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Important Tribal Movements

Tribal uprisings of colonial India with leader, region, year and cause, for CAPF Paper I revision

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At a glance

SubjectHistory

RevisionHistoryModern IndiaTribal MovementsPaper 1

Tribal communities rose repeatedly against colonial land, forest and revenue policy. This focuses on the tribal risings in detail; for the combined tribal-and-peasant list see tribal and peasant revolts. Cover the right columns and recall the leader and year. See advent of europeans and british conquest.

Eastern and central India

Movement (Year)	Region	Leader and cause
Pahariya Rebellion (1778)	Rajmahal Hills	Against expansion into hill country
Chuar Rebellion (1766 to 1816, in phases)	Bengal-Bihar (Midnapore)	Against revenue demands
Kol Uprising (1831 to 1832)	Chota Nagpur	Buddho Bhagat; against transfer of tribal land to outsiders (dikus)
Santhal Hul (1855 to 1856)	Rajmahal (Bihar-Jharkhand)	Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu; against moneylenders, landlords and the police
Munda Ulgulan (1899 to 1900)	Chota Nagpur	Birsa Munda; for tribal land rights and against the breakdown of the khuntkatti system
Tana Bhagat Movement (1914 onwards)	Chota Nagpur	Jatra Bhagat; reformist and anti-colonial among the Oraons

Western and southern India

Movement (Year)	Region	Leader and cause
Bhil Revolts (from 1818)	Western India (Khandesh, Rajasthan)	Recurrent; later Govind Guru and the Bhagat movement
Koli Risings (1820s onwards)	Western India	Against loss of livelihood
Ramosi Uprising (1822 onwards)	Maharashtra	Umaji Naik; against the new administration
Rampa Rebellion (1922 to 1924)	Andhra (Godavari hills)	Alluri Sitarama Raju; against forest laws restricting podu cultivation

North-East and the Himalayas

Movement (Year)	Region	Leader and cause
Khasi Uprising (1829 to 1833)	Meghalaya	Tirot Singh; against a British road through Khasi land
Singphos Rebellion (1830s)	Assam	Against British annexation
Kuki Uprising (1917 to 1919)	Manipur	Against forced labour and First World War recruitment
Zeliangrong / Heraka Movement (1930s)	Manipur-Nagaland	Jadonang and Rani Gaidinliu; against colonial rule
Naga Movement (1879, again early 20th century)	Nagaland	Against British control

Quick memory hooks

Birsa Munda led the Ulgulan ("Great Tumult") of 1899 to 1900.
The Santhal Hul (1855 to 1856) was led by the brothers Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu.
Alluri Sitarama Raju led the Rampa Rebellion (1922 to 1924) in the Andhra hills.
Rani Gaidinliu (with Jadonang) led the Naga / Zeliangrong movement; later released by independent India.

Cross-references

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