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Context

• The Indian freedom movement was a people’s movement that gained strength as it progressed.
• This transcended regional and class differences and became an expression of the collective resolve of the people of the entire country well before 1857.
• The tribal people had revolted against the British in India time and again predominantly in Central India.

Freedom Movement in Chhattisgarh

• The East India Company began efforts to annex Chhattisgarh after the Battle of Plassey in 1757.
• The central part of Chhattisgarh was under the control of the Maratha rulers of Nagpur and the various Princely States.
• The British got their first success in 1800 when the Raja of Raigad signed a treaty with the Company and made Raigad a part of the Government.
• They annexed the Maratha empire after its defeat in the war at Nagpur in 1818 and began to rule the central region of Chhattisgarh.
• However, in Bastar, the south of Chhattisgarh and Surguja in the north, several tribal rebellions arose to save tribal people from the slavery of the Company’s Government.

Various tribal movements in Central India

• Halba Rebellion (1774_1779): This was the first rebellion against the British in India, and King Ajmer Singh of Bastar was the first martyr.
• Kol Rebellion, 1831: The Kols are indigenous people from the Chota Nagpur area, which was part of the Bengal presidency during British control in India. These tribes include the Kols, Bhils, Hoes, Mundas, and Oraons.
• Tarapur Rebellion 1842: Ruler of Tarapur Bhupaldev refused to raise the annual tax in his area. It was considered an act of rebellion by the British, and an army was sent from Nagpur to suppress it.
• Dantewada revolt 1842: By the tribals against the order of the British regarding the custom of human sacrifice. The tribal people fought fiercely against the British. After a struggle, the custom of human sacrifice was stopped and a permanent military system was established in Dantewada.
• First Revolt of 1857 in Sonakan: By Narayan Singh, the tribal landlord of Sonakan of Raipur. He formed an army of tribal youth. After fierce fighting, Narayan Singh was arrested and publicly hanged at Raipur on 10 December 1857. He was declared the first martyr of 1857 in Chhattisgarh by conferring the title of ‘Veer’ in independent India.
• Muria Raj, 1910: The Muria tribesmen of Bastar defeated the British state and took up an armed revolution to establish the ‘Muria Raj’ in 1910.
• Tana Bhagat Movement/Oraon Movement (1914-1919): It was against the policies of the local British authorities and exploitative business practices of local zamindars, mostly by Oraon people.

Conclusion

• The history of India’s freedom movement is incomplete without recognizing the tribal consciousness.
• The new system for collection of rent, steps taken to change the traditional social, religious and political system, new rules implemented for forest management, and restrictions imposed on the production of liquor, all affected the unique tribal culture associated with their rights to water, forest and land.
• By resorting to these measures, the British also bruised the independent tribal consciousness.
• The tribals resorted to these revolts to protect their culture and autonomy.

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