Terrain of Conflict: Indigenous Outlook and Colonial Involvement in the Kumaon Tarai and Bhabar Landscape

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the intricate interactions and interpretations of the concept of landscape within the Tarai and Bhabar regions of Kumaon. It presents this landscape as a contested space, shaped by varying perspectives of the indigenous populations and colonial authorities. Significantly, it investigates the disruptions caused by colonial interventions, wherein the colonial state imposed a distinct vision of the landscape. This mental restructuring was executed through various policies, affecting a transformative impact on the local worldview. In this regard, colonialists acted as ‘development experts’, despite their overt aims being different. They sought to control the terrain by constraining the activities of local people, often perceived as wasteful or ignorant. The displacement of local knowledge, rooted in practical experience, in favour of external philosophical or ideological schemes illustrates a fundamental conflict. At the core of this exploration is the contrast between the perspectives of residents and colonial ideologies, each attributing disparate values to the landscape. Ultimately, the paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between indigenous perceptions and colonial impositions in shaping the cultural and historical landscape of the region.