Peasant Movements - The Uprising of Peasants in 18th & 19th Century

• Indigo was recognized as a chief cash crop for the East India Company’s investments.
• It is also known as ‘Nil Bidroho’
• All categories of the rural population, missionaries, the Bengal intelligentsia and Muslims.
• This indigo revolt gave birth to a political movement and stimulated national sentiment against the British rulers among Indian masses.

Read more about Indigo Rebellion in the linked article.

• Rangpur uprising took place in Bengal
• It is called the first tough peasant rebellion against the rule of the East India Company.
• It evidently uncovered the evils like Ijaradari scheme related to the system of colonial exploitation.
• It paved the way for formulating a land settlement that would be permanent in nature
• The rebellion spread over a significant area, including Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Palamau and Manbhum.
• After two years of strong confrontation, they lost to modern weapons of the British.

Read more about Rangpur Dhing in the linked article.

• The Kols and other tribes enjoyed independence underneath their chiefs but the British entry threatened their independence.
• The handover of tribal lands and the encroachment of moneylenders, merchants and British laws generated a lot of pressure.
• The Kol tribal planned an insurgency in 1831-32 which was engaged primarily against Government officers and private money-lenders.

• Mappila uprising was sequences of rebellions by the Mappila Muslims of Malabar region of Kerala.
• The main causes were, increase in land tax, the security of tenure and exploitation of the poor peasantry by the landlords.
• The revolt goes fell into the trap of Hindu-Muslim riot.
• During this period there was Khilafat movement was raised for the fulfilment of freedom for Muslims.
• The 1921 uprising was a manifestation of long-lasting agrarian dissatisfaction, which was only strengthened by the religious and ethnic uniqueness and by their political alienation.

Read about Moplah Rebellion in the linked article.

• It was a native rebellion in present-day Jharkhand against both the British colonial authority and zamindari system by the Santhal people
• It was planned by four Murmu brothers -Sidhu, Kahnu, Chand and Bhairav
• The rebellion was suppressed thoroughly and largely shadowed by that of the other rebellions.

Read more about Santhal Uprising in the linked article.

• Along with the Permanent Settlement, the British extended their presence beyond Bengal.
• Ryotwari Settlement was the revenue system that was introduced in the Bombay Deccan region
• The revolt started in Poona and henceforth it spread to Ahmednagar.
• This uprising also involved a social boycott of the moneylender.

Read about Deccan Riots in the linked article.

• Birsa Munda-led this movement in the region south of Ranchi
• The Mundas conventionally enjoyed a special rent rate as the original clearer (Khuntkatti) of the forest. But this was eroded by the jagirdars and thikadars arrived as traders and moneylenders.
• As a result of this rebellion, the government enacted the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act 1908, recognized Khuntkatti rights, banned Beth Begari (forced labour)

• Led by Titu Mir/ Mir Nithar Ali
• In West Bengal
• against landlords, mainly Hindu, who imposed a beard-tax on the Faraizis, and British indigo planters
• merged into the Wahabi movement

• Led by Karam Shah
• To fight the oppression of the zamindars.

• Led by Shariat-Allah and his son Dadu Mian
• to expel the English intruders from Bengal