Tribal Movements
Tribal communities such as the Santhals, Mundas, Kols and Bhils rose against outsiders (moneylenders, landlords and the colonial state), who took their land and forests.
Why tribals rebelled
- Loss of land and forests to outsiders (dikus, moneylenders, traders and contractors) after British settlement laws.
- Forest laws and the end of tribal self-rule.
- Missionary work and forced labour (begar).
Major tribal revolts
| Movement | Years | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Kol Uprising | 1831 to 1832 | Chotanagpur. Against transfer of land to outsiders. Buddhu Bhagat was a leader. |
| Ho and Munda early revolts | 1820 to 1837 | Chotanagpur and Singhbhum. |
| Santhal Hool (Rebellion) | 1855 to 1856 | Rajmahal hills (Bihar and Bengal). Sidhu and Kanhu, with Chand and Bhairav, led about 10,000 Santhals (Hool means rebellion) against moneylenders and landlords. The British suppressed it. The Santhal Parganas district was created (1855 to 1856). |
| Khond rising | 1837 to 1856 | Odisha. Led by Chakra Bisoi. |
| Koya revolt | 1879 to 1880 | Godavari. Tomma Dora. |
| Birsa Munda's Ulgulan | 1899 to 1900 | Ranchi region. Birsa Munda (1875 to 1900) started the Birsait faith and a rebellion called Ulgulan ("great tumult") against dikus and the missionaries. Arrested; he died in Ranchi jail on 9 June 1900. The Chotanagpur Tenancy Act (1908) followed. |
| Rampa Rebellion | 1879, 1922 to 1924 | Andhra. Alluri Sitarama Raju led the 1922 revolt, was caught and killed in 1924. |
| Bhil, Khasi, Naga movements | 19th and 20th century | Tirot Singh (Khasi); Jadonang and Rani Gaidinliu (Naga Zeliangrong movement, 1930s). |
| Tana Bhagat movement | 1914 | Jatra Bhagat (Oraon). |
Keep practising
Notes are only half the work. Test yourself with questions and discuss doubts with other aspirants.
Prepared for exam revision from standard sources such as NCERT, Bipan Chandra, Spectrum and official records. Historians differ on some dates, figures and interpretations, so check your exam syllabus and a standard textbook. Found a mistake? Tell us.