Discuss the major civil/peasant and tribal uprising before 1857
The revolt of 1857 was not a sudden occurrence but rather the result of a series of recurrent local rebellions that had occurred in the preceding hundred years of British rule. The people’s resistance against British rule, encompasses the revolt by several sections of the Indian society from peasants to ruling classes.
Major Civil and Peasant Uprisings
Sanyasi Rebellions (1770-1820s): The Harsh Economic order and Disastrous famine of 1770 inspired the group of Sanyasis in Eastern India to fight the British.
Poligar Rebellions (1799-1805): The East India Company was given management and control of the Carnatic provinces by the Nawab of Arcot in 1781, which angered the Poligars and revolted against the British tax laws.
Moplah Uprising (1836): Widespread peasant discontent among the Moplahs of Malabar was brought on by a rise in revenue demand, a decrease in field size, and the tyranny of officials. Major Tribal Uprisings:
Bhil Uprisings (1818-31): Bhils revolted against Company rule in 1817-19, as they had to face famine, economic distress and misgovernment.
Ho and Munda Uprisings (1820-1837): This organised rebellion was against the newly introduced farming revenue policy.
Santhal Uprising (1855-56): The continued oppression of the Santhals, an agricultural people, who had fled to settle in the plains of the Rajmahal hills (Bihar) led to the Santhal rebellion against the zamindars.
Thus, all of these regional uprisings, motivated by regional grievances, gave way to a significant “National impulse” in 1857, known as the “First War of Independence”.