why did the tribal revolts face tragic consequences
Answers
Definition:
Tribal revolts are related to the uprisings on part of the tribal communities which revolted quite violently more than any other community.
Examples include the peasants of India.
Their revolts had several causes such as escaping imperialism, protection of their own cultural, religious sentiments, low living standards, lack of equality, protection of their own, etc.
Why?
- Reasons were of many types, however, most revolts faced tragic endings on part of the tribal people.
- This was because the imperialists believed in silencing those who spoke against them, so that their power could stay in contact and exist as unquestioned.
- For example: The Santhal Rebellion of 1855-1857 was a great event in history of Santhal follwed up by another rebellion taking place in 1879-80 of the Gudem-Rampa in Tamil Nadu. They rose against the cause of increasing taxation on timber and grazing, excise regulations and restrictions on domestic production.
- The people of that time would get exploited and their standard of living was that of a falling one, so they spoke against the imperialists.
However, most of the revolts ended sad. For the imperialists had the power. Which they exercised well. Also, they didn't have an option but to give in, considering the number of populace which supported them at that time.
Munda Rebellion: This revolt is one of the best known revolts in history. Moneylenders and traders had been exploiting the khuntkatti land system of the Mundas. The primary reason for the revolt was the new policy of farming and other revenue and judicial policies.
A forest regulation Act which was passed in 1865 entitled the British Government to declare any land covered with trees as Government forest and it could have its own rules to manage it. The rights of the tribal people were overlooked; a more comprehensive Indian Forest Act was again passed in 1878 which imposed dire restrictions regarding Advice rights over forest land and its produce. A massive uprising by the Advices was suppressed by the British through deployment of troops across the region.
A powerful Forest Satyagraha was seen in Cuddapah after rights to forest produce of the primitive food gathering Chenchu tribe were denied by the government from 1898.
A revolt in the Jagdalpur region against the Raja of Bastar was suppressed in 1910 due to the banning of shifting cultivation and free use of forest produce. A few more rebellions that need mention are the Mappilla rebellion, the fazis who opposed the British legal system, Kols of Singhbum, Bhills of Khandesh etc.
All the tribal revolts although localized, served as a major cause for the great revolt of 1857. it had laid the grounds for a bigger uprising. In most cases, the revolts were suppressed although they became a source of inspiration for future struggles.