Question

The main cause of the tribal uprisings of the 19th century was_____________.
a. the British land settlements and land laws had created tension in the tribal society
b. Christian Missionary activities in the tribal areas
c. the British Forest Laws
d. new excise regulations and police exactions

Answer 1

Hint: The main occupation of the tribals were hunting, gathering, fishing, sustainable agriculture. They also used forest produce and made makeshift settlements in the forests. For their existence and survival, forests were essential for the tribal communities.

Complete answer: - The main causes of tribal uprisings in the 19th century was the British land settlements and land laws that created tensions in the tribal society.
- Non-tribals had started entering forests and clearing land for settled agriculture, this disturbed the lives of tribal communities.
- British introduced money lenders in the tribal communities which exploited the tribals, and a lot of them eventually had to become bonded labourers.
- The tradition of joint ownership of land was replaced by private ownership by the British, this was not acceptable to the tribals.
One of the important tribal uprisings was the Kol rebellion of 1832 in the Chotanagpur region. The tribals had started an armed rebellion against the British, they burnt houses and killed British officials, it went on for two years and was brutally suppressed by the British.
Thus, the correct option is (a).

Note: Another important tribal uprising was the Santhal revolt in the present-day Jharkhand region, it was a big-armed revolt with about 10000 rebels who attacked British officials and moneylenders, they were revolting against the Zamindari system. It was later brutally suppressed by the British in which 20000 tribals were killed.