Modern India · Topic 11 of 20

Post-1857 Peasant and Tribal Movements, and Economic Critique

Peasant uprisings, tribal revolts and the birth of nationalist economic critique

Indigo Revolt 1859-60

The Basics

By the 1850s, European planters in Bengal held peasants in a vicious grip. They forced ryots to grow indigo instead of food crops. Planters used fraudulent contracts and forced cash advances to trap ryots in debt. They made ryots grow indigo on their best land. Prices paid were far below market value. Peasants were cheated even at that low price. Lieutenant Governor J.B. Grant admitted the system forced ryots to grow indigo without paying its true price.

Pabna and Deccan Agrarian Riots

The Basics

Pabna peasants formed agrarian leagues in 1873 against zamindars raising rent beyond legal limits.

Deccan Riots Commission

The Basics

The Deccan riots worried the Government of India, recalling memories of 1857.

Birsa Munda and the Munda Ulgulan Rebellion 1899-1900

The Basics

The Munda tribals of Chotanagpur, in present-day Jharkhand, resented the entry of outsiders called dikus. Landlords, moneylenders, forest contractors and missionaries took over tribal land. Many Mundas fell from landowners to labourers and tenants. Earlier Ho and Munda uprisings of 1820-1837 had already resisted new revenue policies and the entry of Bengalis into Singhbhum.

Nationalist Economic Critique of Colonial Rule

The Basics

By the 1860s and 1870s, a new class of Western-educated Indians had grown up under British rule. Earlier in the century many had welcomed British rule, hoping it would modernise India through science, technology and capitalist enterprise.

Drain of Wealth Theory - Dadabhai Naoroji

The Basics

Dadabhai Naoroji was born in 1825 and became a successful businessman. He gave his entire life and wealth to building India's national movement. In 1866 he founded the East India Association in London, to place Indian grievances before British public men. He later opened branches of this Association in Indian cities.

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