Nature of Tribal Uprising

Direct questions on tribal uprisings are not likely to be asked in GS. The questions, as you well know, shall mostly be roundabout and expect the candidate to apply his commonsense and analyze the events and present them systematically. This article is an attempt to give the nature of all the tribal uprisings as a whole by identifying the elements common and different among individual uprisings.

By nature of tribal revolts is meant why the tribesmen revolted, against whom they revolted and how they fought. Thus, the nature of the tribal uprisings can be analyzed from the stand-points of reasons, their targets, and the nature of fight engendered.

The most important reason for tribal uprising was the intrusion of outsiders. By intrusion of outsiders is meant the encroachment of outsiders on their lands, their habitats and even to the culture. Santhal rebellion was because of claiming of rights by the colonial government over the habitats of Santhals. Rama revolt of Andhra was also against the forest regulations which led to the loss of their livelihood and habitat. Needless to say the adverse impact of exorbitant land revenues leading to economic distress and consequently Chuar uprising, Munda revolt, Poligars revolt occurred. The intrusion of British into the culture leading to the uprising was testified by the Kandh uprising who rose in revolt against the British efforts to put an end to their practice of human sacrifices. The tribes found it difficult to reconcile with the new way of administration of British and the resulting revolts were of Cutch, Wagheras, Kolis, Ramosis. The exploitation of zamindars and moneylenders as in the case of Santhal uprising, Ahoma uprising (where british tried to capture their land invidiously) and the misconception of development works as in the khasi uprising where the tribesmen opposed construction of a road linking Brahmaputra valley and Sylhet. There were uprisings for the safeguard of religions also – Wahabi movement, Kuka revolt, Farizi revolt, Pagal Panthies.

The uprisings were mostly targeted against British. Santhals and Mundas claimed to set up Santhal Raj and Munda Raj respectively. Even Faraizis set up a parallel government. The rebellion of Raja of Vizianagaram and Diwan Velu Tampi were also against British. But Santhal rebellion was equally against zamindars who invidiously made Santhals their slaves by charging exorbitant interests for the loans borrowed. They disgraced Santhal women as well.

The nature of fight was mostly with traditional weapons like Bows & arrows, axes, swords etc. They were no match to the sophisticated weaponry of British Raj. However, their ferocity deserves appreciation.

To summarize, tribal uprisings were revolts of tribesmen who fought mostly against British to counter the latter’s invasion into former’s habitat and these revolts were quelled by the British using sophisticated arms.