
d) Coal mining industry
Answer:
b) Shipbuilding industry
Question 6: How many trees were cut annually in the Madras Presidency alone for railway sleepers?
a) 25,000
b) 30,000
c) 35,000
d) 40,000
Answer:
c) 35,000
Question 7: What was the purpose of sleepers in colonial India?
a) To provide fuel for locomotives
b) To hold railway tracks together
c) To build bridges
d) To lay foundations for plantations
Answer:
b) To hold railway tracks together
Question 8: Why did European foresters criticize shifting cultivation?
a) It harmed forest regeneration
b) It was more productive than modern farming
c) It reduced timber supply for railways
d) It disrupted forest management plans
Answer:
a) It harmed forest regeneration
Question 9: What was the Indian Forest Act of 1865 primarily aimed at?
a) Protecting wildlife
b) Promoting scientific forestry
c) Restricting villagers’ access to forests
d) Encouraging forest conservation
Answer:
c) Restricting villagers’ access to forests
Question 10: Which German forester was invited to manage Indian forests?
a) Robert Owen
b) Dietrich Brandis
c) Surontiko Samin
d) William Ward
Answer:
b) Dietrich Brandis
Question 11: What did the colonial government classify as “reserved forests”?
a) Forests for local community use
b) Forests exclusively for timber production
c) Forests for shifting cultivation
d) Forests to be preserved for wildlife
Answer:
b) Forests exclusively for timber production
Question 12: How were plantations established under colonial rule?
a) Forests were enclosed, cleared, and planted with commercial crops
b) Shifting cultivation methods were modernized
c) Villagers were encouraged to plant native species
d) Grazing and logging were promoted in the region
Answer:
a) Forests were enclosed, cleared, and planted with commercial crops
Question 13: Why did the British see forests as “unproductive”?
a) They did not yield revenue
b) They were suitable for plantations only
c) They were not utilized for trade
d) They supported shifting cultivators
Answer:
a) They did not yield revenue
Question 14: What were the three categories of forests under the Indian Forest Act of 1878?
a) Protected, village, and reserved forests
b) Private, common, and commercial forests
c) Urban, rural, and agricultural forests
d) Timber, wildlife, and cultivation forests
Answer:
a) Protected, village, and reserved forests
Question 15: Which crops were promoted by the British for commercial purposes?
a) Millets and pulses
b) Tea, coffee, and rubber
c) Fruits and vegetables
d) Wheat and barley
Answer:
b) Tea, coffee, and rubber
Question 16: What was “scientific forestry” introduced by the British?
a) A system to protect natural forests
b) A system of controlled logging and planting of one tree species
c) A system of conserving all types of forests
d) A method to grow mixed species in forests
Answer:
b) A system of controlled logging and planting of one tree species
Question 17: What impact did forest laws have on forest dwellers?
a) They were forced to leave their homes and livelihoods
b) They were encouraged to plant more trees
c) They were hired as forest officials
d) They gained access to forest reserves
Answer:
a) They were forced to leave their homes and livelihoods
Question 18: What was the main purpose of reserved forests?
a) To protect wildlife
b) To provide timber for colonial industries
c) To allow villagers to collect forest products
d) To promote shifting cultivation
Answer:
b) To provide timber for colonial industries
Question 19: How did villagers view forests compared to the forest department?
a) Villagers wanted diverse forests; the department preferred single-species plantations
b) Villagers supported forest laws; the department opposed them
c) Both prioritized timber production
d) Villagers and officials shared the same vision for forests
Answer:
a) Villagers wanted diverse forests; the department preferred single-species plantations
Question 20: What forest products did villagers rely on for daily use?
a) Roots, fruits, tubers, bamboo, and wood
b) Commercial crops like tea and coffee
c) Rubber and timber for trade
d) Spices and silk
Answer:
a) Roots, fruits, tubers, bamboo, and wood
Question 21: Why was shifting cultivation banned by the colonial government?
a) It harmed forests used for timber production
b) It was not profitable for cultivators
c) It helped forest villagers survive
d) It promoted forest conservation
Answer:
a) It harmed forests used for timber production
Question 22: How did the British forest laws affect women in forest areas?
a) They gained new jobs in forestry
b) They were restricted from collecting fuelwood and forest produce
c) They were trained as forest guards
d) They were given land for cultivation
Answer:
b) They were restricted from collecting fuelwood and forest produce
Question 23: Which forest tribe in Central India petitioned against British forest laws?
a) Baigas
b) Santals
c) Gonds
d) Mundas
Answer:
a) Baigas
Question 24: What punishment did villagers face for violating forest laws?
a) They were allowed to pay a fine
b) They were punished and harassed by forest guards
c) They were given forest land
d) They were allowed free forest produce
Answer:
b) They were punished and harassed by forest guards
Question 25: What was “devsari” or “dand” in forest communities?
a) A fee paid to forest guards for protection
b) A small fee paid when taking wood from another village’s forest
c) A tax collected by the colonial state
d) A payment for working in plantations
Answer:
b) A small fee paid when taking wood from another village’s forest
Question 26: Why did some villagers rebel against forest laws?
a) They wanted to conserve forests
b) They were displaced and denied access to forest resources
c) They wanted jobs in forest plantations
d) They supported colonial policies
Answer:
b) They were displaced and denied access to forest resources
Question 27: What is “shifting cultivation” also known as?
a) Jhum, podu, and bewar
b) Plantation farming
c) Mixed farming
d) Permanent agriculture
Answer:
a) Jhum, podu, and bewar
Question 28: What was the “Blandongdiensten” system in Java?
a) Villagers worked free for the Dutch in exchange for rent exemption
b) A forest reservation system for local tribes
c) A trade system for forest products
d) Scientific forestry introduced by the Dutch
Answer:
a) Villagers worked free for the Dutch in exchange for rent exemption
Question 29: Who were the Kalangs of Java?
a) Skilled forest cutters and shifting cultivators
b) A forest protection group
c) Traders of forest products
d) Plantation workers
Answer:
a) Skilled forest cutters and shifting cultivators
Question 30: What were the main consequences of forest reservations?
a) Increased forest conservation
b) Displacement of villagers and loss of livelihoods
c) Development of tourism
d) Improved forest productivity for local people
Answer:
b) Displacement of villagers and loss of livelihoods
Question 31: Which community led the rebellion in Bastar in 1910?
a) Gonds
b) Dhurwas
c) Baigas
d) Oraons
Answer:
b) Dhurwas
Question 32: What triggered the Bastar rebellion against the British?
a) High forest taxes
b) Displacement due to forest reservations
c) Employment in plantations
d) Hunting restrictions
Answer:
b) Displacement due to forest reservations
Question 33: Who was the leader of the Bastar rebellion?
a) Gunda Dhur
b) Birsa Munda
c) Siddhu and Kanu
d) Alluri Sitarama Raju
Answer:
a) Gunda Dhur
Question 34: What symbolic items were used to spread messages during the Bastar rebellion?
a) Mango boughs, a lump of earth, chillies, and arrows
b) Letters written in the local language
c) Flags and drums
d) Bamboo poles and dried leaves
Answer:
a) Mango boughs, a lump of earth, chillies, and arrows
Question 35: What happened to villages during the British suppression of the Bastar rebellion?
a) Villages were burned, and people fled into the forests
b) Villages were protected by the British
c) Villagers were given more forest rights
d) British officers negotiated peacefully
Answer:
a) Villages were burned, and people fled into the forests
Question 36: What was the outcome of the Bastar rebellion for the forest reservation plans?
a) The plan was completely abandoned
b) The area reserved was reduced by half
c) The reservation continued without changes
d) Forest laws were removed entirely
Answer:
b) The area reserved was reduced by half
Question 37: Who were the Saminists in Java?
a) A community resisting Dutch forest laws
b) Plantation workers supporting forest conservation
c) Dutch officials promoting scientific forestry
d) Traders of forest products
Answer:
a) A community resisting Dutch forest laws
Question 38: What argument did Surontiko Samin use to challenge Dutch forest policies?
a) Forests belong to villagers, not the state
b) Forests should be used only for plantations
c) The state could not own natural resources like wind and wood
d) Forests should be protected by the Dutch only
Answer:
c) The state could not own natural resources like wind and wood
Question 39: What was the strategy of the Saminists to protest against Dutch policies?
a) Refusing to pay taxes and perform forced labor
b) Engaging in violent uprisings
c) Setting plantations on fire
d) Cooperating with Dutch officials
Answer:
a) Refusing to pay taxes and perform forced labor
Question 40: What was a key feature of the Kalang rebellion in Java?
a) It targeted a Dutch fort in Joana
b) It supported the Dutch forestry laws
c) It introduced scientific forestry to Java
d) It established new plantations
Answer:
a) It targeted a Dutch fort in Joana
Question 41: How did the British and Dutch exploit forests during World Wars?
a) They abandoned forest management plans
b) They cut trees freely to meet war demands
c) They conserved forests to protect resources
d) They planted more trees for future use
Answer:
b) They cut trees freely to meet war demands
Question 42: What was the “scorched earth policy” adopted by the Dutch during World War II?
a) Destroying forests and sawmills to prevent enemy use
b) Expanding plantations for economic gain
c) Conserving forests for war supplies
d) Promoting scientific forestry in Java
Answer:
a) Destroying forests and sawmills to prevent enemy use
Question 43: What happened to forests in Java during Japanese occupation in World War II?
a) They were conserved
b) They were recklessly exploited
c) They were protected by local communities
d) They were abandoned by the government
Answer:
b) They were recklessly exploited
Question 44: What led to conflicts between forest villagers and forest departments after World War II?
a) Expansion of cultivation into forest lands
b) Increased employment opportunities
c) Promotion of hunting for recreation
d) Restoration of shifting cultivation
Answer:
a) Expansion of cultivation into forest lands
Question 45: How did villagers in India protect forests in sacred groves?
a) By preventing any human activities
b) By patrolling and protecting forests collectively
c) By leasing them to the forest department
d) By planting commercial crops
Answer:
b) By patrolling and protecting forests collectively
Question 46: What was the main objective of scientific forestry during colonial times?
a) Maximizing timber production for colonial needs
b) Protecting diverse wildlife species
c) Promoting sustainable agriculture
d) Supporting shifting cultivation
Answer:
a) Maximizing timber production for colonial needs
Question 47: What restrictions did the Forest Act impose on villagers?
a) Prohibited grazing, shifting cultivation, and hunting
b) Allowed free use of timber for house-building
c) Promoted plantation farming for villagers
d) Encouraged villagers to sell forest products
Answer:
a) Prohibited grazing, shifting cultivation, and hunting
Question 48: Why were shifting cultivators forced to abandon their traditional practices?
a) Colonial policies banned shifting cultivation
b) They voluntarily switched to industrial jobs
c) They received incentives to work on plantations
d) They were provided better land for farming
Answer:
a) Colonial policies banned shifting cultivation
Question 49: How were forest villagers impacted by plantation expansion?
a) They lost access to forest resources
b) They gained employment and better wages
c) They were allowed to cultivate within plantations
d) They benefited from improved living conditions
Answer:
a) They lost access to forest resources
Question 50: What role did the World Bank propose for Bastar’s forests in the 1970s?
a) Replacing natural sal forests with tropical pine
b) Conserving biodiversity in sacred groves
c) Expanding local agricultural practices
d) Promoting sustainable forest management
Answer:
a) Replacing natural sal forests with tropical pine
Question 51: Which Indian forest products were traded during the medieval period?
a) Silk, ivory, and spices
b) Timber, bamboo, and oilseeds
c) Rubber, coffee, and tea
d) Hides, silk cocoons, and gums
Answer:
d) Hides, silk cocoons, and gums
Question 52: What was the main impact of forest reservation on nomadic and pastoralist communities?
a) They were displaced and their grazing lands restricted
b) They received new opportunities to trade forest products
c) They gained rights to use reserved forests
d) They were employed in forest management
Answer:
a) They were displaced and their grazing lands restricted
Question 53: How did some forest communities benefit from colonial policies?
a) By working as contractors for timber supply
b) By gaining free access to reserved forests
c) By practicing unrestricted shifting cultivation
d) By growing food crops for local markets
Answer:
a) By working as contractors for timber supply
Question 54: What did the Baigas of Central India demand in their petition against forest laws?
a) Access to forest resources for survival
b) Employment in forest departments
c) Freedom to cultivate plantations
d) Protection from other tribes
Answer:
a) Access to forest resources for survival
Question 55: Why were large animals like tigers and wolves hunted during the colonial period?
a) To protect crops and livestock
b) To discourage forest conservation
c) To promote eco-tourism
d) To create space for plantations
Answer:
a) To protect crops and livestock
Question 56: What became a key focus of forestry in the 1980s?
a) Conservation of forests rather than timber production
b) Expansion of plantation farming
c) Increasing shifting cultivation
d) Restricting all human activity in forests
Answer:
a) Conservation of forests rather than timber production
Question 57: How did local villagers contribute to forest conservation?
a) By protecting sacred groves and patrolling forests
b) By selling forest products to colonial traders
c) By creating new plantations for timber
d) By supporting forest reservations
Answer:
a) By protecting sacred groves and patrolling forests
Question 58: Which colonial policy greatly restricted villagers’ access to forests?
a) The Indian Forest Act of 1878
b) The Blandongdiensten system
c) The World Bank forestry project
d) The Scientific Forestry Act
Answer:
a) The Indian Forest Act of 1878
Match the following Class 9 History Chapter 4 Forest Society and Colonialism
Question
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| (i) Establishment of scientific forestry | (a) New system of trade and employment |
| (ii) Blandongdiensten system | (b) Restriction of shifting cultivation |
| (iii) Surontiko Samin’s movement | (c) Dutch colonial forestry policy |
| (iv) Deforestation during colonial times | (d) Displacement of forest communities |
| (v) Introduction of the Forest Act | (e) Expansion of cultivation |
| (vi) Rebellion in the forest | (f) Protection of forests in sacred groves |
Answer
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| (i) Establishment of scientific forestry | (c) Dutch colonial forestry policy |
| (ii) Blandongdiensten system | (a) New system of trade and employment |
| (iii) Surontiko Samin’s movement | (d) Displacement of forest communities |
| (iv) Deforestation during colonial times | (e) Expansion of cultivation |
| (v) Introduction of the Forest Act | (b) Restriction of shifting cultivation |
| (vi) Rebellion in the forest | (f) Protection of forests in sacred groves |
Fill in the Blanks Questions for Class 9 History Chapter 4 Forest Society and Colonialism
Now lets solve 12 fill-in-the-blank questions from 4th chapter:
1. The disappearance of forests is referred to as ___.
Answer:
deforestation
2. In 1600, approximately ___ of India’s landmass was under cultivation.
Answer:
one-sixth
3. The British needed forests in order to build ___ and ___.
Answer:
ships, railways
4. The system of cutting trees controlled by the forest department, in which old trees are cut and new ones planted, is called ___.
Answer:
scientific forestry
5. The Forest Act was enacted in ___ and was amended twice, once in ___ and then in ___.
Answer:
1865, 1878, 1927
6. The Forest Act divided forests into three categories: ___, ___, and ___ forests.
Answer:
reserved, protected, village
7. In shifting cultivation, parts of the forest are cut and ___ in rotation.
Answer:
burnt
8. The colonial government decided to ban ___ cultivation.
Answer:
shifting
9. The practice of shifting cultivation has many local names such as ___ in Southeast Asia, ___ in Central America, ___ or ___ in Africa, and ___ in Sri Lanka.
Answer:
lading, milpa, chitemene, tavy, chena
10. The Mundurucu peoples of the Brazilian Amazon began to collect ___ from wild rubber trees for supplying to traders.
Answer:
latex
11. The Baigas petitioned to the government saying that they daily starve and the only wealth they possess is their ___.
Answer:
axe
12. The First World War and the Second World War had a major impact on ___.
Answer:
forests
