Resistance and Rebellion…: WBBSE Class 10 History answers

Summary

There were several tribal revolts against British rule in the century following 1857. The Indian Forest Act, passed by the British government in 1865, authorised the appropriation of all forested land. Traditional ways of life for tribal people were drastically changed, in large part because of imperialist ideas. The high land revenue hurt the tribal peasants a lot, and in the end, it caused them to be kicked off their land. More than any other group in India, the tribal people of various regions rose up in violent revolt.

Chuar tribesmen in the Midnapore district resorted to violence. In Dhalbhum and Manbhum, where life was hard, the East India Company raised the rate of land tax. There was a revolt led by the Rajas of Dhalbhum, Kaliapur, Dholka, and Barabhum in the year 1768. Unfortunately, this unsettling state of affairs persisted all the way through the nineteenth century.

The Raja of Singbhum officially recognised the British government’s authority in 1820. In 1832–1833, members of the restless Kol tribe in Chotanagpur rebelled against the agreement they had just signed. Around a thousand landowners were either murdered or had their homes destroyed. It quickly reached Singhbhum, Ranchi, Hazaribagh, and western Manbhum. After a massive military operation, the Kols were defeated and peace was restored.

Revenue experiments by the East India Company sparked the 1855 Santhal Revolt. The santhal peasants were denied the right to land ownership by the zamindars. There was a santhal uprising led by Sidhu and Kanhu. By doing so, they proclaimed independence from the East India Company. After years of military efforts, the situation was finally under control in 1856. A new administrative division, Santhal Pargana, was thus established.

Birsa Munda was the leader of the Munda Revolt that swept through Ranchi in 1899–1900. When the British tried to limit the Mundas’ access to forest and agricultural goods, the indigenous people of the area rose up in rebellion. Birsa Munda was put in jail after his group’s revolt shook the British Empire to its core. So, as part of a set of steps meant to make the Mundas happy, the British got rid of “Beth begari.”

In response to the British government’s repressive taxation, a group of Sannyasis and a large number of Fakirs (Muslim mendicants) rose up in rebellion. The British ban on going on pilgrimages to religious sites was a direct cause of the revolt. Bhabani Pathak and Devi Chaudhurani were at the helm of the Sannyasi Rebellion. Majnu Shah’s and Chirag Ali’s Fakirs were also a problem for the East India Company. However, the leadership proved incompetent, and the company’s army easily defeated them.

In India, Syed Ahmed Barelvi spearheaded the Wahabi movement. Titu Mir spearheaded the Wahabi Movement in Bengal. He got the peasants in the area to fight against the zamindars, moneylenders, and indigo farmers who were taking advantage of them. There had never been an armed uprising by Bengal’s rural populace until now. With their lives on the line, Titu and his comrades fought bravely against the British and ultimately lost.

The Farazi Movement, which was led by Haji Shariatullah, began as an Islamic revivalist movement but turned into a fight for independence from the British and the return of Muslim rule in India. Following his father’s passing, Shariatullah’s son, Dudu Miyan, assumed control. He rallied the peasants to fight back against the zamindars’ and indigo farmers’ oppression. He was arrested for helping to set up a rival government, and then he spent some time in jail.

In 1859, Bishnu Charan Biswas and Digambar Biswas led the Indigo Revolt in the Nadia district. The British planters had the ryots grow indigo without paying them a living wage from the very beginning. The commoners vowed to stop growing indigo. The educated Bengali middle class supported the Indigo Rebellion, which was a big deal in history. That caused an irreparable setback for Bengal’s indigo plantation.

In 1870, the poor peasants of the Pabna district of East Bengal rose up in opposition to the Zamindars’ oppression of them. Ishan Chandra Ray and Khoodi Mollah were two of the revolt’s most prominent leaders. To counter the immediate demand of the Zamindars, an agrarian league was established in 1874. The Bengal Tenancy Act, passed in 1885, greatly shielded the ryots’ rights.

Textual (Oriental)

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Of the following who were deprived as a consequence of the Forest Acts ?

(a) Villagers
(b) Tribals
(c) Zamindars
(d) Contractors

Answer: (b) Tribals

2. Of the following who was the leader of the Mundari Movement ?

(a) Birsa
(b) Kanu
(c) Sidhu
(d) Debi Singh

Answer: (a) Birsa

Tick off True/False

1. One of the features of the Chuar Rebellion was that the British immediately stopped the take-over of the paikan lands.

Answer: (a) True

2. Rangpur Rebellion of 1783 was basically a protest of the rich peasants against the oppressions of the ijaradar.

Answer: (b) False

3. The middle class intelligentsia of Bengal was apathetic to the indigo rebels.

Answer: (b) False

Fill in the Blanks

1. Even the Wahabis did not like the Ferazis because of the _____ of the latter. (conservatism/fanaticism/communalism/fundamentalism)

Answer: fanaticism

2. The Pagal Panthis belonged to the _____ tribe. (Khasi/Garo/Tripuri/Jayanti)

Answer: Garo

3. The Indigo Rebellion began in 1859 in _____ district of Bengal. (Nadia/Birbhum/Burdwan/Malda)

Answer: Nadia

Assertion and Reason

1. Which of the following statements about the Pabna movement are true ?

(a) The main cause of the movement was the oppression of the peasantry by the zamindars.
(b) The peasants organized no-rent unions, and even made armed attacks on the zamindars and their agents.
(c) It was finally put down by the use of force.
(d) The government on the basis of the recommendations of a committee, passed an act conferring permanency of tenure upon some classes of tenants.

Select the answer from the codes given below :

(i) a, b and c
(ii) b, c and d
(iii) a, b and d
(iv) All of these

Answer: (iii) a, b and d

2. Which of the following statements are true about the Indigo Rebellion of Bengal ?

(a) The peasants refused to cultivate indigo and put up armed resistance against the oppressive indigo planters.
(b) Bishnucharan Biswas and Digumber Biswas played a prominent role in their resistance.
(c) Bengal intelligentsia organized a powerful campaign in support of the rebellious peasants.
(d) Despite this agitation all the abuses of indigo cultivation continued unabated in Bengal.

Select the answer from the codes given below:

(i) a, b and c
(ii) a, b and d
(iii) a, c and d
(iv) All of these

Answer: (i) a, b and c

Short-answer Type Questions

1. How did the Forest Acts distress the tribal people (adivasi) ?

Answer: The Forest Acts meant hardship to the villagers across the country. The Forest Acts deprived the tribals (adivasi) of all their everyday practices. Cutting of wood for their houses, collecting fruits and roots, hunting, etc. were banned. The tribal women were particularly disturbed as they were unable to cook food using fuel-wood collected from forests. Most importantly grazing and shifting cultivation (jhum) that were the life-blood of millions of Indians suffered immensely as these were banned in areas under control of the colonial government. By enacting Forest Acts the foreign rulers took control of the forests and thereby deprived the tribal people of their age-old rights.

2. Mention one feature of the Kol rebellion.

Answer: The characteristic feature of the Kol rebellion was that the Kol tribesmen did not fight alone against the British; other tribesmen like the Hos, Oraons and Mundas joined hands with them.

3. Who were the Wahabis ?

Answer: The Wahabis were followers of the Wahabi Movement, an orthodox Islamic religious movement founded by Muhammad Abdul Wahab of Nejd (in Arabia), which aimed at purging Islam of all the impurities that crept into it.

4. What did the Tariqah-i-Muhammadiya aim at ?

Answer: The movement initiated by Syed Ahmed Barelvi, known as Tariqah-i-Muhammadiya, was designed to revive the ways of the Prophet. Along with this, it put forward the objective of driving the British out of the country. Barelvi also desired, through the movement, to convert the country from an ‘unholy land’ (dar-ul-harb) into the ‘land of Islam’ (dar-ul-Islam).

Analytical Answer Type Questions

1. Write a note on the Barasat Rebellion.

Answer: The Wahabi movement of Bengal began with the rising in Barasat in 1831. A believer in the Wahabi ideal, Titumir of North 24-Parganas, directed his energies from the very beginning in organizing the peasants against the oppressive zamindars, money-lenders, and indigo planters. Titumir and his followers offered the first armed resistance to the zamindar of Pura who imposed punitive tax on the Wahabis, sparking off an armed rebellion. Seeing that Titumir’s rebellion had assumed an anti-government character, the British deployed military to suppress the rebels. Titumir, with his six hundred followers, hurriedly built a fortress with bamboos and mud at Narkelberia, about 10 kilometres away from Baduria in the district North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. This was the famous Banser Kella (Bamboo fortress). The standard of revolt raised by Titumir and his followers, and the resistance they offered to the British troops from the bamboo fortress is famous in history as the ‘Barasat uprising’ or ‘Barasat Revolt’ of 1831. On November 19, 1831, Titu Mir was defeated and killed by the British, and his ‘Bansher kella’ was seized.

2. What are the consequences of the Ferazi rebellion?

Answer: The Ferazi movement was unsuccessful as the leaders had little political vision. The Ferazis were religious fanatics and thus completely alienated from the Hindus. The Muhammedans of the old Islamic faith were also opposed to the Ferazis. Even the Ferazis were not liked by the Wahabis because of the fanaticism of the former. Thus the Ferazi movement came to an end without achieving anything. The rebellion failed because there were changes in the objective factors, internal feud between the Sannyasis and Fakirs was another cause of the failure, and repressive measures adopted by the British were also responsible for the failure.

3. How did the middle class intelligentsia of Bengal react to the Indigo rebellion?

Answer: Unlike the Santal rebellion or other mid-nineteenth century rebellions which lacked the support of the educated middle class, considerable interest was shown by the middle class in the rebellion of the indigo-cultivators for the first time. Well-known Bengali intellectuals like Harish Chandra Mukhopadhyay, Girish Chandra Basu, and Sisir Kumar Ghosh took up the cause of the indigo-cultivators. Harish Chandra Mukhopadhyay, who came from a middle-class family and was the editor of the Hindu Patriot, was virtually driven to financial ruin offering help to the peasants and did not hesitate to publicize their grievances. Sisir Kumar Ghosh, a petty zamindar of Jessore, threw himself into the Indigo Rebellion and sent eyewitness accounts of popular struggles for publication in the Hindu Patriot to rouse public opinion. Dinabandhu Mitra, a government employee, wrote the highly popular drama Neel Darpan, vividly describing the oppressions and injustice done to the indigo-cultivators based on his first-hand knowledge from staying in Jessore. The play exposed the grim picture of inhuman villainy and torture by indigo planters, mostly Europeans. Largely due to the efforts of Dinabandhu’s Neel Darpan, the Bengalee middle class for the first time came out in open support to the indigo rebels. The Indigo Rebellion saw support lent by the middle class people to the oppressed peasantry of Bengal.

4. What were the features of the Indigo Rebellion?

Answer: The Indigo Rebellion of Bengal constitutes an important chapter in the history of peasant movement and organised political movement in India. Some features of the rebellion are:

Instead of lodging a silent protest, the indigo-cultivators had unitedly built up a mass movement. The indigo-cultivators of Barasat took a vow unitedly that not to sow indigo anymore.
The spirit of passive resistance expressed in the Indigo Rebellion may be said to be the forerunner of the Non Co-operation Movement started by Mahatma Gandhi later.
For the first time, considerable interest and open support were shown by the educated middle class people and Bengali intellectuals to the oppressed peasantry of Bengal.
A close affinity was first established between the peasants and the zamindars in this rebellion, because indigo cultivation had adversely affected the interests of both groups.
The Indigo Rebellion made the people of India conscious about their unity against the colonial British rulers.
Missionaries stationed in rural Bengal, like James Long, were aware of the inhuman atrocities and championed the cause of the indigo cultivators, playing a role in the appointment of the Indigo Commission.

Explanatory Answer Type Questions

1. Explain the concepts of ‘uprising’ and ‘rebellion’. What were the characteristic features of the adivasi rebellion?

Answer: An ‘uprising’ may be described as a protest organized locally against authority or certain governmental policy. There is hardly any difference between ‘rebellion’ and ‘uprising’. A rebellion may also be a violent uprising of the masses for any goal including change to a system of government. The reaction of the adivasi against the Forest Laws did not, however, amount to rebellion in the sense of aiming for fundamental change, though the adivasi rebellion aimed at revocation of the Forest Laws enacted by the colonial rulers.

The characteristic features of the adivasi rebellion include:

(i) Causes: The rebellions were often a response to the colonial Forest Acts which deprived tribals (adivasi) of their traditional rights and everyday practices like cutting wood, collecting fruits and roots, hunting, grazing, and shifting cultivation (jhum). Encroachment on tribal areas by outsiders like moneylenders, contractors, traders, and non-tribal landlords, who resorted to forced labour, fines, and oppression, was another major cause. The breakdown of their traditional socio-economic and agrarian systems under British rule fueled resentment.

(ii) Methods of Protest: Initially, adivasi people tried petitioning the government. When this failed, they resorted to breaking the new regulations, stealing wood from forests, and bribing guards. Some rebellions involved organized, violent uprisings and armed resistance against oppressors and colonial authorities, sometimes taking the form of guerilla warfare. They often fought with traditional, primitive weapons against the better-equipped British forces.

(iii) Goals: The primary goal was often the revocation of oppressive Forest Laws and the restoration of traditional rights and privileges over forest resources. Some rebellions, like the Santal Hool, aimed to take possession of their habitat, end colonial rule (seen as ‘sinful’), and establish their own government (e.g., Mundaraj).

(iv) Nature: The rebellions were fundamentally resistance against colonial control over resources, expansion of state power, and the resulting hardship and curtailment of local communities’ rights. They often had an anti-British character, targeting colonial rulers and their agents (zamindars, moneylenders, contractors, police). Sometimes, different tribal groups joined forces in rebellion.

2. Write a note on the Sannyasi and Fakir Rebellion. What were characteristics of the rebellion?

Answer: The Sannyasi and Fakir Rebellion (1763-1800) involved sannyasis and fakirs, who were very much a part of Indian society and lived on charitable gifts, kept long hair, and carried knives and arrows. Majnu Shah led the fakirs, while Bhawani Pathak, in league with the dacoit Devi Chaudhurani, led the sanyasis. The rebellion can be divided into two phases: before and after the Bengal Famine of 1769-70. Before the famine, looting property was a primary objective. Actions included attacks on English officers in Burdwan (1760) and the English settlement in Barisal (1763). After the famine, the character of the rebellion transformed due to the breakdown of Bengal’s economy.

The British rulers imposed bans on their movement, levied pilgrim taxes, and interfered with their activities, making revenue collection difficult due to the violence let loose by them. The rebellion was provoked by these oppressive measures and the economic distress following the famine. The rebellion ultimately failed due to changes in objective factors, internal feuds between the Sannyasis and Fakirs, and repressive measures adopted by the British. Opinions vary on its character, with some considering it full-fledged anti-colonial, while detailed analysis suggests economic distress was the primary driver.

Characteristics of the rebellion include:

(i) Participants: Led by religious figures (Sannyasis and Fakirs) like Majnu Shah and Bhawani Pathak.
(ii) Causes: British interference, ban on movement, pilgrim taxes, oppressive measures, and severe economic distress, especially after the Bengal Famine.
(iii) Actions: Armed attacks on British officials and settlements, looting.
(iv) Transformation: The nature of the rebellion changed after the Bengal Famine, shifting from primarily looting to a broader insurgency driven by economic hardship.
(v) Failure: Attributed to internal conflicts, changing circumstances, and British suppression.
(vi) Character Debate: Viewed by some as anti-colonial, but fundamentally rooted in economic grievances.

3. What do you know about the colonial Forest law? What does the Forest Acts mean? Describe the adivasi uprising against the State monopoly of forests.

Answer: The colonial Forest Law represents a concrete outcome of colonialism related to the control of resources, initiating fundamental changes in forest use patterns in India. The first attempt at official control was the Forest Charter of 1855, which made teak wood government property and regulated its trade. This was followed by the first Indian Forest Act of 1865. The Forest Act of 1878 divided Indian forests into three categories: Reserved Forest, Protected Forest, and Village Forest. Villagers or tribal forest-dwellers were restricted to using only village forests. The sole purpose of these Acts was to gradually terminate the century-old system of rights and privileges of forest-inhabiting and forest-dependent communities. The objective of the colonial British Government in enacting these laws was to control forest resources, driven by the needs and greed of the colonial rulers for timber (for Britain, ship-building, railways) and revenue generation through commercialization. It also aimed at expanding state power and curtailing local communities’ rights.

The Forest Acts meant hardship for villagers across the country. They deprived tribals (adivasi) of their everyday practices: cutting wood for houses, collecting fruits and roots, and hunting were banned. Tribal women faced difficulties cooking as they couldn’t collect fuel-wood. Crucially, grazing and shifting cultivation (jhum), the life-blood for millions, were banned in areas under colonial control.

The adivasi uprising against the State monopoly of forests involved various strategies. Initially, many adivasi people tried petitioning the government to repeal the Acts. When this failed, they continued their activities by breaking the new regulations. Protests included stealing wood from forests and bribing guards if caught. In some areas, like the hilly tracts of Gudem and Rampa in Andhra Pradesh, tribesmen organized major revolts against the steady penetration of the state in the forest.

4. Write about the Rangpur revolt of 1783 of the Adivasis. Write about the Chuar rebellion. Write briefly about the Bheel revolt. Also describe very briefly about Kol revolt, the Santal, Hool, The Munda rebellion, the Sannyasi and Fakir rebellion of 1763-1800. Also State What was ‘Pagol Panthi Revolt of 1825-1827.

Answer: The Rangpur Revolt (1783) was basically a protest by the peasants of Rangpur (present Bangladesh) against the oppressions of the ijaradar, Debi Singh, who forced ryots (tenants) and zaminders to pay increased land revenue. The immediate cause was the large-scale disposal of defaulters’ agricultural holdings at nominal prices. When petitions were ignored, the ryots rebelled in 1783 under the leadership of Dirjinarain. The uprising was unsuccessful but highlighted the weakness of the revenue farming system and paved the way for the Permanent Settlement of 1793.

The Chuar Rebellion involved the adivasis known as Chuars living in south-west Bankura and north-west Medinipur, who were oppressed by the British and their agents. They burst out in rebellion in 1798-1799, aligning with Durjan Singh, a zamindar dispossessed under the Sun-set Law of the Permanent Settlement. Durjan Singh led 2000 Chuars who raided the countryside. High land-revenue rates and the resumption of rent-free paikan land (enjoyed by Chuars who acted as private armies for zamindars) were key causes. The British stopped the takeover of paikan land and made concessions to zamindars as a result.

The Bheel Revolt involved the Bheels, a backward and warlike community in central India (Western Ghats of Maharashtra/Gujarat). They held a monopoly of power in Khandesh and resorted to plunder. The British occupied Khandesh in 1818 to end the anarchy. From then, Bheels under leaders like Chil Naik of Satmals, Hiria, and Dusrust rebelled. British conciliatory policy reduced the intensity, but in 1831, Bheels in the State of Dhar rebelled again due to government exactions and encroachments.

The Kol Revolt occurred in 1831 when Kol tribesmen of Chotonagpur, long exploited by colonial agents, rebelled under leaders like Buddhu Bhagat, Joa Bhagat, and Madara Mahato. Causes included increasing encroachment by non-tribals (Muslims, Sikhs), forced labour, fines, and cattle theft. The insurrection started when two Sikh thikadars’ farms were plundered. Clashes with armed forces occurred in 1832. A characteristic feature was that Kols fought alongside other tribes like Hos, Oraons, and Mundas, using traditional weapons against the British army.

The Santal Hool (rebellion) took place in 1855-1856 in the Santal Pargana (Daman-i-Koh). Led by Kanu and Sidhu (Sui Munda was another leader), the peace-loving Santals rose up against disturbances caused by British rulers and their agents (zamindars, moneylenders, etc.). When legal redress failed, they took up arms. Armed with primitive weapons, they fought a full-fledged guerilla war, defeating British soldiers initially. They received support from lower classes (doms, chamars, telis). The Hool aimed to end the ‘sinful’ British rule, take possession of their habitat, and set up their own government. Though suppressed, it was the first organized resistance of its kind, led to the creation of the Santal Parganas district, and inspired future resistance.

The Munda Rebellion was rooted in the resentment of the Munda tribe of Chotonagpur against the breakdown of their traditional socio-economic and agrarian systems under British rule. Their joint land ownership was threatened, they faced forced labour (beth-begari), the panchayat system decayed, and middlemen (arkatias) caused havoc. An initial movement in 1858 failed. Birsa Munda led a new movement from 1895. Initially a preacher predicting a golden age, he was arrested. After release in 1897, the movement’s objective became the establishment of Mundaraj (rule of Mundas). The Ulghulan (great revolt) of 1899-1900 involved attacks on churches, missions, and police stations. It was suppressed, and Birsa died in jail. The movement secured some legal land rights and led to administrative reforms like the declaration of beth-begari as illegal. It had a definite anti-British element.

The Sannyasi and Fakir Rebellion (1763-1800) involved wandering religious mendicants who turned anti-British. Led by figures like Majnu Shah (Fakirs) and Bhawani Pathak (Sanyasis), they rebelled due to British restrictions (ban on movement, pilgrim tax), interference, and economic distress, particularly after the Bengal Famine (1769-70). They attacked English officials and settlements.

The Pagol Panthi Revolt (1825-1827) involved a religious sect founded by Karam Shah, popular among the Garo tribe. Led later by Tipu, the sect stressed truthfulness and equality. The Garos rebelled against the oppression (unbearable tax) of the zamindar of Sherpur (present Bangladesh). This armed rebellion resulted in the withdrawal of the increased revenue demand and a new settlement.

5. Write about Wahabi and Ferazi Movement of Bengal. Write about Titu Mir (1782-1831). Give an idea of Titumir’s Banser Kella. What do you know about Farazi movement? Who was Tariq Mohammadiya?

Answer: The Wahabi and Ferazi movements were important peasant movements in early nineteenth-century Bengal. The Wahabi movement included the rising in Barasat (1831), while the Ferazi movement occurred in Faridpur and adjoining areas. Though separate, they shared a common programme and ideological inclination.

The Wahabi Movement, originally an orthodox Islamic religious reform movement founded by Muhammad Abdul Wahab in Arabia aiming to purify Islam, was carried to Bengal by Mir Nisar Ali (Titumir). In Bengal, Titumir directed it against oppressive zamindars, moneylenders, and indigo planters. The Wahabis offered the first armed resistance to the zamindar of Pura over a punitive tax. They resorted to armed rebellion because peaceful redress failed, as administration and courts sided with the rich. The rebellion took on an anti-government character, leading to British military suppression. The movement’s real name was Tariqah-i-Muhammadiya, founded in India by Syed Ahmed Barelvi. It aimed to revive the Prophet’s ways and drive the British out, viewing British India as ‘dar-ul-harb’ (unholy land) to be converted to ‘dar-ul-Islam’ (land of Islam). Training centres provided military training, with the peasantry forming the core. Before confronting the British fully, they clashed with the Sikhs in Punjab, leading to Barelvi’s death at the Battle of Balakot (1831). His followers continued fighting the British and other oppressors.

Titu Mir (Mir Nisar Ali, 1782-1831) of North 24-Parganas was a key figure who brought the Wahabi ideal to Bengal. He organized peasants against local oppressors (zamindars, moneylenders, indigo planters) and gained significant influence in North 24-Parganas and Nadia. He led the first armed resistance against the Pura zamindar. His rebellion became anti-government, culminating in the construction of the Banser Kella. He was defeated and killed by the British on November 19, 1831.

Titumir’s Banser Kella (Bamboo fortress) was famously constructed at Narkelberia, near Baduria (North 24 Parganas). Built hurriedly by Titumir and his 600 followers using bamboo and mud, it served as the base from which they raised the standard of revolt against the British. British troops eventually captured and destroyed it after defeating Titumir.

The Farazi Movement was founded in 1820 in Faridpur (present Bangladesh) by Haji Shariatulla as a kindred brotherhood (Ferazi means ‘one who acts upto the commandments of God’). It began as a religious reform movement but transformed into a peasant revolt under his son, Dudumiyan, around 1840. Dudumiyan issued a fervent call for peasants to rise against oppressive zamindars, indigo planters, and moneylenders, declaring that Allah was the real owner of the land and zamindars had no right to levy tax. This led to armed clashes (1840-47), and rebels attacked indigo factories. Essentially an agrarian movement strengthened by peasant participation, it’s not clearly identifiable as anti-British. The movement was ultimately unsuccessful due to limited political vision, religious fanaticism alienating Hindus and other Muslims (including Wahabis), and opposition from established powers. Dudumiyan is remembered for his stand against oppressors.

Tariqah-i-Muhammadiya was the real name of the Wahabi Movement. The term literally means ‘the path as shown by Muhammad’. In India, its founder was Syed Ahmed Barelvi. The movement aimed to revive the ways of the Prophet and had the objective of driving the British out of the country.

6. How did Indigo revolt break out? What were its Causes? Who were its foremost Leaders? Touch briefly about Peasant’s revolt in Pabna (1870).

Answer: The Indigo Revolt broke out in 1859, beginning at Chaugacha of Krishnanagar in the Nadia district of West Bengal. From Nadia, it rapidly spread to other parts of Bengal, including Barasat, Malda, Faridpur, and Jessore (present Bangladesh). A key moment was when all the peasants of Barasat collectively took a vow that they would henceforth not cultivate indigo. The revolt continued for about a year.

The Causes of the Indigo Revolt were rooted in the oppressive system of indigo cultivation introduced by Europeans in the 18th century. While profitable for planters and merchants, it was not at all profitable for the peasants (indigo cultivators), who did not receive wages equal to their labour. Powerful European planters forced peasants to grow indigo, reducing them to a state of slavery. Planters converted the best food-growing lands to indigo cultivation, leading to a decline in food production. To expand plantations, planters employed armed gangs who cleared villages, burned peasants’ huts, and evicted them. Oppression reached its climax with peasants’ families not being spared, and the abduction of peasant women becoming a regular feature. It was against this background of forced cultivation, low payments, loss of land, violence, and extreme oppression that the cultivators rebelled.

The foremost Leaders of the Indigo Revolt included Digambar Biswas and Bishnu Charan Biswas of Chaugacha in Jessore. Other important leaders were Mahesh Chandra Chattopadhyay of Narail and Ramratan Mallick of Jairampur.

The Peasant’s Revolt in Pabna (1870s) serves as an example of how disputes over rent (khazna) created bitter relations between zamindars and ryots. The Tenancy Act of 1859, meant to safeguard richer peasants, failed in practice as zamindars continued to enhance rent at will and evicted peasants who couldn’t pay. This discontent led to organized local resistance, culminating in a revolt in 1873 when an agrarian league was formed in Esafshahi, Pabna district (present Bangladesh). The main cause was the enhancement of rent by zamindars. The revolt took the form of a rent-strike, with peasants refusing to pay rent. A characteristic feature was the unity between Muslim and Hindu peasants. Leaders emerged from among rich peasants, jotedars, and village headmen, including Ishan Chandra Roy (a talukdar called ‘bidrohi raja’), Sambhunath Pal, and Khoodi Mollah (a Muslim jotedar). This revolt eventually contributed to the passing of the Bengal Tenancy Act in 1885, which aimed to better protect the interests of the ryots.

Extras

MCQs

1. Which document made teak wood government property?

A. Forest Charter of 1855
B. Forest Act of 1865
C. Forest Act of 1878
D. Permanent Settlement

Answer: A. Forest Charter of 1855

2. Which act divided forests into Reserved, Protected, and Village categories?

A. Forest Act 1865
B. Forest Act 1878
C. Charter Act 1855
D. Tenancy Act

Answer: B. Forest Act 1878

3. Which group suffered most from the implementation of the Forest Acts?

A. Villagers
B. Tribals
C. Zamindars
D. Contractors

Answer: B. Tribals

4. Which restricted practice particularly disturbed tribal women?

A. Hunting
B. Fuelwood collection
C. Shifting cultivation
D. Fruit gathering

Answer: B. Fuelwood collection

5. What was one objective behind enacting the Forest Acts?

A. Enhance local rights
B. Secure timber for railways
C. Promote agriculture
D. Increase food production

Answer: B. Secure timber for railways

6. Which revolt began in 1783 due to increased land-revenue demands?

A. Rangpur Revolt
B. Chuar Rebellion
C. Bheel Revolt
D. Kol Rebellion

Answer: A. Rangpur Revolt

7. Who was the revenue collector whose policies spurred a revolt in Rangpur?

A. Durjan Singh
B. Debi Singh
C. Majnu Shah
D. Haji Shariatulla

Answer: B. Debi Singh

8. Which rebellion occurred during 1798–1799?

A. Chuar Rebellion
B. Rangpur Revolt
C. Santal Hool
D. Munda Rebellion

Answer: A. Chuar Rebellion

9. The Chuars allied themselves with which leader during their rebellion?

A. Birsa Munda
B. Durjan Singh
C. Buddhu Bhagat
D. Majnu Shah

Answer: B. Durjan Singh

10. Which revolt started in 1819 among a warlike community in central India?

A. Bheel Revolt
B. Kol Rebellion
C. Santal Uprising
D. Munda Rebellion

Answer: A. Bheel Revolt

11. Which group of tribesmen rebelled in 1831 over encroachment on their territories?

A. Kol tribesmen
B. Santals
C. Mundas
D. Wahabis

Answer: A. Kol tribesmen

12. Which leader is associated with the 1831 Kol Rebellion?

A. Buddhu Bhagat
B. Birsa Munda
C. Karam Shah
D. Majnu Shah

Answer: A. Buddhu Bhagat

13. In which years did the Santal rebellion take place?

A. 1855–1856
B. 1831–1832
C. 1798–1799
D. 1899–1900

Answer: A. 1855–1856

14. What local term was used to refer to the Santal rebellion?

A. Uprising
B. Hool
C. Revolt
D. Insurrection

Answer: B. Hool

15. What was one key aim of the Santal rebellion?

A. End British rule
B. Expand forest rights
C. Increase revenue
D. Promote agriculture

Answer: A. End British rule

16. What type of weapons did the Santals predominantly use?

A. Primitive
B. Modern
C. Firearms
D. Artillery

Answer: A. Primitive

17. Who led the revolutionary phase of the Munda movement?

A. Buddhu Bhagat
B. Birsa Munda
C. Karam Shah
D. Majnu Shah

Answer: B. Birsa Munda

18. During which period did the main phase of Birsa Munda’s uprising occur?

A. 1899–1900
B. 1855–1856
C. 1763–1800
D. 1831–1832

Answer: A. 1899–1900

19. What was the principal objective of Birsa Munda’s movement?

A. Tax reform
B. Independent Mundaraj
C. Industrial development
D. Religious revival

Answer: B. Independent Mundaraj

20. Which leader is best known for his role in the Fakir uprising?

A. Majnu Shah
B. Birsa Munda
C. Karam Shah
D. Haji Shariatulla

Answer: A. Majnu Shah

21. In which year did the Fakir–Sannyasi resistance notably begin with an attack on an English settlement?

A. 1763
B. 1783
C. 1859
D. 1831

Answer: A. 1763

22. Who founded the sect that later led to the Pagal-Panthi Revolt?

A. Karam Shah
B. Majnu Shah
C. Birsa Munda
D. Haji Shariatulla

Answer: A. Karam Shah

23. The Pagal-Panthi sect was predominantly associated with which tribe?

A. Garo
B. Khasi
C. Tripuri
D. Kol

Answer: A. Garo

24. Which leader is noted for directing the Wahabi movement in North 24 Parganas?

A. Titumir
B. Birsa Munda
C. Buddhu Bhagat
D. Karam Shah

Answer: A. Titumir

25. What is the name of the bamboo fortress built by Titumir’s followers?

A. Banser Kella
B. Bamboo Fort
C. Stone Bastion
D. River Keep

Answer: A. Banser Kella

26. In which year did the uprising associated with Banser Kella occur?

A. 1831
B. 1855
C. 1798
D. 1825

Answer: A. 1831

27. Who transformed the Ferazi movement into an armed peasant revolt?

A. Dudumiyan
B. Haji Shariatulla
C. Karam Shah
D. Titumir

Answer: A. Dudumiyan

28. In which region did the Ferazi movement originate?

A. Faridpur
B. Nadia
C. Malda
D. Chotonagpur

Answer: A. Faridpur

29. In which year did the Indigo Revolt begin?

A. 1859
B. 1869
C. 1831
D. 1899

Answer: A. 1859

30. In which district did the Indigo Revolt start?

A. Nadia
B. Malda
C. Jessore
D. Barasat

Answer: A. Nadia

31. Which industry was at the centre of the 1859–1860 revolt?

A. Indigo cultivation
B. Textile production
C. Tea plantations
D. Cotton processing

Answer: A. Indigo cultivation

32. What invention led to the decline of indigo cultivation in Bengal?

A. Steam engine
B. Synthetic dye
C. Telegraph
D. Printing press

Answer: B. Synthetic dye

33. Which drama exposed the atrocities against indigo cultivators?

A. Banser Kella
B. Neel Darpan
C. Mundaraj
D. Durjan Singh

Answer: B. Neel Darpan

34. What was the main grievance behind the peasants’ revolt in Pabna?

A. Rent increase
B. Food shortage
C. Forest depletion
D. Trade restrictions

Answer: A. Rent increase

35. Which act was eventually introduced to protect tenant rights after the Pabna revolt?

A. Forest Act
B. Bengal Tenancy Act
C. Indigo Contract Act
D. Permanent Settlement

Answer: B. Bengal Tenancy Act

36. Who led the tribal uprising known as the Rumpa Rebellion in the Godavari valley?

A. Alluri Sitaram Raju
B. Birsa Munda
C. Buddhu Bhagat
D. Durjan Singh

Answer: A. Alluri Sitaram Raju

37. In which year did the Rumpa Rebellion under Alluri Sitaram Raju begin?

A. 1922
B. 1859
C. 1798
D. 1870

Answer: A. 1922

Questions and Answers

1. When was the Forest Charter established in India?

Answer: The Forest Charter was established in 1855.

2. What was banned under colonial Forest Acts affecting tribal daily life?

Answer: Under the colonial Forest Acts, cutting of wood for houses, collecting fruits and roots, hunting, grazing, and shifting cultivation (jhum) were banned, depriving the tribals (adivasi) of their everyday practices.

3. When did the Rangpur Revolt occur?

Answer: The Rangpur Revolt occurred in 1783.

4. Who was the leader of the Rangpur Revolt?

Answer: The rebels assembled together and declared one Dirjinarain as their leader during the Rangpur Revolt.

5. Who were the Chuars?

Answer: The adivasis living in the territorial limits of south-west Bankura, north-west Medinipur were known as the Chuars.

6. When did the Chuar rebellion take place?

Answer: The Chuars burst out in rebellion in 1798-1799.

7. Where did the Bheel revolt occur?

Answer: The Bheels, a community of central India, revolted in areas where they were scattered, including the Western Ghat hilly region of Maharashtra and Gujarat, Khandesh, and the State of Dhar.

8. Name one prominent leader of the Bheel revolt.

Answer: One prominent leader of the Bheel revolt was Chil Naik of Satmals.

9. Who led the Kol rebellion?

Answer: The rebel Kols were under the leadership of Buddhu Bhagat, Joa Bhagat, Madara Mahato and others.

10. In which year did the Kol insurrection begin?

Answer: The Kol insurrection started in 1831.

11. Who were Kanu and Sidhu?

Answer: Kanu and Sidhu were leaders under whom the Santals of the Santal Pargana raised the banner of rebellion in 1855-1856.

12. Define “Hool”.

Answer: In Santali language, Hool means rebellion.

13. When did the Santal rebellion (Hool) begin?

Answer: The Santals raised the banner of rebellion, called Hool, in 1855.

14. Who was the prominent leader of the Munda rebellion?

Answer: The Mundari Movement was under the leadership of Birsa Munda.

15. What does “beth-begari” mean?

Answer: Beth-begari was the medieval system of forced labour among the tribals. This forced labour was later declared illegal.

16. Who was the leader of the Fakirs during the rebellion of 1763-1800?

Answer: Majnu Shah was the leader of the fakirs during the Sannyasi and Fakir rebellion of 1763-1800.

17. Who was Bhawani Pathak?

Answer: Bhawani Pathak led the sanyasis during the Sannyasi and Fakir rebellion. Pathak was in league with Devi Chaudhurani who was a dacoit.

18. Who founded the Pagal-Panthi sect?

Answer: The religious sect called Pagal-Panthi was founded by a mendicant named Karam Shah.

19. Who led the Wahabi movement in Bengal?

Answer: The Wahabi movement was successfully carried to Bengal by Mir Nisar Ali, popularly known as Titumir of North 24-Parganas.

20. Who constructed Banser Kella?

Answer: Titumir with his six hundred followers hurriedly built a fortress with bamboos and mud; this was the famous Banser Kella (Bamboo fortress).

21. When did the Indigo Rebellion begin?

Answer: The Indigo Rebellion began in 1859.

22. Who wrote the play “Neel Darpan”?

Answer: Dinabandhu Mitra, a government employee, wrote the highly popular drama Neel Darpan.

23. What were the three categories of forests under the Forest Act of 1878?

Answer: By the Forest Act of 1878 the Indian forests were divided into three categories, namely, Reserved Forest, Protected Forest and Village Forest.

24. Mention two objectives of the British government in enacting Forest Laws.

Answer: Two objectives of the colonial British Government in enacting the Forest Laws were:

(i) To control the forest resources of the country.
(ii) To earn more and more revenue by commercializing the forest resources of India.

25. Briefly explain the reaction of the adivasis to the Forest Laws.

Answer: Various strategies were used by the different categories of the adivasi against the state monopoly of forest. In many areas the adivasi people first tried petitioning the government to repeal the Acts. When this did not yield any result they tried and continued their activities by breaking the new regulations. The type of protest the adivasi registered was to steal wood from forests, and if caught, to bribe the guards. Some, like the tribesmen of Gudem and Rampa, organized a major revolt in protest against the steady penetration of state in forest.

26. Describe one cause of the Rangpur Revolt.

Answer: One cause of the Rangpur Revolt was that Debi Singh, the ijaradar, forced the ryots (tenants) to pay land-revenue at an increased rate. The immediate cause of the uprising of the ryots was the large scale disposal of the agricultural holdings of the defaulters at a nominal price.

27. What led the Chuars to rebel against the British?

Answer: The Chuars were subjected to oppressions by the British rulers and their agents like the moneylenders, contractors and such others. Levy of land-revenue at a high rate was another cause that led the Chuars in liaison with the local zaminders to raise the banner of rebellion. The most important cause of the rebellion, however, was the resumption of the rent-free paikan land by the British government, as the Chuars who acted as the private army of the local zaminders used to enjoy rent-free paikan, and the government converted the paikan into rent-paying land.

28. Why did the Kol tribesmen rebel in 1831?

Answer: The Kol tribesmen of Chotonagpur rebelled in 1831 as they had been long exploited by the agents of the colonial rulers. The Kols grew restive over the increasing encroachment on tribal territories by the non-tribals like Muslim and Sikhs. The new non-tribal landlords resorted to forced labour, fines, and often ‘took away their cattle’. The Kol insurrection started in 1831 when the farm of two Sikh thikadars (contractors) was plundered and burnt.

29. Outline one feature of the Santal rebellion.

Answer: One important feature of the Santal Hool was the support that the rebellious Santals had received from the so-called lower classes of people, particularly, the doms, chamars, telis and such others. Another feature is that the Santal Hool of 1855-56 definitely had an anti-British character because the rebels wanted to bring an end to the ‘sinful’ rule that obviously meant the British rule.

30. Briefly describe the objective of the Munda rebellion.

Answer: The objective of the Munda rebellion, particularly under Birsa Munda in its later phase (1899-1900), was clearly defined to be the establishment of the Mundaraj (rule of the Mundas). The ultimate goal or objective was also to bring an end to the colonial British rule.

31. What triggered the Sannyasi and Fakir rebellion?

Answer: The Sannyasis and Fakirs burst out in rebellion against the British as the latter imposed oppressive measures. A detailed analysis of the origin of the rebellion reveals that it was the economic distress, particularly after the Bengal Famine (1769-70), that provoked the sannyasi and the fakirs to a high pitch of struggle. Other factors included the British imposing a ban on their movement, levying pilgrim tax, and interfering with their activities.

32. State the primary cause of the Pagal-Panthi rebellion.

Answer: The primary cause of the Pagal-Panthi rebellion was the oppression by the zamindar of Sherpur (in present Bangladesh). The Garos of the Pagal-Panthi sect burst out in rebellion because the tax levied by the zamindar became unbearable for them.

33. Briefly describe the character of the Wahabi Movement.

Answer: The Wahabi Movement, successfully carried to Bengal by Mir Nisar Ali (Titumir), was a religious movement aimed at purging Islam of all the impurities that crept into it. Its real name was Tariqah-i-Muhammadiya, meaning the path shown by Muhammad, and it was designed to revive the ways of the Prophet. While starting as a religious reform movement, it directed its energies towards organizing peasants against oppressive zamindars, money-lenders, and indigo planters. It also had an objective of driving the British out of the country, aiming to convert the ‘unholy land’ (dar-ul-harb) under British rule into the ‘land of Islam’ (dar-ul-Islam).

34. Why did the Indigo Revolt occur?

Answer: The Indigo Revolt occurred because European indigo planters oppressed the cultivators of Bengal. Indigo cultivation was not profitable for the peasants (indigo cultivators) as they did not get wages equal to their labour, yet the powerful European planters forced them to grow indigo, reducing them to a state of slavery. Planters even converted the best food-growing areas into indigo cultivation, leading to a decline in food production, and evicted peasants from villages by burning their huts to extend plantation areas. Oppression reached its climax with abduction of peasant women becoming a regular feature. It was against this background that the indigo cultivators broke out in rebellion in 1859.

35. Explain briefly the role of missionaries during the Indigo Revolt.

Answer: The missionaries stationed in rural Bengal were aware of the inhuman atrocities committed by the indigo planters on the peasantry. Of all the British missionaries, James Long was the one who championed the cause of the indigo cultivators. He played an important role in the appointment of the Indigo Commission by the then British government.

36. Describe briefly the character of the Ferazi Movement.

Answer: The Ferazi movement was essentially an agrarian movement. It started as a religious reform movement under the leadership of Haji Shariatullah and later, under his son Dudumiyan, assumed the character of a peasant revolt. The movement was strengthened by the participation of the peasant masses who were called upon to rise against oppressive Zamindars, indigo planters, and money-lenders. However, it is not possible to identify the nature of the movement as anti-British, and its leaders had little political vision. The Ferazis were religious fanatics, which alienated them from Hindus and even other Muslims and Wahabis.

37. Discuss the impact of the colonial Forest Acts on tribal communities.

38. Outline the main characteristics of tribal rebellions during the British colonial period.

Answer: The tribal communities of India as distinguished from the peasantry were also basically peasants. They earned their livelihood through shifting cultivation (jhum) or working as agricultural labourers. Under the impact of the British colonial rule there had been increasing encroachment on tribal areas by outsiders, like the moneylenders, contractors and traders. This caused tension in the tribal society that found expression in a number of rebellions.

The characteristic features of the rebellions were varied. For instance, the Kol tribesmen did not fight alone against the British; other tribesmen like the Hos, Oraons and Mundas joined hands with them. The Kols did not hesitate to fight with traditional weapons against the British army who fought with modern instruments of warfare.

The Santal rebellion was the first organized resistance of the kind against the feudal oppression. Fighting with traditional weapons the Santals defeated the British soldiers at every place from Bhagalpur to Rajmahal in Dumka district. The Santal rebellion took the shape of a full-fledged guerilla war spearheaded by their leaders. Another important feature of the Santal Hool was the support that the rebellious Santals had received from the so-called lower classes of people, particularly, the doms, chamars, telis and such others. The Santal Hool of 1855-56 definitely had an anti-British character because the rebels wanted to bring an end to the ‘sinful’ rule that obviously meant the British rule. Through the rebellion the Santals wanted to take possession of their habitat. Also the rebels wanted to set up a government of their own. Thus the ultimate goal or objective was to bring an end to the colonial British rule.

The Mundas very much resented the breakdown of their agrarian system under the British rule. They found their traditional joint ownership of land was being threatened. The tribal peasants were forced to offer free-labour to the zamindars in addition to the revenue paid by them. The medieval system of forced labour was known as beth-begari among the tribals. The Mundari society could not remain immune from the new system introduced by the British. For example, the panchayat system of the Mundas decayed. They found that even minor social disputes were referred to the police or judicial court for settlement. The arkatias, the middlemen or contractors in collusion with the local British officials played a havoc with the morals of the tribal people. The Mundari movement’s objective was clearly defined to be the establishment of the Mundaraj (rule of the Mundas). Another characteristic feature of the Mundari movement lies in the fact that the ideal of an independent Mundaraj set forth by Birsa definitely had in it an anti-British element.

39. Explain the concepts of “uprising”, “rebellion”, and “revolution”.

Answer: An ‘uprising’ may be described as a protest organized locally against authority or certain governmental policy. There is hardly any difference between ‘rebellion’ and ‘uprising’. A rebellion may also be a violent uprising of the masses for any goal including change to a system of government. Revolution, on the other hand, brings about fundamental change. The protest of the tribals against the Forest Laws cannot be termed as ‘revolution’ because of the simple fact that it did not aim at bringing about any fundamental change in the governance of forest.

40. What were the main reasons behind the Chuar rebellion of 1798-1799?

Answer: The Chuars were subjected to oppressions by the British rulers and their agents like the moneylenders, contractors and such others. Ultimately, the Chuars burst out in rebellion in 1798-1799. The Chuars aligned themselves with Durjan Singh, a zaminder, who was dispossessed of his zamindari estate as he had failed to comply with the Sun-set Law in terms of the Permanent Settlement (1793) introduced by Lord Cornwallis. Levy of land-revenue at a high rate was another cause that led the Chuars in liaison with the local zaminders to raise the banner of rebellion. The most important cause of the rebellion, however, was the resumption of the rent-free paikan land by the British government. The Chuars who acted as the private army of the local zaminders used to enjoy rent-free paikan. As the government converted the paikan into rent-paying land the Chuars burst out in open rebellion through 1798-1799.

41. Provide a brief account of the Bheel revolt highlighting its characteristics.

Answer: The Bheels were a section of the backward and warlike community of central India, scattered in the Western Ghat hilly region of Maharashtra and Gujarat. They had a monopoly of power at Khandesh and resorted to plunder and loot of rich landholders in their vicinity, which seriously affected law and order. In 1818, the British government occupied Khandesh to end the anarchical condition. From that time onwards, the Bheels under different leaders, such as Chil Naik of Satmals, Hiria, Dusrust and others, burst out in rebellion. The intensity of the Bheel insurgency was considerably reduced following a conciliatory policy of the British. However, in 1831, the Bheels of the State of Dhar burst out in open rebellion again, caused by exactions and encroachments of the government.

42. Discuss the main events and significance of the Kol rebellion.

Answer: In 1831, the Kol tribesmen of Chotonagpur, long exploited by agents of the colonial rulers, burst out in rebellion under the leadership of Buddhu Bhagat, Joa Bhagat, Madara Mahato and others. The Kols grew restive over the increasing encroachment on tribal territories by non-tribals like Muslims and Sikhs, who resorted to forced labour, fines, and often took away their cattle. The Kol insurrection started in 1831 when the farm of two Sikh thikadars (contractors) was plundered and burnt. In 1832, there were clashes between the armed forces and the tribal Kols rebels. Professor Sunil Sen mentions that Bhundu Bhagat and his followers fought with primitive weapons until they perished.
The characteristic feature, signifying its importance, was that the Kol tribesmen did not fight alone against the British. Other tribesmen like the Hos, Oraons and Mundas joined hands with them. The Kols did not hesitate to fight with traditional weapons against the British army who fought with modern instruments of warfare.

43. Highlight the characteristics and outcomes of the Santal rebellion.

Answer: The characteristic features of the Santal rebellion (Hool) of 1855-56 were varied. Some believe it was the first armed insurrection in India against the British. Records show the Santals, fighting with traditional weapons, defeated British soldiers initially between Bhagalpur and Rajmahal. The rebellion took the shape of a full-fledged guerilla war spearheaded by their leaders like Kanu and Sidhu. It spread like wildfire in the Chotonagpur region before being contained after a month-long battle. Another important feature was the support received from lower classes like doms, chamars, and telis. The rebellion definitely had an anti-British character, as the rebels aimed to end the ‘sinful’ British rule and set up their own government.

The outcomes or results of the Santal rebellion include it being the first organized resistance of its kind against feudal oppression. It brought the sufferings of the innocent tribal people to the surface, making British administrators conscious of the problem and leading them to try and reduce the suffering. Despite its failure, the Santals drew inspiration from it for subsequent resistance. Notably, the Santal rebellion of 1861 over a rent hike was successful. The rebellion forced the British administrators to reorganize the districts, creating a separate district of Santal Parganas.

44. Discuss the socio-economic conditions that led to the Munda rebellion.

Answer: Under the British rule, the so-called ‘neighbours’—English officers and their agents like zamindars, traders, money-lenders—completely shattered the traditional socio-economic foundation of the Munda tribal community in Chotonagpur. The new system introduced by the foreign rulers brought untold financial distress instead of improving their lot. The Mundas resented the breakdown of their agrarian system, finding their traditional joint ownership of land threatened. Tribal peasants were forced to offer free-labour (beth-begari) to zamindars in addition to revenue. The Mundari society’s panchayat system decayed, with even minor social disputes referred to the police or judicial courts. Furthermore, the arkatias (middlemen or contractors), in collusion with local British officials, played havoc with tribal morals, often purchasing girls from weekly village huts (markets) for employment in plantations, mines, and factories. These conditions led to the Munda movement.

45. Explain why the Sannyasi and Fakir rebellion ultimately failed.

Answer: The Sannyasi and Fakir rebellion failed because there were changes in the objective factors. Internal feud between the Sannyasis and Fakirs was another cause of the failure. Repressive measures adopted by the British against the rebels were also responsible for the failure.

46. What were the main features and outcomes of the Pagal-Panthi revolt?

Answer: The Pagal-Panthi revolt (1825-1827) involved a religious sect founded by Karam Shah, which became popular with the Garo hill tribe in the region below the Garo hills. After Karam Shah’s death, his son Tipu became the leader, stressing truthfulness and equality. The main feature of the revolt was that the Garos of the Pagal-Panthi sect burst out in rebellion against the oppressions of the zamindar of Sherpur (in present Bangladesh), specifically against unbearable taxes levied by the zamindar. The Pagal-Panthi Garos decided to undo the tax-hike by armed rebellion.

The outcome was that the insurrection yielded results. Under instruction from the British government, the increased amount of revenue was withdrawn, and a settlement was made.

47. Describe the circumstances that led to the emergence of the Wahabi movement.

Answer: The Wahabi movement, founded by Muhammad Abdul Wahab of Nejd in Arabia, was an orthodox Islamic religious movement aimed at purging Islam of impurities. In India, its real name was Tariqah-i-Muhammadiya, founded by Syed Ahmed Barelvi, designed to revive the ways of the Prophet and drive the British out of the country. Under the British, India was considered ‘dar-ul-harb’ (unholy land), and Barelvi aimed to convert it into ‘dar-ul-Islam’ (land of Islam).

The movement was carried to Bengal by Mir Nisar Ali, popularly known as Titumir. From the beginning, Titumir directed his energies towards organizing the peasants against oppressive zamindars, money-lenders, and indigo planters. He gained much influence among peasants in North 24-Parganas and Nadia districts. The first armed resistance occurred when Titumir and his followers opposed the zamindar of Pura, who had imposed a punitive tax on the Wahabis. This action sparked an armed rebellion. The situation worsened when the zamindar of Pura set fire to a mosque, and local police colluded with officials to falsely involve Titumir.

The Wahabis resorted to armed rebellion against their oppressors because they failed to get redress either from the administration or the courts, as the government machinery and law courts consistently sided with the zamindars and the village rich. The movement was directed against oppressors like zamindars, indigo planters, and money-lenders. Before initiating a holy war against the British, the Wahabis faced the Sikh power in north-west India, as their military preparations were seen as an attempt to oust the Sikhs from Punjab. Syed Ahmed Barelvi died fighting the Sikhs in the Battle of Balakot in 1831. Nevertheless, his followers continued their fight vigorously against the British and other oppressors.

48. Outline the key reasons behind the Indigo revolt.

Answer: The key reasons behind the Indigo revolt were rooted in the oppressive system of indigo cultivation introduced by Europeans in the eighteenth century. Europeans sought huge profits from exporting indigo, and Bengal was a very suitable region for its cultivation. However, this cultivation was not profitable for the peasants (indigo cultivators), as they did not receive wages equal to their labour.

Powerful European indigo planters forced the peasants to grow indigo, effectively reducing them to a state of slavery. Planters converted the best food-growing land into indigo cultivation, leading to a decline in food production. To expand the plantation area, armed gang men employed by the planters cleared villages by burning peasants’ huts and evicting them. The oppression reached its peak with regular incidents of abduction of peasant women. It was this background of extreme exploitation and hardship that led the indigo cultivators to break out in rebellion in 1859.

49. Highlight the importance of “Neel Darpan” in context of the Indigo revolt.

Answer: The drama “Neel Darpan,” written by Dinabandhu Mitra, a government employee, holds significant importance in the context of the Indigo revolt. Having stayed in Jessore, Dinabandhu had first-hand knowledge of how indigo planters treated the peasantry. His highly popular play vividly described the oppressions and injustice inflicted upon the indigo cultivators.

“Neel Darpan” exposed the grim picture of inhuman villainy and torture perpetrated by the indigo planters, most of whom were Europeans. Largely due to the efforts of Dinabandhu’s “Neel Darpan,” the Bengalee middle class, for the first time, came out in open support of the indigo rebels. While the main theme was the plight of the indigo cultivators, the play also highlighted the oppressive machinery of the colonial rulers that suppressed the resistance of the natives at local levels.

50. Explain the causes and the consequences of the Ferazi rebellion.

Answer: Causes: The Ferazi movement began as a religious reform movement under Haji Shariatulla of Faridpur in 1820. Later, under his son Dudumiyan, starting around 1840, it transformed into a peasant revolt. Dudumiyan issued a fervent call to the peasants of the Ferazi community to rise against the oppressive Zamindars, indigo planters, and money-lenders. He declared that Allah was the real owner of the land, and therefore, the zamindars had no right to levy tax on the ryots (cultivators, tenants, or peasants). The zamindars of Eastern Bengal, apprehensive of the Ferazis’ designs under Dudumiyan’s leadership, made common cause and increased their oppression on peasants with Ferazi leanings. This deterioration of the situation led to armed clashes between the zamindars and the Ferazis between 1840 and 1847. The Ferazi rebels did not spare the indigo factories either, raising the banner of protest against their oppressors.

Consequences: The Ferazi movement was ultimately unsuccessful. Its leaders had little political vision. The Ferazis were religious fanatics, which completely alienated them from the Hindus. Furthermore, Muhammedans of the old Islamic faith also opposed the Ferazis. Sometimes, Muslim ryots even gave witness in court against the Ferazis, indirectly favouring the indigo planters. Even the Wahabis disliked the Ferazis due to their fanaticism. Consequently, the Ferazi movement came to an end without achieving anything substantial.

However, Dudumiyan is remembered for his fervent call to the peasants against oppressors and his declaration that zamindars had no right to levy tax on peasants as Allah was the real owner of the land.

51. Discuss the significance of Titumir’s rebellion and the construction of Banser Kella.

Answer: Titumir’s rebellion holds significance as it represented one of the early organized peasant resistances against oppression under British rule in Bengal. Titumir, a believer in the Wahabi ideal, directed his energies towards organizing peasants against oppressive zamindars, money-lenders, and indigo planters, gaining considerable influence in the districts of North 24-Parganas and Nadia.

The rebellion’s significance is marked by the first armed resistance offered by Titumir and his followers against the zamindar of Pura, who had imposed a punitive tax on the Wahabis. This act sparked an armed rebellion. As Titumir’s rebellion grew and assumed an anti-government character, the British authorities became concerned, particularly fearing defiance of the land reforms they had introduced (in 1793), and deployed the military to suppress the rebels.

In response, Titumir, along with his six hundred followers, constructed the famous Banser Kella (Bamboo fortress) at Narkelberia. This fortress, built hurriedly with bamboos and mud, became the centre of resistance against the British troops. The standard of revolt raised by Titumir and the resistance offered from the Banser Kella is famously known in history as the ‘Barasat uprising’ or ‘Barasat Revolt’ of 1831. Though Titumir was eventually defeated and killed, and the Banser Kella seized in November 1831, the rebellion and the fortress remain potent symbols of peasant defiance against oppressive landlords and the colonial state.

Ron'e Dutta

Ron'e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger who manages Online Free Notes. An avid reader of Victorian literature, his favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. He dreams of travelling the world. You can connect with him on social media. He does personal writing on ronism.

Get notes of other classes and subjects

NBSE	SEBA/AHSEC
NCERT	TBSE
WBBSE/WHCHSE	ICSE/ISC
BSEM/COHSEM	Custom Notes for Teachers
MBOSE	Question Papers

Notify change in syllabus/books	Sell PDFs of your books
Request notes not available now	Share PDFs of question papers