The word “dikus” means outsiders or who come from outside like –
moneylenders, traders, zamindars, contractors, British etc. There are a
number of reasons for anger of the tribals against the dikus:
→ The tribals practiced shifting cultivation but the British forced them
to follow settled agriculture and also introduced land settlements.
→ Traders and moneylenders were coming into the forest, wanting to
buy forest produce at a very cheap rate, luring them to take cash loans at
high interests etc. The innocent and poor people initially fell in the trap
of these moneylenders and traders and remained indebted throughout
their lives. So the tribals considered the traders, moneylenders as evil
outsiders.
→ Under British rule the tribal chiefs lost their authorities they had
enjoyed earlier amongst their people, were unable to fulfill their
traditional functions. Rather they had to pay tribute to the British.
→ By the introduction of forest laws, the British evacuated them from
their own lands. As a result they became homeless and went in search of
work and livelihood