Other Tribal Revolts

The tribal revolts in India form an important aspect of the country’s resistance to British colonial rule and earlier forms of exploitation. Spread across different regions, these uprisings were led by indigenous communities who resisted the disruption of their traditional systems, land alienation, oppressive taxation, and the intrusion of outsiders into their socio-economic life. While major movements such as the Santhal Rebellion (1855–56), Munda Ulgulan (1899–1900), and Bhil Uprisings are well-known, numerous other tribal revolts occurred across India, reflecting the widespread unrest among the tribal population during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Background and Causes

Tribal revolts arose primarily due to the clash between traditional tribal autonomy and the expanding influence of the British colonial state. Key causes included:

• Loss of Land and Forest Rights: The British revenue and forest policies deprived tribals of access to their ancestral lands and forest resources.
• Exploitation by Moneylenders and Zamindars: The introduction of private property and cash economy led to indebtedness and land alienation.
• Disruption of Traditional Governance: Tribal chiefs lost authority to colonial officials, undermining their socio-political structures.
• Missionary and Cultural Intrusion: The spread of Christian missions and new religious ideologies often clashed with tribal beliefs and customs.
• Forced Labour and Taxation: Tribals were subjected to oppressive taxes, compulsory labour (begar), and recruitment into wars or public works.

These cumulative grievances sparked numerous uprisings across central, eastern, and northeastern India, each shaped by local circumstances and leadership.

The Chuar Uprisings (1766–1772 and 1799–1809)

The Chuars, belonging to the Bhumij and other tribal groups of Jungle Mahals (present-day West Bengal), rose against the British due to harsh land revenue policies and loss of traditional lands.

• The first major revolt occurred between 1766 and 1772, led by Jagannath Singh of Dhalbhum, Durjan Singh of Raipur, and others.
• A second phase (1799–1809) saw renewed resistance under Raghunath Mahato and Subal Singh.

The British responded with severe repression, military expeditions, and administrative reorganisation of the Jungle Mahals to curb unrest.

The Kol Rebellion (1831–1832)

The Kols, inhabiting the Chotanagpur Plateau (Jharkhand), rose in revolt against the exploitation by outsiders — moneylenders, zamindars, and British officials — who had encroached upon their lands.

• The rebellion began when traditional tribal chiefs (Mankis and Mundas) were replaced by non-tribal landlords.
• The movement spread across Ranchi, Singhbhum, Hazaribagh, and Palamau districts.
• The Kols attacked government offices, markets, and non-tribal settlers before being brutally suppressed by British troops.

The uprising highlighted the growing discontent among the Adivasi population in central India under colonial rule.

The Khond Uprisings (1846–1866)

The Khonds of Orissa and the Ganjam–Kandhamal region revolted several times between 1846 and 1866.

• Their grievances centred around British interference in their religious practices, especially the abolition of meriah (human) sacrifice, which they viewed as integral to their rituals.
• British attempts to impose administrative control and collect taxes led to violent clashes.
• The most prominent leaders were Chakra Bisoi and Raghu Bissoyee, who organised resistance from forested and hilly regions.

The Khond resistance persisted for two decades and proved difficult for the British to suppress due to the difficult terrain and strong local support.

The Koya Rebellions (1840s–1879)

The Koyas, a tribal community of the Godavari region (Andhra Pradesh and present-day Telangana), waged a series of uprisings against both local feudal chiefs and British officials.

• The earliest revolt was led by Tomma Sora (1840–1845), who opposed excessive taxation and interference in tribal affairs.
• Another rebellion broke out in 1879, led by Tammanna Dora, who protested forced labour and land encroachments.

The British suppressed the uprisings with heavy force, but the Koyas continued to resist well into the late nineteenth century.

The Bhil Uprisings (1818–1847)

The Bhils, inhabiting the western and central parts of India (Khandesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan), were among the earliest tribal groups to rebel against British domination.

• Their revolts began around 1818, coinciding with the expansion of British control after the fall of the Marathas.
• Displacement from forest lands, increased taxation, and harsh treatment by British agents provoked armed resistance.
• Leaders like Govind Guru later revived Bhil militancy during the Mangadh Revolt (1913) in southern Rajasthan, calling for social reform and political freedom.

The British pacified the region through a combination of military suppression and the creation of the Bhil Agency to monitor tribal areas.

The Khasi and Jaintia Rebellion (1829–1833)

In the northeastern hills of Meghalaya, the Khasis and Jaintias revolted against British attempts to construct a road connecting the plains of Assam with Sylhet.

• The movement was led by Tirot Singh, the Khasi chief of Nongkhlaw.
• The British encroachment on tribal territory and disregard for local authority provoked widespread resistance.
• Tirot Singh’s guerrilla campaign against British troops lasted several years before he was captured in 1833 and later died in captivity.

This revolt marked one of the earliest organised resistances in the northeastern region against colonial encroachment.

The Rampa Rebellion (1879–1880 and 1922–1924)

The Rampa Rebellions occurred in the Godavari hills (Andhra Pradesh), where tribal groups such as the Koyas and Konda Doras rose against exploitation by British officials and local landlords.

• The first Rampa Revolt (1879–1880) protested forced labour and interference in tribal customs.
• The second Rampa Rebellion (1922–1924) was led by Alluri Sitarama Raju, who combined tribal grievances with nationalist sentiment.
  • Raju organised guerrilla warfare against the British, drawing inspiration from Indian freedom movements elsewhere.
  • His campaign was eventually suppressed, and he was captured and executed in 1924.

The Rampa uprisings highlighted the intersection of tribal resistance with the broader Indian struggle for independence.

The Bastar Rebellion (1910)

In Bastar (present-day Chhattisgarh), a major tribal uprising broke out in 1910 against the oppressive forest policies of the British.

• The revolt was led by Gunda Dhur, a local tribal leader.
• The cause was the British reservation of forests, which restricted the tribals’ access to land, hunting, and shifting cultivation.
• Thousands of tribals participated, attacking symbols of colonial authority such as police stations and government offices.

The rebellion was suppressed through military force, but it remains one of the most significant tribal revolts in central India.

The Santhal Rebellion (1855–1856)

Although one of the most famous, the Santhal Rebellion forms part of the broader category of tribal uprisings.

• It was led by Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu, along with Chand and Bhairav, in the regions of Rajmahal Hills (Jharkhand).
• The Santhals revolted against the exploitation of landlords, moneylenders, and British officials.
• The rebellion was brutally crushed, but it led to the creation of a separate administrative unit, the Santhal Pargana, in 1856.

The Munda Uprising (1899–1900)

The Munda Rebellion, also known as the Ulgulan (Great Tumult), was led by Birsa Munda in the Chotanagpur plateau.

• It was directed against land alienation, missionary influence, and British interference in tribal governance.
• Birsa proclaimed himself as a divine messenger and called for the establishment of Birsa Raj, a self-rule of the tribals.
• The rebellion was suppressed, and Birsa was captured and died in prison in 1900.

Despite its failure, the Munda Uprising remains a powerful symbol of tribal resistance and identity.

The Tana Bhagat Movement (1914–1920)

The Tana Bhagat Movement emerged among the Oraon tribals of Chotanagpur under the leadership of Jatra Bhagat.

• Initially a socio-religious movement promoting abstinence, purity, and non-violence, it later adopted anti-colonial and Gandhian ideals.
• The Tana Bhagats joined Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement (1920), representing a convergence of tribal reform and nationalist struggle.

Significance of Tribal Revolts

The tribal uprisings in India, though often localised and isolated, had far-reaching historical significance:

• Resistance to Colonial Rule: They represented early and spontaneous challenges to British authority, predating organised nationalist movements.
• Defence of Indigenous Identity: These revolts expressed the determination of tribal communities to protect their land, culture, and traditions.
• Socio-Political Impact: The revolts exposed the exploitative nature of colonial administration, prompting some administrative reforms in tribal regions.
• Inspiration for Later Movements: Leaders such as Birsa Munda, Alluri Sitarama Raju, and Tirot Singh became enduring symbols of indigenous resistance and are revered as heroes in regional and national histories.