Economic policies of the colonial and post-colonial states: The Kurichia community of Wayanad – Kerala

Impacts of socio economic changes on tribes of Waynad in the colonial and post colonial period: A study with special reference to Kurichias by Rajan, E K | Read the full chapter here >>

CHAPTER – VI 
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COLONIAL AND POST-COLONIAL TRIBAL PEOPLE 
In this chapter a detailed discussion on the economic policies of the colonial and post-colonial states are discussed. While discussing the colonial period emphasis is given to land revenue and forest policies and to assess its effect on the tribal life, especially among the Kurichias. In the post-colonial period, independent state‟s agrarian reforms, occupational mobility and land reforms were taken into analysis to understand the dynamics of the economic life of the tribals.  […]

[T]he practice of tribal development or the modern principle of administration whether for colonial or other ends, were first brought to the tribals by the British.5 The colonial Government dealt with the tribals keeping their own vested interests in mind. Their approach was basically law and order oriented and primarily meant to keep the tribals isolated from the mainstream of national life. Their legal system was complicated and its language was alien to the tribals. It was thus the colonial period which brought most of the tribals under a common political organization. It might be the first deliberate attempt towards the tribals all over India.6 In pursuance of these laws the colonial rulers maintained a stern posture throughout their rule in India, and even in tribal areas they enforced them with an iron hand.7 

Until colonial intervention and even a little later, the tribes continued to live with an „internally self-subsistent economy‟ and also self-contented traditional system. Since the advent of the British there began an infiltration by outsiders into tribal areas and the autonomous tribal economy was threatened. There emerged a relationship between tribals and non-tribals. But the process was reversed when the British policy of isolating the tribes resulted in large scale exploitation by landlords, money- lenders and contractors, adding to their already strained life in fighting off the onslaughts of ruthless nature. The judicial system which had been adopted gave the moneylenders immense power over their debtors. They had their heyday as no one was there to check their usurious activities.  […]

Source: Impacts of socio economic changes on tribes of Waynad in the colonial and post colonial period A study with special reference to Kurichias, pp. 237-8
URL: https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/11187/15/15_chapter%206.pdf 
Date visited: 19 January 2022

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