Tribal Revolts in India During British Period (History Notes for UPSC/Uppcs)

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.

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.
•  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.
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1. Non-Frontier tribal revolts

Years	Uprising	Facts related to the uprising
1778	Pahriyas rebellion	Place: Rajmahal Hills Led by: martial Pahariyas Cause: against the British expansion on their lands
1776	Chuar uprising	Place: Bengal Led by: Chuar aboriginal tribesmen Cause: economic privatization by the British
1831	Kol uprising	Place: Chotanagpur Led by: Buddho Bhagat Cause: British rule expansion and land transfers
1827-1831	Ho and Munda uprising	Place: Singhbhum and Chotanagpur Led by: Raja Parahat and others Cause: British expansion and revenue policy
1890s-1900s	Later Munda and Ulugulan uprising	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.
1855-56	Santhal rebellion	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.
1837-56	Kandh uprising	Place: from Tamil Nadu to Bengal Led by: Chakra Bisoi Cause: Interference in tribal customs and imposition of new taxes.
1860s	Naikada Movement	Place: M.P. and Gujrat Cause: against British and caste Hindus.
1870s	Kharwar rebellion	Place: Bihar Cause: against revenue settlement activities.
1817-19 & 1913	Bhil revolts	Place: regions of Western Ghats Cause: against company rule and to form Bhil Raj.
1967-68;1891-93	Bhuyan and Juang rebellion	Place: Kheonjhar,Orissa Led by: Ratna Nayak and Dharni Dhar Nayak Cause: Policy of annexation
1880s	Koya revolts	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.
1910	Bastar revolt	Place: Jagdalpur area Cause: New feudal and forest levies.
1914-15	Tana Bhagat movement	Place: Chhota Nagpur area Led by: Jatra Bhagat and Balram Bhagat. Cause: against interference of outsiders, began as Sanskritization movement.
1916-1924	Rampa revolts	Place: Andhra Pradesh region Leader: Alluri Sitarama Raju Cause: Interference in tribal customs and imposition of new taxes.
1920 onwards	Jharkhand uprising	Places: Chhotanagpur region; parts of Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal. Adivasi Mahasabha was formed in 1937.
1920s-1930s	Forest Satyagrahas	Led by: By Chenchu tribals & by Karwars Cause: · British interference in internal affairs of tribal areas · British administrative innovations · Excessive land assessments
1940s	Gond uprising	· To bring together the believers of Gond dharma.

2. North-East Frontier Tribal Uprisings

Years	Uprising	Facts
1823-33	Ahom’s’ revolt	Place: Assam Cause: against non-fulfilment 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.
1830s	Khasi’s revolt	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
1930s	Singhpho’s rebellion	Place: Assam Cause: British interference in internal affairs of tribal areas and administrative innovations along with Excessive land assessments.
1917-19	Kuki’s revolt	Place: Manipur Cause: aginst  Britsih labour recruitment policies during WW1.
1920s	Zeliangsong Movement	Place: Manipur Led by: Zemi and Liangmei tribes Cause: British failed to protect these tribes during Kuki’s violence.
1905-31	Naga Movement	Place: Manipur Led by: Jadonang It was against British rule and about setting up of a Naga Raj.
1930s	Hereka Cult	Place: Manipur Led by: Rani Gaidinliu As a result of this movement, Kabui Naga Association was formed in 1946