Inventing the Colonial Commons: Forest Lands and Enclosures in Central India, 1860-1935

Abstract

"The main arm of this paper will be to show the process by which the forest lands were enclosed for grazing in the Central Provinces, between 1860 and 1935. The analysis will proceed at three levels: First, I will map out the different ways of forest use amongst the peasant communities. Secondly, I will discuss the changing nature of pasture-land management by the colonial authorities. Finally I will show why grazing became an important issue politically in the 1930's.

"The first section of this paper will argue that there was an inherent tension between forest and peasant economies. The very nature of peasant cultivation implied a deforestation of forested tracts. But despite this apparent contradiction, there was also an underlying complementality required. It provided pasture-lands for the cattle and supplementary food in times of famine. It also provided fuel for every-day life and wood for implements. This is why it was important for the peasant communities to make rules for the use of nistar lands.

"The second section will show how traditional nistar rights were reordered in Colonial Central Provinces. It will argue that the colonial organization of these required a specific interpretation of pre-colonial history. Concentrating mainly on the writings of people like Henry Maine and Baden-Powell, it will examine these constructions of the pre-colonial rule in India with specific focus on the classification of wastelands. Thereafter it will proceed to examine the nature of the enclosures that were demarcated for peasant use and examine its impact on agricultural practices. It will argue that the European enclosure movement was instrumental in shaping the British ideas of what the 'commons' should be and how customary peasant rights in forests can legalised and recognised under the colonial regime.

"The final section will argue that the classification of wastelands and their demarcation was a political exercise that evoked an equally sharp political response from the Nationalists. The dynamics of the Nationalists forest satyagraha and the reasons for its failure amongst the peasant and grazing communities will be examined. In contrast I will show how the forest communities used the opportunity to protest against the forest laws."