UPSC Prelims 2002 Q93: Modern History – Advent Of Europeans & British Expansion
With
which one of the following mountain tribes did the British first come into contact with after the
grant of Diwani in the year 1765?
- (a) Garo
- (b) Khasis
- (c) Kukis
- (d) Tipperahs
Answer: (b) Khasis
Explanation
First mountain tribe contacted by the British after the Diwani of 1765
| Tribe | Contact with the British |
|---|---|
| Khasis | First contact in the late 18th century, linked to trade in limestone and the Sylhet border |
| Garos | Contact came later |
| Kukis | Contact came later, from the 1820s onward |
| Tipperahs | Dealt with as a princely state, not as a hill tribe |
After the grant of the Diwani of Bengal in 1765, the Company's first contact among the hill tribes of the north-east was with the Khasis, who traded limestone and other goods across the Sylhet border.
Answer: (b) Khasis.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Contact with the Garos came later.
- (b) CORRECT. The Khasis were the first contacted.
- (c) Incorrect. Contact with the Kukis came later.
- (d) Incorrect. Tripura was dealt with as a state, not as a hill tribe.
Key point
North-east tribes and the British: Khasi (1770s), Garo (1800s), Naga and Kuki (1830s-1840s), Mizo (1870s).
Remember
Khasis were the first mountain tribe contacted after 1765.
Common mistakes
- Choosing the Garos, their neighbours in Meghalaya.
- Picking the Kukis because of later fame.
- Treating Tripura as a hill tribe rather than as a state.
Exam tip
The Khasis' limestone trade drew the first Company contact.
Sources
- Bipan Chandra — Modern India
- pmfias.com — Khasis after Diwani (2002 PYQ)