Bhumij Revolt (1832-33)

<p>In 1765, after obtaining the Diwani (revenue-collecting rights) from the Mughals, British imperialism, acting in the name of the East India Company, began oppressing the indigenous people. This becomes clear from the life of Ganga Narayan Singh. Before 1765, the Mughals ruled a vast region of Chotanagpur. During that time, they did not collect any tax from the tribal people for cultivating land. Instead, they allowed them to cultivate land voluntarily in exchange for paiks (traditional service). For this reason, such land was known as “Paikan land.” However, after the ownership of land passed into the hands of the East India Company, severe oppression of the tribal Bhumij people began. Fixed land taxes were imposed on the peasants, and if the tribals failed to pay, the taxes increased at compound rates. If they still could not pay, their lands were auctioned off and sold elsewhere. Additionally, women were frequently subjected to sexual harassment, and rape became a common occurrence. In protest against these atrocities, several uprisings took place after 1765. Historians have termed the rebellions from 1767 to 1799 as the “Chuar Rebellion.” However, the movement reached its peak during the “Bhumij Rebellion” of 1832–33, also known by many as the “Ganga Narayan Hangaama.”</p><p>Vivek Narayan Singh was the king of Barabhum, one of the seven regions of the Bhumij people. He had two queens. The elder queen’s son was Lakhan Singh, and the younger queen’s son was Raghunath Narayan Singh. According to inheritance, Lakhan Singh was supposed to become the king of Barabhum. However, with British support, after Vivek Narayan Singh’s death, Raghunath Narayan Singh became the king. Lakhan Singh was instead given the position of chief of five Sardaris (or Ghatowals), meaning he was made the head of five mouzas (villages) of the Bhumij people. Later, Lakhan Singh, along with the Sardars, resisted British oppression. At that time, the Governor of Midnapore, Ferguson, deceitfully summoned Lakhan Singh. When he appeared at the Midnapore Presidency, he was forced to accept British authority, which he refused. As a result, Ferguson imprisoned him in the Midnapore jail, where he eventually died.</p><p>Lakhan Singh’s son, Ganga Narayan, gradually grew up. Due to his exceptional intelligence and wisdom, he became beloved among his community. Meanwhile, Raghunath Narayan Singh had two sons: Gobind Singh and Madhab Singh. After Raghunath Narayan’s death, his three successors were Ganga Narayan Singh, Gobind Singh, and Madhab Singh. Ganga Narayan Singh was supposed to become the king of Barabhum, but through flattery and cooperation with the British, Madhab Singh installed his elder brother Gobind Singh as king. After Gobind Singh became king, oppression of the subjects increased further. Madhab Singh also began expanding his influence. In this situation, Ganga Narayan Singh held secret meetings with the Sardars of five mouzas and the common Bhumij people. These meetings revealed the extent of oppression on the people, as well as the close ties between King Gobind Singh, Madhab Singh, and the British. The people united to resist the tyranny of the king. Soon, groups of young men began joining Ganga Narayan Singh’s forces. Thus began the Bhumij Rebellion of 1832–33.</p><p>At the very beginning of the rebellion, the “Narayan Sena” abducted Madhab Singh from his house and beheaded him about 2 km east of Bamni (present-day Jharkhand). On May 1, 1832, the Narayan forces attacked the Barabazar Kachari and looted the market. The next day, they looted and burned the Barabazar police station. Alarmed by the intensity of the events, the Collector of Bankura, Russell, was sent to Barabazar. Russell tried to establish contact with the Bhumij Sardars and urged Ganga Narayan to surrender, announcing a reward of 1000 rupees. However, by May 12, 1832, the situation around the camp began to change. The sound of arrows being fired echoed through the forests. On May 13, rebels were seen circling the magistrate’s camp, creating a tense atmosphere. On May 14, Ganga Narayan’s forces surrounded Russell’s camp and launched continuous arrow attacks. Russell witnessed his soldiers dying before his eyes. He offered that if the rebels returned the looted weapons, the lands of the Bhumij would be restored and they would be rewarded with 800 rupees. The rebels ignored the proposal. Russell had to take shelter inside a water tank to save his life.</p><p>Gradually, more and more people joined Ganga Narayan’s uprising. The British attempted to suppress the rebellion by sending troops from Burdwan, but they failed. Ganga Narayan’s influence kept expanding. His forces attacked several police stations, including Punch, Raipur, Phulkusoma, and Ambikanagar, looting weapons and burning them down. The strength of his army grew steadily, with more youths joining. His forces attacked and destroyed several British camps. A fierce battle took place between Ganga Narayan’s forces and the British at Deuli in Midnapore. The arrival of the monsoon temporarily disrupted the rebellion, during which Ganga Narayan took refuge with his followers in the forests of Bataluka in Dalma. After the monsoon, clashes resumed at Chakaltor in Purulia. On September 17, 1832, many soldiers of the Narayan forces were killed in battle against the British. Even today, September 17 is observed annually as a day of mourning in Chhatata, known as the Chakrataari Chhata festival.</p><p>The Chuar Rebellion from 1767 to 1799 had already astonished the British with the strength of the tribal people. To manage the situation, a new district called Jungle Mahals was created. In that region, Ganga Narayan looted one police station after another and defeated the British, effectively becoming an independent ruler in colonized India.</p><p>Meanwhile, Chaitanya Singh was the king of Porahat. Of his two sons, one was the king of Kharsawan and the other the king of Saraikela. The king of Kharsawan allied with the British and carried out severe oppression on the Bhumij subjects, most of whom belonged to the Kol community. Although they were of a different tribe, Ganga Narayan could not tolerate this oppression and stood by them. He attacked the Hindusar police station, though he did not take all of his forces with him. Thakur Singh had already learned of this. A fierce battle ensued, and on April 8, 1833, Ganga Narayan Singh was killed. He was not only a brave warrior but also a symbol of the valor of the Bhumij people, uniting them all under one banner.</p>