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Peasant & Tribal Uprisings in British India

Chronology of Major Uprisings

The correct chronological order of key pre-1857 rebellions is:

1. Sepoy Mutiny in Bengal (1764)
2. Sepoy Mutiny at Vellore (1806)
3. Kutch Rebellion (1819-1831)
4. Kol Uprising (1831-1832)
5. Santhal Rebellion (1855-1856)

Detailed Overview of Major Revolts

1. The Indigo Revolt (Neel Rebellion) (1859-60)

• Timing: Took place in Bengal immediately after the Revolt of 1857.
• Cause: British planters forced peasants to accept cash advances and sign contracts to grow indigo at unfairly low, unprofitable prices.
• Leaders: Digambar Viswas and Bishnu Biswas (Bishnu Charan Biswas) from Govindpur village, Nadia district.
• Spread: Nadia, Pabna, Khulna, Dhaka, Malda, and Dinajpur.
• Result: A widespread strike led to the closure of all indigo factories.
• Support: Received strong public support in Bengal through articles and rallies.
• Key Figure: Harish Chandra Mukherjee, editor of the Hindu Patriot.
• Cultural Impact: Dramatized by Dinbandhu Mitra in his play Neel Darpan (1860).

2. The Sanyasi Rebellion (1763-1800)

• Timing: Preceded the Santhal and Indigo revolts (1763-1800).
• Causes:
  • Economic hardship for peasants, landlords, and artisans due to British economic policies.
  • The devastating famine of 1770.
  • British restrictions on Sanyasis’ traditional pilgrimages.
• Nature: A brave fight against the British East India Company.
• Suppression: Finally put down by Governor-General Warren Hastings after a long campaign.
• Cultural Impact: Made famous by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in his novel Anand Math (1882), which contains the national song “Vande Mataram” (first sung by Rabindranath Tagore in 1896).

3. The Santhal Rebellion (Hool) (1855-56)

• Leaders: Led by Sido, Kanhu, and other leaders like Gokko (from Godda) and Mahajan Deen Dayal Rai. (Also supported by Chand and Bhairav).
• Area: Concentrated in the region between Bhagalpur and Bardhaman (Jharkhand/Bengal), specifically the Rajmahal Hills area. Spread across Birbhum, Murshidabad (Bengal), and Bhagalpur (Bihar).
• Opposition: Directed against the British colonial authority, the exploitative Zamindari system, landlords (Dikus), moneylenders, and forced labor for railways.
• Key Event: Defeated British troops led by Major Baroz (Burrough) near Bhagalpur (Pirpainati).
• Sovereignty Claim: The Santhals aspired to but did not achieve full sovereignty over the Ganga valley near Muzaffarpur.
• Aftermath:
  • Creation of a separate administrative unit: Santhal Paraganas (historically known as Narikhand).
  • Enactment of the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act, making it illegal for a Santhal to transfer land to a non-Santhal.

4. The Munda Revolt (Ulgulan) (1899-1900)

• Leader: Birsa Munda (known as ‘Dharti Aaba’ or Father of the World).
• Primary Area: South of Ranchi (Chhotanagpur region, present-day Jharkhand).
• Time Period: Planned in 1895, major revolt (Ulgulan or “Great Tumult”) from 1899-1900.
• Causes:
  • Erosion of the traditional Khuntkatti land system (joint ownership).
  • Exploitation by moneylenders, traders, and landlords (Dikus).
  • Disruption of the old agrarian order and tribal society by colonial rule.
  • Influence of Christianity.
• Nature of Revolt:
  • Aimed to establish Munda Raj (self-rule). It was not to create a separate state like Jharkhand.
  • A socio-religious movement: Birsa declared himself a prophet, urged Mundas to abandon superstition, animal sacrifice, and drugs.
  • Included attacks on churches and police stations.
• Outcome:
  • Brutally suppressed by the British.
  • Birsa Munda was arrested in 1900 and died in jail.
  • Many Mundas were tried; three were hanged, and 44 were transported for life.

5. The Wahabi Movement

• Chief Center: Patna (19th century).
• Leader: Syed Ahmed of Rai Bareilly, influenced by Abdul Wahab of Arabia and Shah Waliullah of Delhi.
• Goal: A religious revival aimed at freeing India from British rule by returning to the original principles of Islam.
• Spread: Kabul, the North-West Frontier Province, Bengal, Bihar, and the Central Provinces.
• Political Action: Syed Ahmed captured Peshawar briefly in 1830 before dying in the Battle of Balakot (1831).

6. The Kuka Movement (Namdhari Sikh Movement)

• Founder: Initially started by Bhagat Jawahar Mal (Sian Sahib) in 1840.
• Leader: Guru Ram Singh is the most famous leader.
• Location: Founded in Punjab (Western Punjab).
• Origin: Began as a religious movement for the purification of Sikhism.
• Evolution: It evolved into a political movement with the primary goal of removing British rule.
• End: Guru Ram Singh was exiled to Rangoon (1872), where he died in 1885.

7. Velu Thampi’s Revolt (1808)

• Leader: Velu Thampi (Dalawai or Prime Minister of Travancore).
• Location: Kerala.
• Cause: Revolted against the harsh terms of a subsidiary alliance treaty forced upon the King of Travancore by Lord Wellesley (1805) and the disrespectful behavior of the British Resident.
• Support: Supported by the Nair battalion.

Other Significant Peasant & Tribal Revolts

Military Mutinies (Pre-1857)

• Barrackpur Mutiny (1824): Over allowances and conditions.
• Vellore Mutiny (1806): Major violent uprising by Indian sepoys against the British.
• Berhampur Revolt (1857): Mutiny by the 19th Native Infantry in February 1857, a direct precursor to the Great Revolt.

General Facts & Terminology

• Adivasi: The term for “tribal people” was first used by Thakkar Bappa (Amritlal Vithaldas Thakkar).
• Tribal Demographics (Modern Context):
  • Santhals: Primarily located in Jharkhand.
  • Bhils: Primarily located in Rajasthan.
  • Toda: Tribe found in Tamil Nadu.
  • Jarawas: Indigenous tribe of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Key Figures:
  • Haipou Jadonang (Naga Leader) is noted as the first tribal leader inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. He was hanged by the British in 1931, and succeeded by his cousin Rani Gaidinliu.

Know More About Other Civil Uprisings:

• Other Civil Uprisings– Old Year Questions and Answers
• Other Civil Uprisings One Liner Questions & Answers