CHAPTER 2

CIVIL REBELLIONS AND TRIBAL UPRISINGS

India Struggle for Independence 

Revision Notes or Short Notes

 

Introduction

Resistance to British Rule in India

 Background (1757 – 1857):

• The 1857 Sepoy Mutiny was a culmination of a century-long struggle against British rule.
• British conquest of India was a gradual process (1757 onwards).
• Colonial policies led to discontent, resentment, and resistance.

Forms of Resistance:

• Civil Rebellions:
  • Occurred throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.
  • Examples: [We will discuss details in a different chapter]
• Tribal Uprisings:
  • Occurred throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.
  • Examples: [We will discuss details in a different chapter]

Part-1

Civil Rebellions Against British Rule in India (1757-1857)

 

Leaders:

• Deposed rajas and nawabs or their descendants
• Uprooted zamindars, landlords, and poligars
• Ex-retainers and officials of conquered Indian states

Backbone:

• Rack-rented peasants
• Ruined artisans
• Demobilized soldiers

Causes:

• Rapid social and economic changes:
  • Disruption of agrarian society
  • Increased land revenue demands
  • Exploitation by new landlords (government officials, merchants, moneylenders)
• Loss of control over land:
  • Thousands of zamindars and poligars lost land due to colonial policies
  • Resentment towards replacement by outsiders
• Peasant hardships:
  • Growing indebtedness
  • Rising rents
  • Evictions
  • Famines (1770-1857)
• Corrupt administration:
  • Exploitation by lower officials (police, judiciary)
  • Flogging, torture, and jailing of peasants
• Ruin of handicrafts:
  • Free trade policies
  • Discriminatory tariffs
  • Loss of traditional patronage
• Discontent among intellectuals and clergy:
  • Loss of financial support from traditional elite
• Humiliation of foreign rule

Examples of Rebellions:

• Sanyasi Rebellion (1763-1800):Led by displaced peasants, demobilized soldiers, religious monks, and dispossessed zamindars (Bengal and Bihar)
• Chuar Uprising (1766-1772 & 1795-1816):Five districts of Bengal and Bihar
• Other Major Rebellions (Eastern India):
  • Rangpur and Dinajpur (1783)
  • Bishnupur and Birbhum (1799)
  • Orissa zamindars (1804-1817)
  • Sambalpur (1827-1840)

Frequency:

• Almost every year saw armed opposition.
• Major rebellions occurred every decade in some part of the country.
• Over 40 major rebellions from 1763 to 1856 (excluding minor ones).

 

Civil Rebellions in South India (1757-1857)

 

Major Rebellions:

• Raja of Vizianagram (1794)
• Poligars of Tamil Nadu (1790s)
• Poligars of Malabar and Andhra Coast (1800-1810)
• Parlekamedi (1813-14)
• Dewan Velu Thampi of Travancore (1805)
• Mysore peasants (1830-31)
• Visakhapatnam (1830-34)
• Ganjam (1835)
• Kurnool (1846-47)

Other Rebellions:

• Chiefs of Saurashtra (1816-1832)
• Kolis of Gujarat (1824-28, 1839, 1849)
• Maharashtra (after defeat of Peshwa)
  • Bhil uprisings (1818-31)
  • Kittur uprising (1824)
  • Satara uprising (1841)
  • Revolt of the Gadkaris (1844)

Nature of Rebellions:

• Localized and isolated
• Driven by local grievances
• Leaders: Semi-feudal, backward-looking
• Aimed to restore old order, not create a new one

British Response:

• Pacified rebel areas one by one
• Offered concessions to some leaders
• Brutally suppressed others (e.g., Velu Thampi)

Significance:

• Established tradition of resistance
• Inspired later nationalist movements

 

Tribal Uprisings in India (19th Century)

Causes:

• Colonial administration disrupted tribal isolation
• Introduced new land revenue system
• Encouraged moneylenders and traders
• Restricted access to forests and traditional practices
• Oppression by officials and revenue farmers

Impact:

• Loss of tribal lands
• Debt and exploitation
• Reduced to agricultural laborers
• Limited access to forest resources

Resistance:

• Hundreds of uprisings throughout the 19th century
• Broad-based participation (thousands of tribals)
• Uprisings based on tribal identity
• Solidarity among tribals
• Often led by religious or charismatic leaders

Methods:

• Spontaneous attacks on outsiders
• Armed resistance with primitive weapons
• Belief in magical powers of leaders

Outcome:

• Unequal warfare against British forces
• Heavy casualties among tribals (lakhs died)

 

Part-2

The Santhal Rebellion (1855)

 

Largest Tribal Uprising:

• Santhals of Daman-i-koh (Bhagalpur-Rajmahal) revolted against British rule.

Causes of Rebellion:

• Exploitation by Zamindars, moneylenders, police, and government officials.
  • High-interest loans (50-500%)
  • Theft, property damage, violence against Santhals
• Desire to expel outsiders (“dikus”) and establish self-rule.

Planning and Mobilization (1854-1855):

• Tribal leaders (majhis, parganites) discussed rebellion.
• Santhals attacked moneylenders and zamindars.
• Assembly of 6,000 Santhals from 400 villages at Bhaganidihi (June 30, 1855).

Goals of the Rebellion:

• Drive out British and outsiders.
• Establish “Salyug” (Reign of Truth and Justice).

Religious Inspiration:

• Leaders claimed divine approval for rebellion (God communicated through Thakur).

Leadership:

• Sido and Kanhu Murmu – main leaders.
• Used large processions with drums and musicians to mobilize support.
• Leaders rode on horses, elephants, and palkis.

Rebellion (1855):

• Around 60,000 Santhals mobilized.
• Attacked symbols of colonial rule:
  • Mahajans (moneylenders)
  • Zamindars (landlords)
  • Police stations
  • Railway construction sites
  • Post carriers
• Supported by some non-tribal poor people (gwalas, lohars)

Government Response:

• Major military campaign with tens of regiments.
• Martial Law declared in affected areas.
• Rewards offered for capturing leaders (up to Rs. 10,000).

Outcome:

• Brutal suppression of the rebellion.
• Over 15,000 Santhals killed.
• Tens of villages destroyed.
• Sido captured and killed (August 1855).
• Kanhu arrested (February 1866).

Santhal Heroism:

• Example: 45 Santhals fought from a mud hut against Sepoys, refusing to surrender.

 

Part-3

Other Major Tribal Rebellions

 

1. Kol Rebellion (1820-1837)

• Location: Chhotanagpur
• Cause: British oppression and massacres

2. Rampa Rebellion (1879-1880)

• Location: Coastal Andhra (Rampa)
• Cause: Government regulations and exploitation by mansabdars
• Force Used by British: Infantry regiments, cavalry, sappers, and miners
• Outcome: Rebellion crushed by end of 1880

3. Munda Rebellion (1899-1900)

• Leader: Birsa Munda (1874-1900)
• Cause: Loss of communal lands, exploitation by jagirdars, thikadars, moneylenders
• Birsa Munda claimed divine mission and healing powers.
• Promised a new golden age (“Saiyug”) and end to exploitation (“Kalyug”).
• Rebellion aimed to establish Munda rule and drive out outsiders (“dikus”).
• Force Gathered: 6,000 Mundas with traditional weapons.
• Outcome: Birsa Munda captured in 1900, rebellion crushed. Birsa Munda became a legend.

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