What are the similarities between colonial management of the forests in Bastar and in Java?
Java is a famous rice producing island in Indonesia. Earlier, it was covered mostly with forests. The colonial power in Java was the Dutch, and there were many similarities in the laws for forest control in Java and Bastar. Strict laws were made in both the places to prohibit hunting and grazing. The Dutch enacted forest laws in Java restricting villagers’ access to forests. Villagers were punished for grazing cattle in young stands, transporting wood without a permit, or travelling on forest roads with horse carts or cattle. In India also, hunting and grazing were prohibited and the British government took over the forests giving no rights to the people to access forests resources. In India, many pastoralists and nomadic communities like Korava, Karacha and Yerukula of the Madras Presidency lost their livelihoods and were forced to work in mines and factories.