“The battle between the hoe and the plough was a long one.” Substantiate the statement with reference to the Santhals and Paharis of Raj Mahal Hills during the 18^th Century.

The battle between the hoe and the plough was a long one.

a. The hill folks of the Raj Mahal hills were called as the Paharis.

b. The British failed to convince the Paharis when they wanted them to practice settled agriculture as it would help to bring more land under cultivation.

c. But the Paharis were practising shifting agriculture and depended highly on the forest produce.

d. Majority of the Paharis who cultivated pulses and millets were subsistence farmers.

e. They had their settlements in the tamarind groves and collected wood and other forest products to sell.

f. They were paid by the Zamindars and other traders regularly.

g. But, the Santhals who were given land by the British displaced the Paharis. The lands were cleared and was made suitable for cultivation.

h. They practised plough agriculture and the major crops grown were cotton and rice.

i. As they became the ideal settlers, they gradually took over the lower part of the Raj Mahal hills.