Essay – Role of Tribal Uprising in Freedom Struggle
Role of Tribal Uprising in Freedom Struggle Essay: The Indian tribal communities played a significant role in India’s freedom struggle in the 18th and 19th centuries. Various movements and initiatives held together in the fight for India’s freedom from British colonial control. The outburst of Tribal movements were occasional but had significant role in achieving independence from British colonial control on 1947.
“The tribal people have always been the backbone of India’s freedom struggle. They have fought bravely against oppression and injustice, and they continue to do so today.”
-Mahatma Gandhi
The above saying was proven by tribal freedom warriors who fought for their rights as diverse tribal communitiesin India rose up against the brutal British invasions into their region and territory. India is well-known for the adivasi or tribal people who reside here from. The name “Adivasi” denotes that they were the first or original occupants of the country, possessing original habitat. The tribal uprising took place in various regions in India when The Britishers started depriving them from their rights on their land and forest.The Tribal movements, which are often referred to as Adivasi uprisings, were a vital part of India’s greater victory war.
One of the most important elements for survival of Adivasis was forest. But, the Britisherscame and changed forest laws which affected tribal communities. Forests were destroyed for cultivation agricultural purposes, which resulted disruption in the tribals’ lives. Another mention-worthy reason was the outrage of landlords to increase taxes on timber and goosing. Thus, tribals became tenants of their own land. Also, conversions to Christianity were at its peak at this time, as a result of these forced land grabbing, exploitation by British police, minimum wage labor, interruptions in their cultural believes, forced tribalsto fight for their independence. Some of the India’s major tribal movements were the Santhals, Kols, Bhils, Mundas and Koyas in India’s freedom struggle.
- Kol Rebellion (1831 to 1837)
Kol rebellion in the Chhotta Nagpur plateau was one of the most important tribal movements in the 19thcentury. The leaders of this movement were Buddhu Bhagat, Madara Mahato and Joa Bhagat.The Kol tribesmen had their own independence existence under the tribal chiefs. But the Britishers began to intrude into their lives and tried to impose their own jurisdiction over them. Even Sikh and Muslim farmers began to settle down in this area, which resulted tribals lose their occupation. As a result of all this, the Kol uprising started in 1831,directed against the Britishers and other outsiders. The rebels killed around 1000 britishers, burnt their houses and looted their property.
- Santhal Revolt (1855 to 1856)
Santhal Revolt also referred as Santhal ‘Hul’ or ‘Uprising’ was the most significant of all tribal revolts in British India. In 1855 at Bhognadih village of Jharkhand The Santhal movement took place. This revolt primarily held against the Zamindars of that time. Under the permanent settlement of Bengal, the tribals had to handover their land which they had cultivated for centuries to the zamindars. These zamindars raised the rent to excessive heights.This movement was occurded against East India company. The main leaders of this movement were Kanho Murmu, Sidhu Murmu and Bhairab Murmu. More than 10000 santhals united and started armed revolt against British outsiders (called Dikus by the Santhals)
- Bhil Rebellion (1822-1857)
Sewaram was the leader of Bhil revolt around 1820. Bhils were the tribe that inhabited in the Western Ghats,. During 1817-1819, the British company occupied Khandesh, in Maharashtra enraging the tribal Bhils who revolted against the intruders. The bhils had instigated against the British by Peshwa Baji Rao II but ruthlessly crushed the revolt by British military.
- Khond Uprising (1837-1856)
The khonds were the inhabitants of the hilly regions from Bengal to Tamil Nadu. They were totally independent before the British Invasion due to the steep geographical structure there. In between 1837 and 1856, the khonds fought against the Britishers for their abuse of forest resources, led by Chakra Bisoi who was also known as “Young Raja”. The revolt rose in war against the Britishers when they stopped the Mariah system.
- Munda Rebellion (1899- 1900)
The Munda rebellion was also one of the most significant revolts that took place in the Chhotta Nagpur region. Birsa Munda fought for his rebellion in 1894 against the British Company and dikus, which is called as the Munda Ulgulan, Birsa Munda made his followers challenge the Britishers openly and not pay their bills on time. He started an armed battle against the landlords in December 1899. The Mundas burnt down Police stations, landlords’ homes, and churches and looted their property. Birsa Munda was jailed in 1900, while he died in prison from cholera at the age of 25.
- Koya Uprising (1879- 1880)
The Koya Revolt was led by the koyas of the Eastern Godavari river, that rebelled in 1803, 1840, 1845,1858, 1861, and 1862. In 1879-1880, they again rose in war under Tomma Sora. The main reason this battle was harassment by police, new restrictions put by the british on forest regions and torture by moneylenders.
In conclusion we can say that the tribal movements were among the multiples of freedom movements held in India against the British colonials. The tribal movements made the British rulers realize the importance of Indian cultural unity and their importance in Indian people. The contributions of the tribal revolts are as valuable as any other freedom fights in the pages of Indian history.
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