Tribal people had been living in peace with nature for a very long time before the British started to enter their lands. Candidates can read other NCERT Notes on History of Modern India to prepare for UPSC IAS Prelims and Mains exam.

The Britishers started interrupting the tribal lifestyle which caused anger among the tribals. Due to this, several tribal populations started armed uprisings against the British, all of which were suppressed by the British eventually.

Causes of Tribal Revolts

• The main activities of Tribal households were shifting agriculture, hunting, fishing, and gathering. The influx of non-tribals into the tribal lands introduced the concept of settled agriculture, which led to the loss of lands for Tribals.
• Condition of tribals reduced to mere landless agricultural laborers.
• Moneylenders were introduced in these areas to help the local population, but it worsened the conditions of Tribals even more.
• The Joint Ownership system of the tribal population was replaced with Private Ownership.
• Restrictions were imposed on the use of forest produce, shifting agriculture, and hunting practices.
• Tribal society was traditionally egalitarian compared to mainstream society which was marked by caste and class distinctions. As the non-tribals entered their lands, they gave the most lower ranks to the tribal people which worsened their condition even more.
• A Forest Department was set up in 1864 by the government mainly to control the rich resources of Indian forests.
• The Government Forest Act of 1865 and the Indian Forest Act of 1878 established complete government monopoly over the forested land.
• Christian Missionaries also entered the scene and started to convert the tribal people into Christians.

Major Tribal Uprising

Peasant Uprising of Rangpur, Bengal (1783 AD)

• This revolt took place in Bengal in the year 1783.
• The peasants were made to grow certain crops as ordered by the British Raj Government Officials.
• These peasants had their complaints regarding this, but the officials didn’t pay any attention to them.
• When this continued for a longer period, the peasants took law into their hands.
• Led by Dirjinarain, they went ahead and attacked the local storekeepers who had strong links with the contractors and also attacked a few Government officials.
• But later on, the Britishers managed to suppress this revolt by the use of immense military and monetary powers they possessed.

Bhil Revolt (1818-31 AD)

• The region to which the Bhils belong is known as Khandesh.
• This is a region of Maharashtra.
• The Britishers had entered into their region in 1818 and started intruding into the territory of the Bhils. The local Bhil Tribe was not at all in the position to accept any change within their territory by the Britishers.

The Rebellion of Mysore (1830-31 AD)

• When Tipu Sultan finally lost to the British Rulers, the Britishers imposed a special form of an alliance called the Subsidiary Alliance.
• This alliance had made it mandatory for the local rulers to pay an increased amount in their revenue.
• Hence the control of the Zamindars on the land of the local peasants had increased multifold.
• Due to this, the peasants got highly aggrieved and suspicious of the roles of the Zamindars in the process.
• Due to this, the farmers got into an ugly tussle against the Zamindars and the British Rulers, under the leadership of Sardar Malla.
• However, the revolt was brutally suppressed by the Britishers and they regained control of the province of Nagar.

Kols Rebellion (1831-32 AD)

• The Kols are a tribal community of Singhbhum, in the state of Jharkhand.
• The issue that the tribal population of the Kols had with the British rule was that they had started selling the land to the local merchants at lower costs and as a result, they had found it difficult to sustain their livelihood.
• The major areas for the uprisings against the British rule by these tribal communities had taken place in the districts of Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Palamau, and Manbhum.

The Mappila Uprising (1836-54 AD)

• Mappila is a tribe, which is the descendant of the Arab Settlers as well as converted Hindus.
• They had been primarily working as cultivators, landless labourers, small traders, and fishermen.
• The impact of the land revenue rules laid down by the British East India Company on the locals made their lives very difficult.
• When the whole thing got very tough for the farmers and they could no longer resist this change, they ended up revolting against the Britishers and had to put up an armed rebellion against British Rule.
• The British armed forces suppressed it too.

The Santhal Rebellion (1855-56 AD)

• The name of the region where this revolt occurred is the Santhal region of the various parts in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha.
• The leaders of this revolt were Sidhu and Kanhu.
• This revolt, like earlier ones, came up due to the oppression of the local landlords by the powerful landlords, moneylenders, and the police, along with the British Raj.

Ramosi Uprising (1822-29 AD)

• The Ramosi Uprising was a two-phased revolt, undertaken by the tribal communities.
• It had the initial phase of the protest taken up by the tribals of the locality under the leadership of Chittu Singh in the year 1822.
• Later on, the second phase of the revolt had a series of revolutionary events organised by the tribals of the region between the years 1825 and 1829.
• The main reason for this uprising was the new structure of the British Administration, which the tribals believed to be highly unfair to them and had no other choice than to revolt against the Britishers for the same.

The Munda Rebellion (Ulgulan Revolt) (1899-1900 AD)

• This uprising is also known as the Ulgulan revolt which means “great commotion”.
• This is one of the most famous uprisings against the British Rule prevalent within the country.
• The main figure of the revolt was the great tribal revolutionary, Birsa Munda.
• The region of this revolt was the Chotanagpur Region near Ranchi.
• The reasons were pretty much similar to all the other revolts discussed earlier.
• The land of the tribals was the main cause of concern for the farmers.

Jatra Bhagat and Tana Bhagat Movement (1914 AD)

• This movement was basically targeting the lifestyle of the Colonial and British Rulers.
• The leader of the revolt, Jatra Bhagat, started the movement with the idea that there should be complete removal of British ethics from the lifestyle of the tribal population.
• He, along with Tana Bhagat, stressed monotheism, abstention from meat, liquor, and tribal dance.

To get more information and study materials on Modern History for UPSC IAS Prelims and Mains exam, candidates can check NCERT Modern History Notes right here.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Which of the following was a major cause of the tribal revolts during the 18th and 19th centuries?

A) Religious intolerance
B) Economic exploitation and loss of land rights
C) Unfair taxation on urban industries
D) Expansion of British naval power

2. Which of the following tribes was involved in the Santhal Rebellion of 1855-1856?

A) Munda
B) Bhil
C) Santhal
D) Gonds

3. Who was the leader of the Munda Ulgulan (1899-1900)?

A) Churaman
B) Sidhu
C) Birsa Munda
D) Gokul

4. What was the impact of the Santhal Rebellion on British policies?

A) It resulted in the immediate creation of a separate tribal state
B) It led to the establishment of the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act
C) It led to the complete withdrawal of British forces from the region
D) It had no significant impact on British policies

5. Which tribe was primarily involved in the tribal revolts in the regions of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh during the 19th century?

A) Gonds
B) Bhils
C) Munda
D) Santhal

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the causes and impact of the tribal uprisings in the 18th and 19th centuries. How did these revolts contribute to the decline of British authority in India?

Answer: The tribal uprisings in the 18th and 19th centuries were caused by a combination of economic exploitation, forced land acquisitions, and oppressive taxation by the British. Tribal communities, who lived off agriculture and forest resources, faced increasing hardships as the British expanded their control over rural and forested areas. The revolts, including the Santhal Rebellion, the Munda Ulgulan, and the Bhil Revolts, were expressions of resistance to British land policies, economic exploitation, and the imposition of foreign rule. These uprisings, though often suppressed, contributed to the decline of British authority by highlighting the deep-rooted resentment against their policies, increasing political instability in the hinterland, and demonstrating the inability of the British to maintain control over all parts of India. They also fostered a sense of resistance, inspiring later anti-colonial movements across India.

Q2: Evaluate the role of tribal leaders in challenging British colonial rule during the 18th and 19th centuries. How did their leadership shape the course of resistance movements?

Answer: Tribal leaders such as Birsa Munda, Sidhu, and Kanhu played a crucial role in challenging British colonial rule by organizing their communities against British exploitation and the destruction of their traditional way of life. These leaders were instrumental in uniting disparate tribal groups, mobilizing them for collective action, and leading them in organized revolts. Birsa Munda, for example, not only led the Munda Ulgulan but also inspired other tribal leaders to resist the introduction of exploitative policies such as land revenue systems. The leadership of these tribal figures significantly shaped the course of resistance movements by advocating for the preservation of tribal autonomy, religious practices, and land rights, which would later contribute to the larger nationalist struggle for independence.

Q3: How did the tribal revolts in the 18th and 19th centuries lay the foundation for India’s struggle for independence?

Answer: The tribal revolts of the 18th and 19th centuries laid the foundation for India’s struggle for independence by fostering a sense of resistance against British colonialism, especially in rural and tribal areas. These revolts highlighted the exploitation faced by indigenous communities, their loss of autonomy, and their fight for economic justice. Although many of these uprisings were localized and crushed, they contributed to the broader freedom movement by raising awareness about the oppressive nature of British rule. Leaders like Birsa Munda and the Santhal leaders became symbols of resistance, inspiring future generations to fight for national freedom. The issues of land rights, local autonomy, and self-governance raised by these revolts would later be incorporated into the demands of the larger Indian National Congress and the freedom struggle.

Previous Year Questions on Tribal Revolts

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2020:

Question: Which of the following was the primary reason for the Santhal Rebellion of 1855-1856?

A) Religious intolerance
B) Land encroachments and economic exploitation
C) The imposition of the salt tax
D) The refusal of tribals to pay taxes

Answer: (B)

Explanation: The Santhal Rebellion was primarily caused by land encroachments, economic exploitation, and the imposition of unfair taxes by the British and local landlords.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2021 (GS Paper 1):

Question: "Discuss the causes, significance, and impact of tribal uprisings in the 18th and 19th centuries on the broader Indian freedom struggle."

Answer: Tribal uprisings in the 18th and 19th centuries, such as the Munda Ulgulan and the Santhal Rebellion, were primarily caused by economic exploitation, land encroachment, and oppressive taxation. These uprisings were significant because they represented early forms of resistance to British colonial rule, laying the foundation for later, larger anti-colonial movements. The impact of these uprisings was profound as they highlighted the injustices faced by indigenous communities and contributed to the growing discontent that would fuel the Indian freedom struggle. Tribal leaders became symbols of resistance and set the stage for the broader nationalist movement that followed in the 20th century.