British policy towards the Paharias: first, brutal extermination; second, a missing step; third, chiefs who accepted it losing authority; fourth, Paharias withdrawing deep into the mountains. What is the missing step?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Augustus Cleveland, the Collector of Bhagalpur, proposing a policy of pacification
Option (1) Augustus Cleveland, the Collector of Bhagalpur, proposing a policy of pacification — Correct. After extermination came Cleveland's policy of pacification by the 1780s. Chiefs got an annual allowance and had to keep their men in order; those who took it lost authority, seen as stipendiary chiefs.
Option (2) Santhal settlers taking over the lower hills and clearing the forests — Incorrect. Santhal settlement came later, by the time of Buchanan's tour, and it pushed the Paharias deeper into the hills.
Option (3) Zamindars on the plains paying a regular tribute to the hill chiefs — Incorrect. Tribute to hill chiefs was the older negotiated peace, before the British policies began, so it cannot be the second step.
Option (4) Buchanan travelling through the region and being met with distrust — Incorrect. Buchanan's tour of 1810-11 came after the Paharias had already withdrawn into the mountains.
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