PYQs

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1. Indigo cultivation in India declined by the

a
beginning of the 20th century because of:

w
[2020]

a
a) Peasant resistance to the oppressive

hh
conduct of planters

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b) Its unprofitability in the world market

ti
because of new inventions

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c) National leaders’ opposition to the

A
cultivation if indigo
d) Government control over the planters
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2. With reference to the history of India,

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"Ulgulan'' or the Great Tumult is the

a
description of which of the following

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events? [2020]

h
a) The Revolt of 1857

h
b) The Mappila Rebellion of 1921

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c) The Indigo Revolt of 1859-60

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d) Birsa Munda’s Revolt of 1899-1900

A
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3. After the Santhal rising subsided, what

r
were the measures taken by the colonial

a
Government? [2018]

aw
1. The territories called ‘Santhal Paraganas’

h
were created.

h
2. It became illegal for a Santhal to transfer

i C
land to a Non Santhal.

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Select the correct answer using a code given

A
below:
a) 1 only b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2
 i
4. The demand for the Tebhaga Peasant

r
Movement in Bengal was for___? [2013]

a
a) The reduction of the share of the

aw
landlords

h
from one-half of the crop to one-third

h
b) The grant of ownership of land to

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peasants as they were the actual

rt
cultivators of the land

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c) The uprooting of Zamindari system and
the end of serfdom
d) Writing off all peasant debts
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5. Which one of the following revolts was

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made famous by Bankim Chandra

a
Chatterjee in his novel Anand Math?

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[2006]

h
a) Bhil uprising

h
b) Rangpur and Dinapur uprising

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c) Bishnupur and Birbhum rebellion

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d) Sanyasi rebellion

A
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6. Consider the following events: [1999]

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I. Indigo Revolt

a
II. Santhal Rebellion

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III. Deccan Riot

h
IV. Mutiny of the Sepoys

h
The correct chronological sequence of these

i C
events is:

rt
a) IV, II, I, III

A
b) IV, II, III, I
c) II, IV, III, I
d) II, IV, I, III
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7. Match List I with List II and select the

r
correct answer by using the codes given

a
below the lists: [1997]

w
List I List II

a
I. Moplah revolt A) Kerala

hh
II. Pabna revolt B) Bihar

C
III. Eka Movement C) Bengal

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IV. Birsa Munda D) Awadh

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revolt

A
Codes:
a) I-A, II-C, III-D, IV-B
b) I-B, II-C, III-D, IV-A
c) I-A, II-B, III-C, IV-D
d) I-C, II-D, III-A, IV-B
 i
Causes of Tribal Revolt-

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1. Ended isolation, fully subjected to colonialism.

a
2. Tribal chiefs recognized as zamindars, new land

aw
revenue introduced.

h
3. Influx of "dikus" (moneylenders, traders) as

h
middlemen.

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4. Land alienation, tribals reduced to

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sharecroppers and laborers.

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5. Radical changes in forest relations: usurped

A
land, restricted access, halted jhum cultivation.
 BENGAL AND EASTERN INDIA

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SANYASI REVOLT
18th-century uprising in India.

a
No central figurehead.

w
Led by Hindu sanyasis (wandering monks).
Focused on issues like land revenue, social problems, and British interference in

a
religious matters like restrictions imposed on visits to the holy places on the Sanyasis.

h
Outcome: military action by Warren Hastings

h
CHUAR UPRISING ( REVOLT OF THE JUNGLE MAHAL)

C
Phases of Chuar Uprisings:

i
First (1768):

t
Triggered by the increasing revenue demands of jungle zamindars.

r
Led by Jagannath Singh, the zamindar of Ghatshila.

A
Second(1771):
Chuar community revolts against external forces.
Leaders include Shyam Ganjan, Subla Singh, and Dubraj.
Third (1798):
Most significant uprising led by Durjan Singh.
Response to exploitative revenue and administrative policies, along with strict police
regulations in rural Bengal.
Outcome: Suppressed
 BENGAL AND EASTERN INDIA

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KOL REVOLT (1831)-->Chotanagpur Plateau
Opposition to Land Transfers:

a
Aimed at resisting significant land transfers from the Kol tribe to outsiders, including

w
Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim farmers.
Led by Buddho Bhagat.

a
Outcome: Suppressed

h
HO AND MUNDA UPRISINGS (1820-1837) -->SINGHBHUM

h
Leadership of Raja of Parahat:

C
The Raja of Parahat orchestrated the organization of Ho tribals for a revolt against

i
occupation.

t
Suppression and Continuation:

r
The revolt was quelled in 1832, but Ho operations persisted until 1837.
Collaborative Protest in 1831:

A
In 1831, Ho tribals joined forces with Mundas to protest against the new farming
revenue policy and the entry of Bengalis.

SANTHAL REBELLION (1771-85)

Tilka Manji led the Santhal Rebellion from 1771-85. Executed an armed rebellion
against the British in 1785.
 BENGAL AND EASTERN INDIA

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SANTHAL REBELLION (1855-56) -->RAJMAHAL HILLS
Led by the brothers Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand, and Bhairav.

a
Causes: Resentment against British exploitation, oppressive land revenue policies, and

w
zamindari system.
Initially peaceful protests turned into armed rebellion.

a
Outcome: suppressed by the British.

h
Santhal Pargana was created, carving out 5,500 square miles from the districts of

h
Bhagalpur and Birbhum
British government passed the the Santhal Parganas Tenancy Act (SPT), which

C
prohibited the transfer of land.

ti
KHOND UPRISINGS (ORRISA), 1837

r
Causes: against Company rule, new taxes, and the entry of zamindars into their areas
Led by: Chakra Bisoi

A
Outcome: With Chakra Bisoi’s disappearance, the uprising came to an end

KHASI UPRISING (1833)

EIC wanted to build a road linking Brahmaputra valley with Sylhet.
In response, Khasis, Garos, Khampis and Singhpos organized themselves to revolt
under Tirot Singh Syiem.
Outcome: suppressed
 BENGAL AND EASTERN INDIA

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MUNDA REBELLION, (JHARKHAND), 1899
Causes: The Mundas conventionally enjoyed a special rent rate as the original clearer

a
(Khuntkatti) of the forest. But this was eroded by the jagirdars and thikadars arrived as

w
traders and moneylenders.
Led by: BirsaMunda, he is known as Dharti Aaba.

a
The great Tumult: Ulgulan

h
Result: As a result of this rebellion, government enacted Chotanagpur Tenancy Act

h
1908, recognized Khuntkatti rights, banned Beth Begari (forced labor)

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Ar
 WESTERN INDIA

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RAMOSIS, (MAHARASHTRA), 1822
Causes: British annexation of Peshwa territory after 3rd Anglo-Maratha war led to lost

a
of Ramosis holdings

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Led by: Umaji and Chittur Singh
Result: British pardoned them, granted them land and recruited the as Hill Police.

ha
KOLI RISING (1829)--> AHMEDNAGAR

h
Led by: From 1822-1829, Ramji Bhangre led a revolt against the British Raj and the local
Baniya moneylenders.

C
Cause:

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1822-29: In 1818, the British took over Pune from Peshwas. Ramji became Jamadar in

t
Nayakwari police. Disputes over levies and salary led him to resign and start a revolt in

r
February 1829.

A
1857: Kolis, affected by colonial rule, feared new legislation and colonisation's impact
on customs.
Outcome: Suppressed
 WESTERN INDIA

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BHIL UPRISING (1817-1846) --> KHANDESH HILL RANGES
Causes: facing hardship due to famine, economic distress and misgovernment under

a
Company Rule

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Led by: Govind Guru
Result: Continued episodically till 1846 and then suppressed.

ha
i Ch
Art
 SOUTH INDIA

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KOYA REBELLION (1879-80)--> IN THE EASTERN GODAVARI TRACT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
Led by Tomma Dora, the Koya leader

a
Cause:

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Erosion of customary rights over forests,
Mansabdars effort to enhance taxes on timber and grazing,

a
Exploitations by money lenders

h
New excise regulation restricting domestic production of toddy

h
RAMPA REBELLION ((1922-1924)

C
among the Koyas of the Godavari Agency area.

i
Also known as “Manyam Rebellion”

t
Led by Alluri Sitarama Raju

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1. Not tribal, but focused on British restrictions on tribal life.
2. Organized Adivasis against police, forest, and revenue officials, touring the forest area.

A
3. Prepared them to fight the Madras Forest Act of 1882, asserting ownership of forest
produce.
Outcome: Rama Raju was caught and martyred on May 7, 1924.
INDIAN PEASANTS UNDER COLONIAL RULE

i
Land Revenue System:

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Led to heavy taxation on peasants, forcing them to part with a significant portion of their agricultural
produce.

a
Economic Exploitation:

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Peasants faced economic exploitation through high land revenue demands, arbitrary taxation, and

a
unfair rent charges imposed by landlords.

h
Commercialization of Agriculture:

Ch
Land Alienation:
Many peasants lost their land due to the policies of the British, leading to widespread land alienation.

i
The introduction of private property rights often favored landlords and absentee landowners,

t
disadvantaging the peasant class.

Ar
Usurious Moneylenders:
The peasants often relied on moneylenders for credit due to the lack of formal banking institutions.
Exploitative moneylenders charged exorbitant interest rates, trapping peasants in a cycle of debt.

Agrarian Distress and Famines:

The imposition of revenue demands, changes in cropping patterns, and economic policies contributed
to agrarian distress. Famines, exacerbated by these factors, resulted in widespread suffering and loss
of life among the peasant population.
 INDIGO MOVEMENT (1859-60)

i
Cause: European Indigo planters in Bengal forced pesants to grow indigo instead of

r
more profitable crops like rice.

a
Leaders like Digamber Biswas and Bishnu Biswas organised a counter force against the
planters’ attacks.

w
Outcome: An indigo commission was appointed. Based on the reports, the government

a
notified that the pesants could not be compelled to grow indigo.

h
The revolt was made immensely popular by its portrayal in the play Nil Darpan( written
by Dinbandhu Mitra)

Ch
PABNA AGRARIAN LEAGUES (1870-1880)
Cause: forcible evictions, seizure of cattle and crops and prolonged and costly litigation

ti
in courts.

r
Intellectuls supporting the movement included RC Dutt, SN Banerjea, BC Chatterjea.
Outcome: Due to official persuasion and fears among the zamindars, Many peasants

A
were able to acquire occupancy rights and resist enhanced rents. To protect the
interests of Zamindars, government passed the Bengal Tenancy Act, 1885.
The main form of struggle was legal resistance.

EARLY PEASANT MOVEMENT

 MOPLAH/ MAPPILA REBELLION (KERELA), 1841

i
Causes:After the death of Tipu Sultan in 1799 in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, Malabar came

r
under British authority as part of the Madras Presidency. The British set out to restore

a
ownership rights to the Jenmis who had earlier fled the region. Jenmis were now given absolute
ownership rights of the land which was not the case previously. The peasants were now facing

w
high rents and a lack of security of tenure.This caused a series of riots by the Moplahs starting

a
from 1836. Between 1836 and 1896, they killed many government officers and Hindu landlords.
Result: The Moplah Rebellion was a failure because of the communal element in it. What could

h
have been a revolt against the British became an anti-Hindu movement.

Ch
DECCAN RIOTS (1875-79)
Cause: the increase in land revenue demands in 1867 by 50%, worsened by bad harvests & the

ti
crash in cotton export prices due to the end of american civil war in 1864.

r
There was social boycott of zamindar and moneylenders where they resorted to forced
evictions of peasants. This social boycott soon transformed into agrarian riots when it did not

A
prove effective.
Outcome: Colonial government repressed movement, Deccan Agriculturists relief act of 1879
was passed.

EARLY PEASANT MOVEMENT

 EKA MOVEMENT (1921-1922) OR UNITY MOVEMENT

i
Northern districts of the United Provinces— Hardoi, Bahraich, Sitapur

r
Cause: oppressed by revenue collectors.

a
This movement was not a non-violent movement, it lost the support of the Congress, it
was later led by Madari Pasi who began this movement from Barabanki.

w
Outcome: Some demands of the peasants were considered in the Oudh Rent

a
Amendment Act of 1921. And by March-April of 1922, the British Indian government

h
suppressed this movement and the movement came to an end.

h
BARDOLI SATYAGRAHA (1928)-->SURAT

C
Cause: The movement started after authorities increased the land revenue. Bardoli

i
Inquiry Committee found the revenue hike to be unjustified.

t
Vallabhabhai Patel led the movement. The women of Bardoli gave him the title of

r
“Sardar”.
Outcome: Govt. restore the confiscated lands and properties, to cancel revenue

A
payment for the year and to cancel the 22% raise until after the succeeding year.

LATER PEASANT MOVEMENT

 ALL INDIA KISAN SABHA/CONGRESS, 1936

i
Founded in Lucknow in April 1936 with Swami Sahjanand Saraswati as the president and

r
N.G. Ranga as the general secretary.

a
A kisan manifesto was issued and a periodical under Indulal Yagnik started.
The Congress manifesto (especially the agrarian policy) for the 1937 provincial elections

w
was influenced by the AIKS agenda.

ha
TEBHAGA MOVEMENT 1946-->BENGAL

h
The term "Tebhaga" refers to the demand for the division of the harvest into three
parts: two parts for the landlord and one part for the sharecropper.

C
Demand for the reduction of the share of the produce that sharecroppers had to give

i
to landlords.

t
Led by the Communist Party of India (CPI) and its associated organizations, with leaders

r
like Sushil Dhara and Abdul Halim, with the slogan of “nij khamare dhan
tolo”(sharecroppers to take paddy to their own threshing floor).

A
Outcome: Movement did not achieve all its immediate goals

LATER PEASANT MOVEMENT

 i
NATURE OF PEASANT REVOLTS

r
1. Their struggles were directed towards specific & limited objectives &

a
redressal of specific grievances.

w
2. Their struggles were directed against immediate enemies-foreign

a
planters, indigenous zamindars & moneylenders.

h
3. The intelligentsia played a critical role in strengthening the

h
movement.

C
4. Adopted constitutionalist mode: rather than relying on violent

i
mobilization, they developed a strong awareness of their legal

t
rights.

r
5. The territorial reach of these movements was also limited.