Tribal Movements in India

 

The Tribal population is conservative and is always interested in retaining the features of their society. Tribal movements were inspired by revolutionary tendencies. They tend to fight and eliminate ill- tendencies that attempt to change the structure of the tribal society. A summary of the Tribal Rebellions during British rule in India is given below.

Causes of Movements

1.            Extension of settled agriculture led to influx of non tribals in the tribal areas. These outsiders exploited them and extension of settled agriculture led to the loss of land by the tribals which reduced them to agricultural labourers.

2.            Increasing demand for raw materials and railways, leading to increasing control of government over forest land.

3.            The establishment of the Forest department in 1864, Government Forest Act(1865)and Indian Forest Act in 1878 together established complete government monopoly over Indian forest land.

4.            Work of Christian Missionaries were viewed as extension of colonialism and were often attacked by the rebels

5.            Land revenue Settlement: Expansion of agriculture by the non- tribals to tribal area or over forest cover let to the erosion of tribal traditions of joint ownership and increased the socio- economic differentiation in the egalitarian structure of the tribal society.

6.            Shifting Agriculture, a wide spread practice amongst the various tribal communities was banned from 1864 onwards on the reserved forest. Restrictions were imposed on the previously sanctioned timber and grazing facilities.

7.            Some of the tribal uprising took place in reaction to the effect of the landlords to impose taxes on the customary use of timber and grazing facilities, police exaction, new excise regulations, exploitation by low country traders and money lenders.

8.            The rebellions by the non-frontier tribals were usually reactions against outsiders (dikus), local landlords and rulers, the support provided to the later by the British administration and intervention by them in the life of the tribals.

9.            Introduction of the notion of private property- Land could be bought, sold, mortgaged which led to loss of land by the Tribals.

Tribal Movements in India

 

Name of the Tribe	Course and consequence of revolt
Chuars Area: Nanbhum and Barabhum (West Bengal) Year: 1766-68 Leader: Not available	Defiance of British authority by Chuars; suppression of the Revolt by British through use of force as well as conciliatory measures
Bhils Area: Khandesh Year: 1818-48	Beginning of revolt of Bhils with British occupation of Khandesh (1818) and their defiance of British for 30 years; final suppression through military operations combined with conciliatory measures.
Bhils Area: Shinghbum and Chhota Nagpur Year: 1820, 1822 & 1832	Occupation of Singhbhum by British and revolt of the Hos (1820); its suppression after extensive military operations; they revolt again in 1832.
Kolis Area: Sahyadri Hills (Gujrat and Maharashtra) Year: 1824,1828,1839 & 1844-48	Repeated revolts of Kolis and their final suppression after the capture of all their leaders.
Kacha Nagas Area: Cacher (Assam) Year: 1882 Leader: Sambhudhan	-----
Mundas Area: Chhota Nagpur Year: 1899-1990 Leader: Birsa Munda	Foundation of new religious sect, with Singh Bonga as the only true god, British fears over Birsa's preachings among Mundas, and arrest and imprison Birsa (1895-97); release of Birsa and revival of his doctrine (1898); revolt of Mundas and their attack of churches and police stations (1899); defeat of Mundas by British (Jan, 1900) and capture of Birsa (he died of cholera in jail in June 1900).
Bhils Area: Banswara and Dungapur (southern Rajasthan) Year: 1913 Leader: Govind Guru	It began as a purification movement, but later developed into a political movement; failure of their attempts to set up a Bhil Raj due to British armed intervention.
Oraons Area: Chhota Nagpur Year: 1914-15 Leader: Jatra Bhagat	Launching of a monotheistic movement by Jatra in 1914 andits transformation into a radical political movement to drive away the British in 1915; its suppression by British through repressive measures.
Tana Bhagat Movement Area: Chotanagpur, Jharkhand Year: 1918	Adivasis threatened nonpayment of the Chowikidari tax and rent during Non Cooperation movement.
Thadoe Kukis Area: Manipur Year: 1917-19 Leader: Jadonang and his neice Rani Gaidinliu	Their rebellion and guerrilla war against British for two years.
Chenchus Area: Nallamala Hills (Andhra Pradesh) Year: 1921-22 Leader: Hanumanthu	Their revolt against increasing British control over forests.
Khasis Area: Khasi Hills (Assam & Meghalaya) Year: 1829-32 Leader: Tirut Singh and Bar Manik (Chiefs of Nounklow & Molim respectively)	Unsuccessful attempts of the Khasis to drive. away the British from their territory; surrender of all Khasi chiefs, including Tirut Singh, to the British in 1832.
Singphos Area: Assam Year: 1830-39	Suppression of 1830 revolt by Captain Neufville; murder of Colonel-White (British Political Agent of Assam) by Singphos in 1839 but their ultimate defeat by British
Kols Area: Chhota Nagpur Year: 1831-32 Leader: Buddho Bhagat	Suppression of the revolt after extensive military operations of British and death of Bhagat
Koyas Area: Rampa Region (Chodavarm in Andhra Pradesh) Year: 1840, 1845, 1858, 1861-62, 1879-80, 1922-24 Leader: Alluri Sitaramaraju (1922-24)	Repeated revolts of the Koyas, the major ones being the 1879-80 and 1922-24 revolts; capture and execution of Raju by British in May 1924.
Khonds Area: Khondmals (Orrisa) Year: 1846-48, 1855 and 1914 Leader: Chakra Bisayi	The first two revolts, led by Bisayi,were put down with great difficulty by the British.
Santhals Area: Rajmahal Hills (Bihar) Year: 1855-56 Leader: Sidhu & Kanhu	Revolt of Santhals and establishment of their own government (July, 1855); defeat of British under Major Burrogh by Santhals; transfer of the disiurbed area to the military and final suppression of the revolt by the end of 1856; creation of a separate district of Santhal Paraganas to prevent Santhals from revolting again in future.
Naikdas Area: Panch Mahals (Gujarat) Year: 1858-59 & 1868 Leader: Rupsingh and Joria Bhagat	Revolt of Naikdas under Rupsingh in 1858 and conclusion of peace between British and Rupsingh in 1859; their revolt again in 1868, and establishment of a kingdom with Joria as the spiritual head of Rupsingh as temporal head; suppression of the revolt after the capture and execution of Rupsingh and Joria.