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Kol uprising

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Kol Uprising
Date1831 — 1832
LocationChota Nagpur, British India
Participants

TheKol uprising,Kol rebellion,also known in British records as theKol mutinywas a revolt of the tribalKol peopleof Chhota Nagpur that took place between 1831 and 1832.[1]It was due to economic exploitation brought on by the systems of land tenure and administration that had been introduced by theEast India Company.Tribal people of Chotanagpur includingMundas,Oraons,HosandBhumijswere called Kols.[2]They initially plundered and killed Sikh and Muslims thikedars (contractors) who collected taxes by different means. Later they also started to plunder and kill Hindus of nearby villages and burn their houses.[3]The insurgency was suppressed by killing of the leaders, their followers and arrest of many leaders by Thomas Wilkinson.[4][5]

Background

In 18th century,Nagvanshiking Maninath Shah (1748-1762) consolidated his authority over the estates of Bundu,Silli,Barwe, Rahe,Tamarand the chief of these estates were compelled to acknowledge the Nagvanshi ruler as their Chief.[6]These chief were known as Mankis of these area. During 19th century, some Mankis revolted after being disposed by Nagvanshi and appointment of Thikedars to collect taxes due to fulfill debt of Nagvanshi. These Mankis and their followers attacked the other Mankis of area, looted and burnt down houses of thikedars as well as plundered and destroyed villages of Hindus.[4]

The uprising was a reaction to the appointment of a Political Agent to the Government in South Bihar and recently ceded districts nearby around 1819. This resulted in many people moving into these areas which were the lands of numerous aboriginal tribes. These tribes ruled by Munda-Manki system. With the application of new land laws, theKolswere exploited by outsiders moving into the area and commercial activities. Another irritation was the taxation on the movement of products such as salt that were formerly freely moved. Corrupt official practices and lawlessness followed. When some Mankis disposed, Mankis and their followers plundered and burnt the houses of the newly settled people as well as nearby villages of Hindus in revenge.[4][7][8][9][10]

Insurgency

Harinath Shahi, the brother of Nagvanshi kingJagannath Shah Deogranted lands to some Sikh horse traders and Muslim cloth merchant to collect taxes Sonpur Pargana due to debts.[5]The twelve villages belongs to Singrai Manki and Mohan Manki. Then the Manki disposed and their two sisters seduced by Sikhs and kept as concubine. The twelve villages of Byjunath Manki were given to Hussain Khan and he send the Manki to Police of Govindpur and send to jail inSherghati.The thikedars were collecting taxes by different means such as Abwabs, Salami etc. Then Munda of the region convened a meeting and started looting, burning houses, killings of Sikhs and Muslims. The houses of Saifullah Khan, Muhammad Ali Naik, Zafar Ali Khan Pathan were looted and killed. Then they also started to plundering houses and killings of Hindus of nearby villages.[5]ThenOraonandHoalso joined in the insurgency in at attempt to destroy Sad (Sadan) or Hindus and Diku or foreigners. According to colonelEdward Tuite Dalton,In every Paragana the villages in which Sads (Sadan/Hindus) resided were destroyed and all Dikus (foreigners) who fell into the hands of the insurgents were murdered. The Zamindars of Rahe,Bundu,Tamar,and Barwa, though neither Sads nor Dikus, narrowly escaped with their lives, when those places were all sacked and destroyed.[4]

Then it spread to other area ofRanchi district.They indulged in plunder and killings. They attacked non-tribal of the region, theSadan people.The situation continue for several months.[11] They also destroyed Mahamaya temple which was built byNagvanshikingGajghat Raiand killed the wife and children of the caretaker of temple Barju Ram. He has described the incident in a Nagpuri poem.[12]

British historiography described the Kol uprising asbanditry.In 1831, the Kol tribesmen ofChhota Nagpur,who were upset over exploitation by agents of theEast India Company(EIC), rose in revolt against the EIC. The Kols rebels under the leadership ofBudhu Bhagat,Joa Bhagat, Jhindrai Manki and others. The Kols grew restive over the increasing encroachment on tribal territories by the non-tribals likeHindus,MuslimsandSikhs.The new non-tribal landlords resorted to forced labour, fines, and often confiscated their cattle. The Kol insurrection started in 1831 when the farm of two Sikhthikadar(contractors) was plundered and burnt. In 1832, there were clashes between the armed forces and the tribals Kols rebels.KharwarandCheroalso joined in the uprisings.[2]Professor Sunil Sen mentions that in a memorable guerilla campaignBudhu Bhagatand his followers fought with primitive weapons such asbows and arrows.[13]According to British,Kols peoplerestored in indiscriminately attacking Hindus, Muslim and other foreigner people, plundered and burnt their houses.[3]

Thomas Wilkinson suppressed the activity.[11]He killed many leaders of insurgency and their followers. On 14 February 1832, he killed Bhagat Singh, a munda leader, his seven sons and his 150 followers in village of Sillagaon. Captain Wilkinson encamped inTamar.He summoned the chief of Bundu, Tamar who were Munda as well as king of Chotanagpur and dicided to kept away Lakra Kol (Hos) from the region. TheRautiaof the Sundari, Khunti, Torpa and other places conferred title of Baraik to Thomas Wilkinson. Then Wilkinson went toPorahatand made some Hos friend and succeeded in capturing the leader of the kol insurgency Dasai Manki in 1836. Katey and Binji Rai captured when they were enjoying dinner party, then they were taken to Kolkata in chain.[4]

Aftermath

After the insurgency, British created division ofSouth-West Frontierwith its headquarter atLohardagawhich was later shifted to Kishunpur nowRanchiand established police station in different areas.[4]According to British report, the insurgency was result of disposition of some Mankis and their mistreatment at the hands of thikedars as well as the different rents imposition by Company on masses of whom majority were poor with half savage mentality.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^Kumar, Anil (2001)."An Unknown Chapter of Kol-Insurrection".Proceedings of the Indian History Congress.62:621–626.ISSN2249-1937.JSTOR44155808.
  2. ^abShri Jagdish Chandra Jha (1958)."The KOL RISINGS OF CHOTANAGPUR (1831-1833)-ITS CAUSES".Proceedings of the Indian History Congress.21.JSTOR: 440–446.JSTOR44145239.Retrieved26 September2022.
  3. ^abAnil Kumar (2001)."An Unknown Chapter of Kol-Insurrection".Proceedings of the Indian History Congress.62.JSTOR: 621–626.JSTOR44155808.Retrieved26 September2022.
  4. ^abcdefgSarat Chandra Roy."Munda and their country".Retrieved22 October2022.
  5. ^abcAnsari, Tahir Hussain (20 June 2019).Mughal Administration and the Zamindars of Bihar.Routledge.ISBN9781000651522.
  6. ^Ansari, Tahir Hussain (20 June 2019).Mughal Administration and the Zamindars of Bihar.Routledge.ISBN9781000651522.
  7. ^Jha, Jagdish Chandra (1958). "The Kol rising of Chotanagpur (1831-33)-its causes".Proceedings of the Indian History Congress.21:440–446.JSTOR44145239.
  8. ^Priyadarshi, Ashok (2011). "Tribal rebellions in north Orissa: a study on Kol uprising of Mayurbhanj State (1821-1836)".Proceedings of the Indian History Congress.71:696–705.JSTOR44147538.
  9. ^Sharma, K.L. (1976). "Jharkhand Movement in Bihar".Economic and Political Weekly.11:37–43.JSTOR436431.
  10. ^Griffiths, Walter G. (1946).The Kol Tribe of Central India.Calcutta: Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal.
  11. ^ab"Nagpuri Shist Sahitya".Retrieved26 September2022.
  12. ^"1100 years old Maa Mahamaya Temple is located in Gumla district, know what is the story behind its establishment".newsncr.8 October 2021.Retrieved5 September2022.
  13. ^Sunil Sen,Peasant Movement in India,pg.7

Further reading

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