Tribal Rebellion in Bihar

Many challenges were organized against the British authority in the tribal areas of Bihar as well. Some during the expansion of British power and some after its establishment. The expansion of British power into the plateau region (tribal region) of South Bihar, now in Jharkhand, began after 1765. As a result, a feeling of opposition arose among the local tribes. They started seeing the possibility of destruction of their culture and economic condition. There was antagonism among them against the new arrivals, who were called Diku. The tribes displayed their bravery, sacrifice and patriotism through several rebellions one after the ather and kept shaking the foundation of the British Empire from time to time.

Major Tribal Rebellions

• Nonia Rebellion (1770-1800 AD): Nonia Rebellion took place in Hajipur, Tirhut, Saran and Purnea, the main saltpeter/soda producing centers of Bihar.
• Tamar Rebellion (1789-94 AD): A rebellion started by the Oraon tribe of Chhotanagpur against the exploitation of landlords and moneylenders which continued till 1794 AD. Ultimately this rebellion was crushed by the British.
• Chero Rebellion (1800-1802 AD): This rebellion was led by the people of Palamu princely state under the leadership of Palamu ruler Bhushan Singh, The British caught Bhushan Singh in 1802 AD and sentenced him to death.
• Kol Rebellion (1831-32 AD): This rebellion in Chhotanagpur region was an important rebellion in Indian history. In fact, it was a revolt of the Mundas in which the people of ‘Ho’, Oraon and other tribes were also involved. The main reason for this rebellion was land related dissatisfaction. The main leaders of this rebellion were Buddha Bhagat, Vindraya, Sigraya and Surga Munda,
• Bhumij Rebellion (1832-33 AD): This rebellion was led by Ganga Narayan Singh, the Zamindar of Birbhum. The reason for this rebellion was the exploitative revenue system of the British government. Its effect was in both the areas of Birbhum and Sihbhum.
• Santhal Rebellion (1855-56 AD): This rebellion of Santhal tribals started on June 30, 1855 from Bhagnidih of Rajmahal in Bhagalpur district. The area of influence of the Santhal rebellion was from Bardhaman in West Bengal to Bhagalpur in Bihar. The leaders of this rebellion were Siddho, Kanhu, Chand and Bhairav. All four of them were brothers. This rebellion. was suppressed by Captain Alexander and Lieutenant Thomson.

• • The Santhal rebellion was a rebellion against the landlords and moneylenders, Numerically, the Santhals were the largest Scheduled Tribe of Bihar. The influence of the Santhal rebellion extended from Bhagalpur to the hill of Rajmahal, which is known as Daman-e-Koh (King of the Hills).

• Lota Rebellion (1856 AD): This rebellion was organized for Lota by the prisoners of Muzaffarpur Jail a year before the revolution of 1857. Here every prisoner was given a brass pot, but the government decided that clay pots would be given instead of brass. After this the prisoners revolted in what known as the Lota Rebellion,
• Munda Rebellion (1899-1901 AD): Birsa Munda was the main proponent of this movement. This movement lasted in two phases from 1858-1895 and 1895-1901. The earlier rebellion of Birsa Munda is also known as ‘Sardari Battle’.

• • The main aim of the Munda rebellion was to bring change and revival in the economic, political and religious situation. This movement started as a reformist effort.
  • Birsa preached purity of moral conduct, self-improvement and monotheism, Against this movement, the government launched a repression cycle and on 3 March, 1900, Birsa was arrested in Chakradharpur and sentenced to two years, but on June 9, 1900, he died due to cholera in Ranchi Jail, where the life-size statue of Birsa Munda has now been installed.
  • The followers of Birsa Munda considered him as an incarnation of Dharti Aaba.
  • At present Birsa Munda is worshiped like a god in the tribal areas of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal.
  • Birsa Munda was born on 15 November, 1875 in Ulihatu village.
  • After the end of the Birsa movement, the Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act was brought in 1908 AD.
  • After the movement, the tribal’s Khutkatti system was re-implemented.

• Tana Bhagat Movement (1914 AD): This movement was started on April 21, 1914 AD from Chingri Navatoli of Vishanpur block of Gumla district. It was a movement started by the Oraon tribes.

• • This movement in its initial phase came to be known as Kurukh Dharam (original religion of the Oraons).
  • The main leader of this movement was Jatra Bhagat. He emphasized on the work of religious reform among Oraons and insisted on the worship of only Dharmesh (the deity of the Oraons). Along with this, he also emphasized on giving up of animal sacrifice, meat-alcohol and bad things.
  • Under the leadership of Jatra Bhagat, it was announced that they will not pay revenue, will not do forced labor and will not pay taxes. He campaigned for non-payment of wages to Dikus (outsiders), due to which he was imprisoned in 1916.
  • Jatra Bhagat is often considered a form of Birsa Munda among the tribals.

• Safahod Movement: This movement was started in 1870 AD, father of this movement was Baba Lal Hembram. Begar or illegal cess demanded by the landlords from the farmers was known as Vethi.