Tribal Revolts

Why in the News?

Key Points:

What are the four tribal uprisings invoked by the President?

• Santhal Revolution (1855-56)

• • • Continued oppression of the Santhals (an agricultural people) led to the Santhal rebellion against both the zamindari system and the British East India Company.
    • Areas: It happened in 1855 in Bhognadih village in present-day Jharkhand.

• Causes of the revolt:

• • • • The East India Company created Damin-i-koh region in the forested belt of Rajmahal hillsand invited the Santhals to move there in 1832, sowing the seeds of the uprising.
      • Over time, Santhals found themselves at the receiving end of exploitative practices aided by the British.
    • Leaders: Kanho Murmu, Chand Murmu, Bhairab Murmu and Sidho Murmu
    • Results: The British defeated the Santhals using modern firearms and war elephants in decisive action in which both Sidho and Kanho died.

• Paika Rebellion (1817)

• • • The 1817 Paika Rebellion in Odisha’s Khurda is referred to as the “original” first war of Indian Independence.
    • Causes: Revolted against the British colonial rulers mainly over being dispossessed of their land holdings.
    • Leaders: Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Mohapatra Bharamarbar Rai
    • Result: Bakshi Jagabandhu escaped to the jungles, and stayed out of reach of the British until 1825, when he finally surrendered under negotiated terms.

• Kol revolt (1831)

• • • The adivasi Kol people of Chhota Nagpur rose up in an uprising against the British in 1831.
    • Causes: Large-scale transfer of tribal land and property to non-tribal settlers (Hindu, Muslim and Sikh farmers) triggered the revolt, who were aided by new land laws.
    • Leaders of the revolts: Buddhu Bhagat, Joa Bhagat and Madara Mahato among others
    • Areas: Chhota Nagpur area in Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Palamau, Manbhum.

• Bhil Uprising (1817-19)

• • One of the first British resistance movements taken up by any group or tribe in the country was the Bhil revolt of 1818.
  • Causes: The British occupation of the Bhil area in the Khandesh district of Maharashtra sparked the uprising.
  • Areas: Khandesh (MH), Dhar, Malwa, Western Ghats and Southern Rajasthan
  • Leaders: Led by their leader, Sewaram and was brutally crushed using the British military might.