Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The tribal communities of Bengal experienced significant socio-economic transformations under British colonial rule. Before colonial intervention, these communities depended on agriculture, forest resources, hunting, and traditional communal systems for their livelihood. However, the introduction of colonial land revenue policies, forest laws, and the commercialization of agriculture disrupted their traditional socio-economic structure. Land alienation, indebtedness, and restrictions on forest access adversely affected tribal livelihoods. At the same time, the expansion of plantations, mining, and railway networks created opportunities for wage labor and migration. These changes led to the weakening of traditional institutions, cultural shifts, and increased interaction with non-tribal populations. Tribal resistance movements, particularly the Santal Rebellion of 1855-56, reflected opposition to colonial exploitation. This study examines the nature and impact of these transformations and their long-term implications for tribal society in Bengal.
Author: Anirban Choudhury
Language: English
Subfield: Anthropology
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7204258127