After the demarcation of ____________, Santhal settlements expanded rapidly.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Damin-i-koh
The British failed to turn the Paharias into settled farmers, so they turned to the Santhals, who cleared forests and ploughed the land with vigour. By 1832 a large area at the foothills of Rajmahal was demarcated as Damin-i-Koh and declared to be the land of the Santhals. They had to live within it and practise plough agriculture. After this demarcation, Santhal settlements expanded rapidly.
NCERT (2025-26): “2.2 The Santhals: Pioneer settlers … The Santhals were given land and persuaded to settle in the foothills of Rajmahal. By 1832 a large area of land was demarcated as Damin-i-Koh. This was declared to be the land of the Santhals. They were to live within it, practise plough agriculture, and become settled peasants. The land grant to the Santhals stipulated that at least one-tenth of the area was to be cleared and cultivated within the first ten years. The territory was surveyed and mapped. Enclosed with boundary pillars, it was separated from both the world of the settled agriculturists of the plains and the Paharias of the hills. After the demarcation of Damin-i-Koh, Santhal settlements expanded rapidly.…” |