The Land System of Chotanagpur: One Historical Study

Among the tribals, the significance of land issue can be understood in the contexts of the pre-colonial and post-colonial tribal led rebellions and movements that arose in Chotanagpur. Land is the identity to which folks, culture, tradition and history are interrelated and being alienated from land make the tribal communities non-existent. In the prehistoric, on arriving in Chotanagpur these communities cleared thick forests and settled in the midst of dense forests. Each community breathed their own culture and tradition. For the tribals their land was the most valuable and the best asset they owned. They had neither money nor any valuable thing. In the name of development and civilization, the tribal communities were alienated from their land and exploitation of land by the outsiders started in large sum. One of the easiest way is to seize the land in the name of the government properties. However, the loss of land became the cause of concerns for the communities.

In response to this, the tribals of Chotanagpur raised the flag of rebellion against these 'Diku' (outsiders). The tribals of Chotanagpur sacrificed everything to protect their 'Jal, Jangal, Jamin' ( water, forest, land) since before the freedom movement of India. The importance of land for the tribals of Chotanagpur has been prehistoric and their liaison with the land sets them unique. The present book analyzes the important aspects of the life of the tribals and explores various dimensions and emotions and outlines their exclusive passionate correlation with the land in still called Chotanagpur.