Name: The New Age of Scientific Forestry
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 5 min 50 s
Description: Because of the need for timber during the war, India’s forests were deforested. Watch this video and see how management practices helped India’s forests bounce back.

Question

Mention the similarities between the colonial management of the forests in Bastar and in Java?

Accepted Answer

The forest management of Bastar in India was in the hands of the British and in Java, it was in the hands of the Dutch.

The Dutch, like the British, wanted timber to build ships and sleepers for railway tracks. Both the British and the Dutch enacted forest laws to control the forests and put restrictions on their customary rights. They were not allowed to enter the forest, graze their cattle or cut wood without their permission. Both the British and the Dutch introduced scientific forestry and banned shifting cultivation.

Some villagers were allowed to stay in the forest on the condition that they would provide free labour service for the Forest Department in cutting and transporting trees and protecting the forests from fire. A similar condition was imposed on the cultivators in Dutch where rent was imposed on the land and then exempted for some villagers if they agree to work as free labourers and also provide buffaloes for cutting and transporting goods and timber.

This system came to be known as the 'Blandongdiensten System'.

When the exploitation increased both in Bastar and in Java then it was revolted under the Gunda Dhur and Surontika Samin, respectively. Both the revolts were crushed by the colonial powers.

Mention the similarities between the colonial management of the forests in Bastar and in Java?

Important Questions on Forest Society and Colonialism

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