Why were the people of Bastar troubled by forced labour?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: Because they had to work against their will
Forced labour means that people are compelled to work without freely choosing the work or receiving fair control over their time. In Bastar, colonial forest policies and related demands placed burdens on local communities. When people were required to provide labour for officials, contractors, roads, transport, or other tasks, they lost time needed for cultivation, gathering forest produce, household duties, and community life. Such demands created anger because authority was being exercised without the people’s consent.
Option A is correct because it directly explains the central problem: people had to work against their will. The other options reverse the meaning of forced labour. It did not give communities royal power, remove taxes, or open forests for unrestricted use. Instead, it was an additional form of compulsion that contributed to wider resentment against colonial forest rules. In historical terms, this is often connected with begar or compulsory service, which helped turn dissatisfaction into organised opposition in forest regions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the correct answer to this question?
Because they had to work against their will
Why is this the correct answer?
Forced labour means that people are compelled to work without freely choosing the work or receiving fair control over their time. In Bastar, colonial forest policies and related demands placed burdens on local communities. When people were required to provide labour for officials, contractors, roads, transport, or other tasks, they lost time needed for cultivation, gathering forest produce, household duties, and community life. Such demands created anger because authority was being exercised without the people’s consent.
Option A is correct because it directly explains the central problem: people had to work against their will. The other options reverse the meaning of forced labour. It did not give communities royal power, remove taxes, or open forests for unrestricted use. Instead, it was an additional form of compulsion that contributed to wider resentment against colonial forest rules. In historical terms, this is often connected with begar or compulsory service, which helped turn dissatisfaction into organised opposition in forest regions.
Which subject and chapter does this question cover?
This is a Class 9 History question. Chapter: Forest Society and Colonialism. Topic: Rebellion in the Forest.
