Tribal Revolts in India During British Period

Tribal Revolts in India During British Period

                 The tribal population of the contemporary Orissa region is considered to be first among these groups to revolt against the tyranny of British colonial rule.

             British colonialism faced revolt not only by the civilian population but also by the tribes of various regions throughout colonial India. The strong wave of resistance against British rule was there in present-day Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Bengal and North-Eastern state.

             On the basis of the geographical area occupied by different tribal groups, these uprisings are further subdivided into two categories:
(a) Uprisings by Non-frontier tribes
(b) Uprisings by Frontier tribes
The major Causes for such tribal uprisings were:

1. Exploitative land Revenue Policies and Expansion of agriculture and plantation activities on forested land by outsider non-tribal population in areas inhabited by the tribal population.
2. Works of numerous Christian missionaries were looked with suspicion and as interference in social-economic customs of tribal population.
3. Due to increased demand for wood for larger construction projects like the expansion of Railways various Forest Acts were passed that established complete Government monopoly over forested lands of tribal areas.
4. The uprisings by the north-eastern tribal groups were usually reactions against outsiders (dikus), zamindars and rulers, the support provided to the latter by the British administration.
5. Due to the induction of notion of the private property now the land could be bought, sold or mortgaged which led to the loss of land by the tribals.

1. Non-Frontier tribal revolts

➤  Pahriyas rebellion 

 Years: 1778
 Place: Rajmahal Hills
 Led by: martial Pahariyas
 Cause: against the British expansion on their lands

➤ Chunar uprising 

 Years : 1776
 Place: Bengal
 Led by: Chuar aboriginal tribesmen
 Cause: economic privatization by the British

➤ Kol uprising 

Years:1831
Place: Chotanagpur
Led by: Buddho Bhagat
Cause: British rule expansion and land transfers

➤Ho and Munda uprising

Years: 1827-1831
Place: Singhbhum and Chotanagpur
Led by: Raja Parahat and others
Cause: British expansion and revenue policy

➤Later Munda and Ulugulan uprising 

Years: 1890s-1900s

Place: Ranchi and Chotanagpur
Led by: Birsa Munda
Cause: against feudal and zamindari system and exploitations by money lenders, denial of their rights over forested areas.

➤ Santhal rebellion 

Years:1855-56

Place: Bihar
Led by: Sido and Kanhu
Causes:
· Against feudal and zamindari system and exploitations by money lenders. It later turned out Anti-British and was suppressed.

· Among the numerous tribal revolts, the Santhal uprising was the most remarkable one. When the    Permanent Settlement was introduced in Bengal in 1793, the Santhals were employed as laborers with the  promise of wages or rent-free lands. However, they were forced to become agricultural surfs, exploited at will.

➤ Kandh uprising 

Years: 1837-56

Place: from Tamil Nadu to Bengal
Led by: Chakra Bisoi
Cause: Interference in tribal customs and imposition of new taxes.

➤ Naikada Movement 

Years :1860
Place: M.P. and Gujrat
Cause: against British and caste Hindus.

➤ Kharwar rebellion 

Years :1870

Place: Bihar
Cause: against revenue settlement activities.

➤ Bhil revolts 

Years: 1817-19 & 1913

Place: regions of Western Ghats
Cause: against company rule and to form Bhil Raj.

➤ Bhuyan and Juang rebellion 

Years: 1967-68;1891-93

Place: Kheonjhar,Orissa
Led by: Ratna Nayak and Dharni Dhar Nayak
Cause: Policy of annexation

➤ Koya revolts 

Years: 1880

Place: Godavari region of Andhra Pradesh
Leader: Raja Anantayyar
Cause: against feudal and zamindari system and exploitations by money lenders, denial of their rights over forested areas.

➤ Bastar revolt 

Years: 1910

Place: Jagdalpur area
Cause: New feudal and forest levies.

➤ Tana Bhagat Movement 

Years: 1914-15

Place: Chhota Nagpur area
Led by: Jatra Bhagat and Balram Bhagat.
Cause: against interference of outsiders, began as Sanskritization movement.

➤ Rampa revolts 

Years: 1916-1924

Place: Andhra Pradesh region
Leader: Alluri Sitarama Raju
Cause: Interference in tribal customs and imposition of new taxes.

➤ Jharkhand uprsing

Years :1920 onwards

Places: Chhotanagpur region; parts of Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal.
Adivasi Mahasabha was formed in 1937.

➤ Forest Satyagrahas 

Years: 1920-1930

Led by: By Chenchu tribals & by Karwars
Cause:
· British interference in internal affairs of tribal areas
· British administrative innovations
· Excessive land assessments

2. North-East Frontier Tribal Uprisings

➤ Ahom's' revolt

Years: 1823-1833

Place: Assam
Cause: against non-fulfillment of the pledges of the British after the Burmese War.
Result:
· The British had pledged to withdraw after the first Burmese War(1824-26) from Assam but in contrast, the British attempted to incorporate the Ahoms territories in the company’s dominion after the war.

· This initiated a rebellion in 1828 under the leadership of Gomdhar Konwar.

· Finally, the company decided to follow a conciliatory policy and handed over upper Assam to Maharaja Purandar Singh Narendra and parts of the kingdom was restored to the Assamese king.

➤ Khasi's revolt 

Years: 1830

Place: Hilly regions of Meghalaya
Leader: Nunklow ruler Tirath Singh
Cause: against the occupation of hilly regions.
Result:
· Due to the compulsory enlistment of labourers for road construction led the Khasis to revolt under the leadership of Tirath Singh, a Khasi chief. The Garos joined them.

· The long and harassing warfare with Khasis continued for four years and was finally suppressed in early 1833

➤ Singhpho's rebellion 

Years: 1930

Place: Assam
Cause: British interference in internal affairs of tribal areas and administrative innovations along with Excessive land assessments.

➤ Kuki's revolt 

Years: 1917-19

Place: Manipur
Cause: aginst  Britsih labour recruitment policies during WW1.

➤ Zeliangsong Movement 

Years: 1920

Place: Manipur
Led by: Zemi and Liangmei tribes
Cause: British failed to protect these tribes during Kuki’s violence.

➤ Naga Movement 

Years: 1905-31

Place: Manipur
Led by: Jadonang
It was against British rule and about setting up of a Naga Raj.

➤ Hereka Cult 

Years: 1930

Place: Manipur
Led by: Rani Gaidinliu
As a result of this movement, Kabui Naga Association was formed in 1946

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Indian History Handwritten PDF
Indian Geography Handwritten PDF

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