QUICK REVISION MODULE (UPSC PRELIMS 2022)

MODERN INDIAN HISTORY

Resentment against
the British Rule - Tribal,
Peasant, Civil Rebellion
A. PEASANT MOVEMENTS
I. STATUS OF INDIAN PEASANTRY

STATUS OF INDIAN PEASANTRY UNDER COLONIAL RULE

IMPOVERISHMENT OF ISSUES IN ISSUES IN

PEASANTRY DUE TO ZAMINDARI AREAS RYOTWARI AREAS
Colonial economic
policies, High rents, Heavy land revenue.
Ruin of the handicrafts Illegal levies. High interests by
leading to overcrowding Money lenders.
of land. Arbitrary evictions.
High debts.
The new land revenue Unpaid labour.
system,
Colonial administrative
and judicial system.
 II. EARLY PEASANT MOVEMENT

INDIGO MOVEMENT (1859-60)

European Indigo planters in Bengal forced pesants to grow indigo instead

Preceding of more profitable crops like rice.
Events Pessants were intimidated through kidnappings, flogging, attacks on women
and children, demolition of houses and crops.

Key Leaders like Digamber Biswas and Bishnu Biswas organised a counter force
Features against the planters’ attacks.
of the Pesants resorted to rent strike and initiated legal action with the help of
Movement
Bengal Intellgensia.

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

Consequ- notified that the pesants could not be compelled to grow indigo.
ences Planters closed down the factories and indigo cultivation was virtually wiped
out from Bengal by 1860.

PABNA AGRARIAN LEAGUES

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During 1870s-80s, Zamindars in Eastern Bengal resorted to oppressive pratices

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Preceding of tax collection and eviction.

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Events It included forcible evictions, seizure of cattle and crops and prolonged and
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costly litigation in courts.

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Key The peasants of Yusufshahi Pargana in Patna district formed an agrarian

Features league to organize rent strike.
of the The main form of struggle was that of legal resistance; there was very little
Movement
violence.

Due to official persuasion and fears among the zamindars, Many peasants
were able to acquire occupancy rights and resist enhanced rents.
Consequ- To protect the interests of Zamindars, government passed the Bengal Tenancy
ences Act, 1885.
Intellectuls supporting the movement included RC Dutt, SN Banerjea,
BC Chatterjea.
 DECCAN RIOTS

The ryots of Deccan region of western India suffered heavy taxation under
Preceding the Ryotwari system.
Events In addition to exploitation by the moneylenders, they were under duress due
to American Civil War in 1864.

Key In 1874, ryots started social boycott against moneylenders.

Features It spread rapidly to the villages of Poona, Ahmednagar, Sholapur and Satara.
of the Soon the social boycott was transformed into agrarian riots with systematic
Movement
attacks on the moneylenders’ houses and shops.

The Government succeeded in repressing the movement.

Consequ-
ences As a conciliatory measure, the Deccan Agriculturists Relief Act was passed
in 1879.

III. CHANGED NATURE OF PEASANT MOVEMENTS AFTER 1857

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Peasants emerged as the main force in There was a lack of an adequate

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agrarian movements,
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understanding of colonialism.
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The 19th-century peasants did not possess

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Demands were centred almost wholly on

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economic issues, not colonialism. a new ideology and a new social, economic
and political programme.
Directed against immediate enemies —
foreign planters, indigenous zamindars and These struggles, however militant, occurred
moneylenders. within the framework of the old societal
Not aimed to end the system of exploitation order lacking a positive conception of an
of the peasants. alternative society.
No continuity of struggle or long-term
organisation.
The peasants developed a strong awareness
of their legal rights and asserted them in and
outside the courts.
 IV. LATER MOVEMENTS

a) KISAN SABHA MOVEMENT

After 1857 revolt, most of the Avadh Talukdars got back their lands which increased
their stronghold over the agrarian society.
Cultivators were subjected to high rents, summary evictions (bedakhali),
illegal levies, renewal fees or nazrana.

With the help of Home Rule activits, kisan sabhas were organised in UP. The United Provinces
Kisan Sabha (1918) was set up by Gauri Shankar Mishra and Indra Narayan Dwivedi.

Other major Leaders: Madan Mohan Malaviya , Jhinguri Singh, Durgapal Singh and
Baba Ramchandra and JL Nehru

Kisans where asked to refuse to till bedakhali land, not do unpaid labour and
solve their disputes through panchayats.
Later the movement declined due to government repression and passsage
of the Awadh Rent (Amendment) Act.

b) SOME MAJOR MOVEMENTS

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Name Place of Origin Events Outcome

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Ekka Movement Northern districts of Peasants were discontent By March 1922, severe
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the United Provinces— due to high rents, repression by authorities

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Hardoi, Bahraich, Sitapur oppression of thikadars brought the movement

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and practice of share to an end.

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rents.
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Peasants decided to pay

only recorded rents, give
up forced labour.
Major leader: Madari
Pasa.
Mapilla Revolt Malabar Mapillas peasants Due to communal
resented Hindu land lords overtones, leaders of
due to high rent and lack khilafat dissociated from
of security of tenure. the revolt.
They revolted against the By the end of 1921, the
British authority and revolt ended.
unpopular landlords.
Declaration of martial
law gave the revolt a
communal color.
Bardoli Bardoli taluqa in Surat. The movement started Government looked for
Satyagraha after authorities graceful withdrawal.
increased the land
It set the condition that
revenue.
first the enhanced rent
Bardoli Inquiry be paid by all the
Committee found the occupants (not actually
revenue hike to be done).
unjustified.
Gov. appointed
Vallabhabhai Patel led committee also found
the movement. the hike unjustified.
The women of Bardoli
gave him the title of
“Sardar”.

c) ALL INDIA KISAN SABHA/CONGRESS

Founded in Lucknow in April 1936 with Swami Sahjanand Saraswati as the president and
N.G. Ranga as the general secretary.

A kisan manifesto was issued and a periodical under Indulal Yagnik started.

The AIKS and the Congress held their sessions in Faizpur in 1936.
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The Congress manifesto (especially the agrarian policy) for the 1937 provincial elections was
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strongly influenced by the AIKS agenda.

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 V. MOVEMENT IN THE POST WAR PHASE
Movement Origin
Tebhaga In September 1946, the
Bengal Provincial Kisan
Sabha gave a call to
implement Flood
Commission
recommendations of
tebhaga—two-thirds'
share—to the bargardars
(share-croppers).
The bargardars worked
on lands rented from the
jotedars.
Biggest peasant guerrilla
Telengana
war of modern Indian
history affecting 3000
villages and 3 million
population.
Hyderabad under Nizams
was marked by domination
of small Urdu speaking
Muslim elite, total lack of
political and civil liberties,
grossest forms of forced
exploitation by deshmukhs,
jagirdars, doras (landlords).
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Organization Outcome
The communist cadres The movement
went to the countryside dissipated soon, due to
to organise the sop of Bargardari Bill,
bargardars with the intensified repression,
slogan of “nij khamare Hindu Mahasabha's
dhan tolo”(sharecroppers agitation for a separate
to take paddy to their Bengal and renewed riots
own threshing floor). in Calcutta
Storm centre of
movement was north
Bengal, principally among
Rajbanshis. Muslims also
participated in large
numbers.
In 1946, communist-led In villages controlled by
guerrillas uprising guerrillas, vethi and
started in Nalgonda and forced labour
soon spread to Warrangal disappeared.
and Khammam.
Agricultural wages were
Peasants organised raised.
themselves into village
Illegally seized lands were
sanghams.
restored.
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They attacked using
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An improvement in the
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condition of women was
chilli powder.
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witnessed.
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Led the way to formation
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of Andhra Pradesh on
linguistic lines.
 B. TRIBAL AND CIVIL UPRISINGS

A. BENGAL AND EASTERN INDIA

NAME Origin Organization Outcome

Sanyasi Revolt In Murshidabad and Sanyasis raided Prolonged military action

(late 18th Baikunthupur forests of company's factories and by Warren Hastings to
Century) Jalpaiguri. state treasuries. control the revolt.
Restrictions imposed on
visits to the holy places
on the Sanyasis.

Chuar Uprising In Midnapore district Famine, enhanced land The revolt was brutally
( also called between 1776 – 1772 and revenue demands and suppressed by the British.
Revolt of the 1795 – 1816. economic distress forced
Jungle Mahal) Chuar tribesmen to take
up arms.
The most significant
uprising was under
Durjan Singh in 1798.

Kol Uprising At Chhotanagpur Large-scale transfers of Large-scale military

(1831) land from Kol headmen operations were done
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to outsiders like Hindu, to restore order.

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Sikh and Muslim farmers

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and money-lenders.
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British judicial and

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revenue policies affected

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traditional social
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conditions of the Kols.

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Ho and Munda Singhbhum The Raja of Parahat The revolt was

Uprisings organised Ho tribals to extinguished in 1832, but
(1820-1837) revolt against occupation. Ho operations continued
till 1837.
Later in 1831, they
joined Mundas to protest
against new farming
revenue policy and entry
of Bengalis.
Santhal Rajmahal Hills. Money-lenders with Prolonged military action
Rebellion support of police and by Warren Hastings to
(1855-56) zamindars subjected control the revolt.
peasants to oppressive
exactions and
dispossession of lands.
Under Sidhu and Kanhu,
two brothers, the
Santhals proclaimed an
end to Company rule, and
declared the area
between Bhagalpur and
Rajmahal as autonomous.

Khond Uprising Odisha to Srikakulam Chakra Bisoi, a young raja, Later with Chakra Bisoi's
(1837-1856) and Visakhapatnam. led the Khonds to oppose disappearance, the
the suppression of human uprising came to an end.
sacrifice, new taxes, and
the entry of zamindars
into their areas.

Ahom Revolt Assam British did not fulfil their The Company took
(1828) promise to withdraw conciliatory approach
after First Burma War and restored parts of
(1824-26). Assam to the king.
Instead they tried to
incorporate Ahom
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territories.
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Rebellion sparked under

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the leadership of
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Gomdhar Konwar in 1828.

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Khasi Uprising Garo and Jaintia Hills British wanted to develop English military
(1833) a road which led to influx suppressed the revolt.
of labourers from outside.
The tribes organized
themselves under Tirath
Singh.

Pagal Panthis Bengal Region. Karam Shah was the The area remained
(late 18th founder of this religious disturbed in 1830s and
Century) sect. 1840s.
His son Tipu took the
cause of tenants against
Zamindars.
Farazi Revolt Easter Bengal Farazi sect was founded Most of the farazis
(1838-1857) by Haji Shariat Allah. joined wahabis.
His son Dadu Mian
organized his followers
against English.

Munda Revolt Chhotanagpur The rebellion began as a Most of the farazis

(1899-1900) religious movement but joined wahabis.
gathered political force
for fight against feudal,
zamindari tenures, and
exploitation by
money-lenders

Munda Revolt Chhotanagpur The rebellion began as a In 1900, their leader Birsa
(1899-1900) religious movement but Munda was captured and
gathered political force died in same year.
for fight against feudal,
zamindari tenures, and
exploitation by
money-lenders

B. WESTERN INDIA

NAME Origin Organization Outcome

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Bhil Uprising Khadesh region They revolted against Revolted started in 1817
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(1817-1846) EIC fearing agrarian and continued episodically

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hardships. till 1846.

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They were led by

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Sewaram.
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Cutch Rebellion Cutch region Due to British British has to adopt

(1816) interference in the conciliatory approach.
iternal feuds of Cutch.
Huge resentment due to
a British resident.
Chiefs revolted to restore
Bharmal as the King.

Waghera Rising Okha Mandal. Due to alien rule and A peace treaty was signed
(1818-1820) exaction of Gaekwar of in 1920.
Baroda.
Waghera chiefs of Okha
Mandal took up arms.
They made inroads into
Brtish territory.
Koli Rising Maharastra Kolis rose against
(1829) company's rule in 1829,
1839 and then in 1844-48.

Ramosi Risings Western Ghats They rose under Chittur British used force to
(1822) Singh in 1822. suppress the revolt.

Surat Salt Surat By local population The government

Agitations against rise in salt duty. withdrew the duty.
(1844)
Introduced Bengal
Standard Weights and
Measures.

Kolhapur and Maratha Region Gadhkaris who

Savantvadi garrisoned the Maratha
Revolts (1838) forts faced unemployment
as garrisons were
disbanded.
Similar revolt in
Savantvadi areas.

C. SOUTH INDIA

NAME Origin Organization Outcome

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Revolt of Raja Northern Sarkar People revolted because The company offered the
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of Vizianagaram the Raja was asked to estate to Raja's son and

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(1794) disband his army. reduced the demand of

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the peasants.
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The raja died in a battle

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in 1794.
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Poligars Revolt Dinigal region of Madras The poligars rose up Sporadic rising continued
(1799) and Malabar. against the oppressive in Madras till 1856.
land revenue system
during 1801-06.
 Diwan Velu Travancore region. Harsh conditions imposed A large military operation
Tampi's Revolt under subsidiary alliance had to be undertaken to
(1805) caused resentment. restore peace.

Rampa Revolt Coatal Andhra . Against the depredations
(1879) of government supported
mansabdar and new
restrictive forest
regulations.
Large military operation
was undertaken to defeat
the rebels.

D. NORTH INDIA

NAME Origin Organization Outcome

Wahabi United Provinces. It was an Islamic revivalist The movement played

Movement movement founded by
(19th Century) Syed Ahmed.
He advocated a return to
pure Islam and condemned
western influence.
an important role in
spreading anti-British
sentiments.
Military operations were
carried on the Wahabi
base at Sithana.

Kuka Revolt Western Punjab Movement was founded In 1972, one its leaders
(1840) by Bhagat Jawahar Mal. was deported to
Rangoon.
After British occuptation
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of Punjab, the movement

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transformed from a
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religious purification
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campaign to political one.

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It was social refoms

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oriented.
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