We have often heard of resistance against the invaders and, later, against the British, where this resistance usually took place in the political spotlight. However, another form of resistance emerged on the Jharkhand plateau, where even after British rule, the tribal population continued to struggle for their very existence.

While the state pushed for development, the change came at the cost of tribal welfare, forcing these communities to suffer. Here we explore the tribal resistance of the 18th century, when the British began to exploit the region after the battles of Plassey and Buxar.

The British East India Company declared tribal lands its property, prohibiting the felling of trees or use of resources without permission.

When British colonizers set foot in India, they eyed the country’s rich resources, including coal and minerals from Jharkhand. But the tribes who had lived off the land for generations were not going to let this happen without a fight.

The Santhal Rebellion (1855) and the Ulgulan of Birsa Munda (1899-1900) were major clashes, as tribes like the Munda, Santhal, Oraon, Ho and Birhor fought back against the British, whose policies drove them from their lands.

Armed with traditional weapons and united in their resistance, these tribes became a force to be reckoned with, forcing the British to take note.

A TRIBAL RESISTANCE THAT LASTED 150 YEARS

The first recorded tribal revolt, known as the Dhal Revolt, was led by the deposed king of Dhalbhum, Jagannath Dhal. The revolt was aimed at stopping the advance of the British East India Company in the Singhbhum and Manbhum regions.

The revolt which lasted from 1767 to 1777 finally forced the British to reinstate the deposed king as ruler of the country.

The Ramgarh Revolt that took place in recent years also marked resistance against British oppression, particularly against new laws and high income requirements.

The Paharia tribe, hailing from the Rajmahal, Godda and Pakur regions, also made history with one of the first tribal revolts against British rule.

Their resistance began in 1766 under the leadership of Ramna Aahdi and continued in 1781-82, with Queen Sarveshwari, wife of King Maheshpur, joining the fight.

She was supported by Paharia chiefs determined to defend their homeland.

In response, the British changed the demographics of the region, settling large numbers of Santhals between 1790 and 1810 and reducing the Paharias to a minority. In 1827, the British claimed the lands of Paharia as Damin-e-Koh, designating them as government property to quell ongoing resistance.

The first large-scale organized tribal revolt in Jharkhand emerged as a fierce response to the oppressive policies imposed by zamindars, contractors, moneylenders, non-tribal merchants and royal agents.

The Munda, Ho, Oraon, Kharwar and Chero tribes united in resistance. Together, they mobilized against the injustices that were ravaging their communities. The British, determined to collect arbitrary taxes from these agrarian populations dependent on hunting, had sanctioned exploitative practices.

The revolt pushed the British to rethink their governance, thereby changing the political landscape of Jharkhand.

BIRSA MUNDA AND THE TRIBAL UPRISING

In the years that followed, the tribal people kept up the fire against the British and the last decade of the 19th century witnessed revolts that still resonate not only in the history books but also among the people.

The Birsa Munda movement is considered the most important, giving tribal people a place in the political landscape. It was after this movement that the rights of the Scheduled Tribes were recognized and began to gain importance.

This movement was considered the most organized and widespread in Jharkhand, with Birsa Munda being recognized as a divine figure.

A young leader, Birsa Munda, stood up to uplift the Munda tribe and urged people to remain inclusive and stay connected to the ancestral roots that Christian missionaries tried to destroy, captivating people with his inspiring speeches and ability to question the current system.

He held meetings, encouraged people to avoid evil, emphasized self-reliance, and helped them recognize the strength of their organization.

In a short time, Birsa Munda gathered around six thousand Munda in groups, marking the largest tribal gathering so far.

Birsa Munda decided to attack the British to get back the lands of those allied with the British or converted to Christianity.

The British responded with a brutal crackdown, capturing Birsa and his associate, Gaya Munda. Birsa died in prison due to illness and improper care.

The Tana Bhagat movement appeared around the same time as the Birsa movement, starting in 1914 among the Oraon tribe, particularly among those who practiced the Kudukh religion.

Rejecting prevailing superstitions, Jatra Bhagat urged his people to adopt a path of purity, or sattvikta, in their conduct, pushing for social reforms that responded to the community’s agrarian struggles.

The Tana Bhagats aligned themselves with the broader struggle for Indian independence, collaborating with revolutionary Congress workers and participating in the Satyagraha, non-cooperation and civil disobedience movements.

Their approach was non-violent, in keeping with the spirit of the Indian freedom movement, but they took forceful action, attacking liquor stores, dismantling roads, cutting telegraph lines and, at times, clashing with police stations. police.