COLONIAL FOREST POLICIES AND TRIBAL RESISTANCE IN CHOTANAGPUR, 1880–1947

Abstract

Abstract: The history of colonial forest administration in Chotanagpur represents one of the most significant intersections of imperial economic policy, ecological transformation, and tribal resistance in eastern India. Between 1880 and 1947, British forest policies fundamentally altered the traditional relationship between indigenous communities and forest resources. Through the implementation of the Indian Forest Acts, reservation of forests, commercialization of timber extraction, and restrictions on customary rights, colonial authorities sought to maximize revenue and strengthen administrative control over forest regions. These measures deeply affected tribal communities such as the Mundas, Oraons, Hos, Santals, and Bhumijs, whose socio-economic and cultural existence depended upon communal access to forests and land. In response, tribal resistance emerged in multiple forms, ranging from armed uprisings and socio-religious movements to legal struggles and everyday acts of defiance. This paper examines the evolution of colonial forest policies in Chotanagpur and analyzes the forms, causes, and consequences of tribal resistance between 1880 and 1947. It argues that colonial forestry not only transformed ecological landscapes but also generated political consciousness that contributed to later regional and indigenous movements in Jharkhand. Keywords: Chotanagpur, tribal resistance, colonial forestry, British India, forest policy, Mundas, Oraons, Birsa Munda, Jharkhand, Indian Forest Act