Tribal and Peasant Uprisings | Maharashtra State PSC (MPSC): Preparation - MPSC (Maharastra) PDF Download

 Page 1


 
 
 
 
 
          
    
 INTRODUCTION 
As soon as the British took over Western India, Indian         tribes revolted 
against them. In the Maharashtra the hills tribes offered heroic resistance 
to British rule. The tribal uprising was the resistance against the Zamindar, 
moneylenders and the British rule. There are many factors that led to the 
tribes to revolts against the British rule.  
In Maharashtra, the agrarian discontent against the British rule was due to 
the exploitative agrarian policy of the British rule. The heavy land tax 
fixed by the land settlement, fall in agricultural produce, growing 
poverty of the agricultural masses and their indebtness added to the 
miseries of the peasants. The British neglected the agricultural industry 
and their alliance with the moneylenders created serious unrest in the 
minds of the peasants. The British company uprooted the peasant and the 
tribal of western Maharashtra who had opposed vigorously their exploitive 
economic policies and tried to throw them out of the country. 
 TRIBAL UPRISINGS 
Indian tribes revolted against the Britishers, as soon as the British 
established their control over Western India. In Maharashtra the hilly 
tribes offered stiff resistance to the British rule. Ramoshis, Bhils, Kolis 
and many other tribal people revolted against the rule of East India 
Company. The tribal uprising was the resistance against the Zamindar, 
moneylenders and the British rule. There are many factors that led to the 
tribes to revolts against the British rule. 
Causes of the revolts 
1) The tribes were not happy with the growing influence of the British in 
their own area of influence. From many years they had been living 
peacefully with the nature. The Mughals and the Deccan kingdoms 
hardly interfere in their day to day life. However the British desire of 
exploiting the natural resources made them rebel and stand of against 
the government. 
2) Most of the tribes like Ramoshis and Kolis attacked moneylenders. 
Their chief aim was to teach lesson to the moneylenders who uses to 
cheat poor ignorant tribal. The moneylenders had protection of the 
British government. So naturally they got evolved against the British 
rule. 
3) The British wished to create a monopoly over forest. Unlike Indian 
ruler, the British could not understand the attachment of the tribes to 
their original inhabitance. They lived in hilly regions and forests. They 
lived in harmony with the nature. They didn’t like the British attitude 
of exploitation of natural wealth for the sake of their material 
development. The tightening of British control over their forest 
Page 2


 
 
 
 
 
          
    
 INTRODUCTION 
As soon as the British took over Western India, Indian         tribes revolted 
against them. In the Maharashtra the hills tribes offered heroic resistance 
to British rule. The tribal uprising was the resistance against the Zamindar, 
moneylenders and the British rule. There are many factors that led to the 
tribes to revolts against the British rule.  
In Maharashtra, the agrarian discontent against the British rule was due to 
the exploitative agrarian policy of the British rule. The heavy land tax 
fixed by the land settlement, fall in agricultural produce, growing 
poverty of the agricultural masses and their indebtness added to the 
miseries of the peasants. The British neglected the agricultural industry 
and their alliance with the moneylenders created serious unrest in the 
minds of the peasants. The British company uprooted the peasant and the 
tribal of western Maharashtra who had opposed vigorously their exploitive 
economic policies and tried to throw them out of the country. 
 TRIBAL UPRISINGS 
Indian tribes revolted against the Britishers, as soon as the British 
established their control over Western India. In Maharashtra the hilly 
tribes offered stiff resistance to the British rule. Ramoshis, Bhils, Kolis 
and many other tribal people revolted against the rule of East India 
Company. The tribal uprising was the resistance against the Zamindar, 
moneylenders and the British rule. There are many factors that led to the 
tribes to revolts against the British rule. 
Causes of the revolts 
1) The tribes were not happy with the growing influence of the British in 
their own area of influence. From many years they had been living 
peacefully with the nature. The Mughals and the Deccan kingdoms 
hardly interfere in their day to day life. However the British desire of 
exploiting the natural resources made them rebel and stand of against 
the government. 
2) Most of the tribes like Ramoshis and Kolis attacked moneylenders. 
Their chief aim was to teach lesson to the moneylenders who uses to 
cheat poor ignorant tribal. The moneylenders had protection of the 
British government. So naturally they got evolved against the British 
rule. 
3) The British wished to create a monopoly over forest. Unlike Indian 
ruler, the British could not understand the attachment of the tribes to 
their original inhabitance. They lived in hilly regions and forests. They 
lived in harmony with the nature. They didn’t like the British attitude 
of exploitation of natural wealth for the sake of their material 
development. The tightening of British control over their forest 
  
 
                    
 
 
zones, creation of reserved forests and attempt to monopolize forest 
wealth made the tribes rebellious. 
4) The British disrupted the traditional economic set up. They devoid the 
tribal people of their traditional economic set up and hence the tribal 
were forced to serve as menial labours and miners. They were 
instigated against British by the hostile personalities like Vasudev 
Phadke, Trimbak Dengle and Umaji Naik. 
The revolt normally began when the tribes felt oppressed and had no 
other way but fight. The tribes organized themselves for an armed 
resistance. These tribal people though no match for the modern military 
might of the British rule, their struggle against the colonial power, 
provided inspiration to the other people. 
 THE RISING OF THE RAMOSIS AT POONA (1826-29) 
Ramoshiss also known as Berad, was a nomadic tribe of hunter gatherers 
found in a large scale in western Maharashtra. They served as a fighting 
force in the Maratha army, well known for their bravery. In the early 
nineteenth century the commercial British national forest policy and the 
conflict it created over forest use forced them to start struggle against 
British rule. The Ramosis served in the Maratha police administration in 
the lower ranks. After the final defeat of the Marathas in 1818, the British 
administration of the Bombay Province found it difficult to restore order 
in the region immediately. The new administration was unable to absorb 
the Ramosis in the police administration. Consequently, a vast body of 
unemployed but armed men, including the Ramosis, were thrown upon the 
former territories of the Peshwa. They were prepared to join anyone who 
would provide them suitable employment, and even to help in the attempt to 
overthrow the British power. 
In 1825, the economic distress resulting from scarcity, and reduction in the 
number of soldiers in the local Poona garrison, adversely affected the 
Ramosis. Hence, under the leadership of Umaji Naik and his associate, 
Bapu Trimbakji Sawant, they rose in revolt and resorted to outlawry. From 
1826 to 1829, they committed many excesses in the hills around the fort of 
Torna. They proved to be so turbulent that the Government was forced to 
pardon many of their crimes and placated them by granting lands as well as 
by recruiting them as hill police. However, their risings were quelled by 
the British garrison. Nevertheless. the Ramosis continued to cause trouble 
to the authorities by attacking their oppressors like money-lendersCheck 
your progress:- 
Q.1. Trace the causes of Rising of the Ramos his at Poona ? 
 
 
         
Page 3


 
 
 
 
 
          
    
 INTRODUCTION 
As soon as the British took over Western India, Indian         tribes revolted 
against them. In the Maharashtra the hills tribes offered heroic resistance 
to British rule. The tribal uprising was the resistance against the Zamindar, 
moneylenders and the British rule. There are many factors that led to the 
tribes to revolts against the British rule.  
In Maharashtra, the agrarian discontent against the British rule was due to 
the exploitative agrarian policy of the British rule. The heavy land tax 
fixed by the land settlement, fall in agricultural produce, growing 
poverty of the agricultural masses and their indebtness added to the 
miseries of the peasants. The British neglected the agricultural industry 
and their alliance with the moneylenders created serious unrest in the 
minds of the peasants. The British company uprooted the peasant and the 
tribal of western Maharashtra who had opposed vigorously their exploitive 
economic policies and tried to throw them out of the country. 
 TRIBAL UPRISINGS 
Indian tribes revolted against the Britishers, as soon as the British 
established their control over Western India. In Maharashtra the hilly 
tribes offered stiff resistance to the British rule. Ramoshis, Bhils, Kolis 
and many other tribal people revolted against the rule of East India 
Company. The tribal uprising was the resistance against the Zamindar, 
moneylenders and the British rule. There are many factors that led to the 
tribes to revolts against the British rule. 
Causes of the revolts 
1) The tribes were not happy with the growing influence of the British in 
their own area of influence. From many years they had been living 
peacefully with the nature. The Mughals and the Deccan kingdoms 
hardly interfere in their day to day life. However the British desire of 
exploiting the natural resources made them rebel and stand of against 
the government. 
2) Most of the tribes like Ramoshis and Kolis attacked moneylenders. 
Their chief aim was to teach lesson to the moneylenders who uses to 
cheat poor ignorant tribal. The moneylenders had protection of the 
British government. So naturally they got evolved against the British 
rule. 
3) The British wished to create a monopoly over forest. Unlike Indian 
ruler, the British could not understand the attachment of the tribes to 
their original inhabitance. They lived in hilly regions and forests. They 
lived in harmony with the nature. They didn’t like the British attitude 
of exploitation of natural wealth for the sake of their material 
development. The tightening of British control over their forest 
  
 
                    
 
 
zones, creation of reserved forests and attempt to monopolize forest 
wealth made the tribes rebellious. 
4) The British disrupted the traditional economic set up. They devoid the 
tribal people of their traditional economic set up and hence the tribal 
were forced to serve as menial labours and miners. They were 
instigated against British by the hostile personalities like Vasudev 
Phadke, Trimbak Dengle and Umaji Naik. 
The revolt normally began when the tribes felt oppressed and had no 
other way but fight. The tribes organized themselves for an armed 
resistance. These tribal people though no match for the modern military 
might of the British rule, their struggle against the colonial power, 
provided inspiration to the other people. 
 THE RISING OF THE RAMOSIS AT POONA (1826-29) 
Ramoshiss also known as Berad, was a nomadic tribe of hunter gatherers 
found in a large scale in western Maharashtra. They served as a fighting 
force in the Maratha army, well known for their bravery. In the early 
nineteenth century the commercial British national forest policy and the 
conflict it created over forest use forced them to start struggle against 
British rule. The Ramosis served in the Maratha police administration in 
the lower ranks. After the final defeat of the Marathas in 1818, the British 
administration of the Bombay Province found it difficult to restore order 
in the region immediately. The new administration was unable to absorb 
the Ramosis in the police administration. Consequently, a vast body of 
unemployed but armed men, including the Ramosis, were thrown upon the 
former territories of the Peshwa. They were prepared to join anyone who 
would provide them suitable employment, and even to help in the attempt to 
overthrow the British power. 
In 1825, the economic distress resulting from scarcity, and reduction in the 
number of soldiers in the local Poona garrison, adversely affected the 
Ramosis. Hence, under the leadership of Umaji Naik and his associate, 
Bapu Trimbakji Sawant, they rose in revolt and resorted to outlawry. From 
1826 to 1829, they committed many excesses in the hills around the fort of 
Torna. They proved to be so turbulent that the Government was forced to 
pardon many of their crimes and placated them by granting lands as well as 
by recruiting them as hill police. However, their risings were quelled by 
the British garrison. Nevertheless. the Ramosis continued to cause trouble 
to the authorities by attacking their oppressors like money-lendersCheck 
your progress:- 
Q.1. Trace the causes of Rising of the Ramos his at Poona ? 
 
 
         
 
 
 
 
 
The Bhils were primitive and predatory peoples. Their settlements were 
scattered in the Western Ghats and in the Country at its base. Their 
stronghold was in Khandesh. They controlled the mountain passes between 
the north and the Deccan. In open country-side, they lived quietly as 
cultivators, and proprietors of the soil. However, in the hilly region, they 
subsisted on the plunder of the rich land-holders in the neighborhood. 
They had suffered exploitation and depredations at the hands of the 
Marathas and others and from the famine of 1802-04. 
All these exciting causes rendered the conditions of Khandesh where the 
Bhils were in the majority, highly anarchical. Thus driven by wars and 
pestilence, against which they had no protection the Bhils, refractory by 
temperament entrenched themselves in the mountains under the leadership 
of their chiefs, the occupation of the Province of Khandesh by the British 
in 1818, naturally increased their restlessness. The Satpuras were the nest 
of these disaffected Bhils in the North, and Satmala and Ajanta in the 
South. Here, different organised gangs of the Bhils were led by thirty two 
leaders. 
In 1817, an insurrection of the Bhils broke out in Khandesh, presumably 
stirred by Trimbakji after his escape from the fort of Thana. When the 
British (Elphinstone) put pressure upon Peshwa Baji Rao II to secure the 
seizure and arrest of Trimbakji, the Bhils turned anti-British and rose in 
revolt against them. Their explosion presented a tempestuous scene of a 
tremendous popular upsurge, and according to S.B.Chaudhary “this stirred 
the country to its depth.” The Government of Bombay used severe military 
action against them and simultaneously used judicious conciliatory 
measures to stop the eruption of the Bhils. 
In the following year the Bhils broke out in a general insurrection on all 
sides and ravaged the neighbouring plains. The British had to employ 
several detachments to suppress them. The trouble continued until 1831 
inspite of vigorous military measures of the Government. Gradually the 
dual measures of coercion, anti -conciliation, at which the British were the 
past- masters, succeeded in quelling the disturbances of the Bhils and 
converting them into peaceful cultivators. Although a section of the Bhils 
once again broke out in revolt in Malwa in 1846, the rising was suppressed. 
The two and a half decades of struggle with the British cost them very 
dearly. Not only many of their leaders were killed or captured but a large 
number of them were killed and their settlements were destroyed their new 
conquerors. 
  
         
 
 
 THE RISING OF THE KOLIS (1828-30, 1839 AND 1844-48) 
Page 4


 
 
 
 
 
          
    
 INTRODUCTION 
As soon as the British took over Western India, Indian         tribes revolted 
against them. In the Maharashtra the hills tribes offered heroic resistance 
to British rule. The tribal uprising was the resistance against the Zamindar, 
moneylenders and the British rule. There are many factors that led to the 
tribes to revolts against the British rule.  
In Maharashtra, the agrarian discontent against the British rule was due to 
the exploitative agrarian policy of the British rule. The heavy land tax 
fixed by the land settlement, fall in agricultural produce, growing 
poverty of the agricultural masses and their indebtness added to the 
miseries of the peasants. The British neglected the agricultural industry 
and their alliance with the moneylenders created serious unrest in the 
minds of the peasants. The British company uprooted the peasant and the 
tribal of western Maharashtra who had opposed vigorously their exploitive 
economic policies and tried to throw them out of the country. 
 TRIBAL UPRISINGS 
Indian tribes revolted against the Britishers, as soon as the British 
established their control over Western India. In Maharashtra the hilly 
tribes offered stiff resistance to the British rule. Ramoshis, Bhils, Kolis 
and many other tribal people revolted against the rule of East India 
Company. The tribal uprising was the resistance against the Zamindar, 
moneylenders and the British rule. There are many factors that led to the 
tribes to revolts against the British rule. 
Causes of the revolts 
1) The tribes were not happy with the growing influence of the British in 
their own area of influence. From many years they had been living 
peacefully with the nature. The Mughals and the Deccan kingdoms 
hardly interfere in their day to day life. However the British desire of 
exploiting the natural resources made them rebel and stand of against 
the government. 
2) Most of the tribes like Ramoshis and Kolis attacked moneylenders. 
Their chief aim was to teach lesson to the moneylenders who uses to 
cheat poor ignorant tribal. The moneylenders had protection of the 
British government. So naturally they got evolved against the British 
rule. 
3) The British wished to create a monopoly over forest. Unlike Indian 
ruler, the British could not understand the attachment of the tribes to 
their original inhabitance. They lived in hilly regions and forests. They 
lived in harmony with the nature. They didn’t like the British attitude 
of exploitation of natural wealth for the sake of their material 
development. The tightening of British control over their forest 
  
 
                    
 
 
zones, creation of reserved forests and attempt to monopolize forest 
wealth made the tribes rebellious. 
4) The British disrupted the traditional economic set up. They devoid the 
tribal people of their traditional economic set up and hence the tribal 
were forced to serve as menial labours and miners. They were 
instigated against British by the hostile personalities like Vasudev 
Phadke, Trimbak Dengle and Umaji Naik. 
The revolt normally began when the tribes felt oppressed and had no 
other way but fight. The tribes organized themselves for an armed 
resistance. These tribal people though no match for the modern military 
might of the British rule, their struggle against the colonial power, 
provided inspiration to the other people. 
 THE RISING OF THE RAMOSIS AT POONA (1826-29) 
Ramoshiss also known as Berad, was a nomadic tribe of hunter gatherers 
found in a large scale in western Maharashtra. They served as a fighting 
force in the Maratha army, well known for their bravery. In the early 
nineteenth century the commercial British national forest policy and the 
conflict it created over forest use forced them to start struggle against 
British rule. The Ramosis served in the Maratha police administration in 
the lower ranks. After the final defeat of the Marathas in 1818, the British 
administration of the Bombay Province found it difficult to restore order 
in the region immediately. The new administration was unable to absorb 
the Ramosis in the police administration. Consequently, a vast body of 
unemployed but armed men, including the Ramosis, were thrown upon the 
former territories of the Peshwa. They were prepared to join anyone who 
would provide them suitable employment, and even to help in the attempt to 
overthrow the British power. 
In 1825, the economic distress resulting from scarcity, and reduction in the 
number of soldiers in the local Poona garrison, adversely affected the 
Ramosis. Hence, under the leadership of Umaji Naik and his associate, 
Bapu Trimbakji Sawant, they rose in revolt and resorted to outlawry. From 
1826 to 1829, they committed many excesses in the hills around the fort of 
Torna. They proved to be so turbulent that the Government was forced to 
pardon many of their crimes and placated them by granting lands as well as 
by recruiting them as hill police. However, their risings were quelled by 
the British garrison. Nevertheless. the Ramosis continued to cause trouble 
to the authorities by attacking their oppressors like money-lendersCheck 
your progress:- 
Q.1. Trace the causes of Rising of the Ramos his at Poona ? 
 
 
         
 
 
 
 
 
The Bhils were primitive and predatory peoples. Their settlements were 
scattered in the Western Ghats and in the Country at its base. Their 
stronghold was in Khandesh. They controlled the mountain passes between 
the north and the Deccan. In open country-side, they lived quietly as 
cultivators, and proprietors of the soil. However, in the hilly region, they 
subsisted on the plunder of the rich land-holders in the neighborhood. 
They had suffered exploitation and depredations at the hands of the 
Marathas and others and from the famine of 1802-04. 
All these exciting causes rendered the conditions of Khandesh where the 
Bhils were in the majority, highly anarchical. Thus driven by wars and 
pestilence, against which they had no protection the Bhils, refractory by 
temperament entrenched themselves in the mountains under the leadership 
of their chiefs, the occupation of the Province of Khandesh by the British 
in 1818, naturally increased their restlessness. The Satpuras were the nest 
of these disaffected Bhils in the North, and Satmala and Ajanta in the 
South. Here, different organised gangs of the Bhils were led by thirty two 
leaders. 
In 1817, an insurrection of the Bhils broke out in Khandesh, presumably 
stirred by Trimbakji after his escape from the fort of Thana. When the 
British (Elphinstone) put pressure upon Peshwa Baji Rao II to secure the 
seizure and arrest of Trimbakji, the Bhils turned anti-British and rose in 
revolt against them. Their explosion presented a tempestuous scene of a 
tremendous popular upsurge, and according to S.B.Chaudhary “this stirred 
the country to its depth.” The Government of Bombay used severe military 
action against them and simultaneously used judicious conciliatory 
measures to stop the eruption of the Bhils. 
In the following year the Bhils broke out in a general insurrection on all 
sides and ravaged the neighbouring plains. The British had to employ 
several detachments to suppress them. The trouble continued until 1831 
inspite of vigorous military measures of the Government. Gradually the 
dual measures of coercion, anti -conciliation, at which the British were the 
past- masters, succeeded in quelling the disturbances of the Bhils and 
converting them into peaceful cultivators. Although a section of the Bhils 
once again broke out in revolt in Malwa in 1846, the rising was suppressed. 
The two and a half decades of struggle with the British cost them very 
dearly. Not only many of their leaders were killed or captured but a large 
number of them were killed and their settlements were destroyed their new 
conquerors. 
  
         
 
 
 THE RISING OF THE KOLIS (1828-30, 1839 AND 1844-48) 
  
 
                     
 
 
The Kolis were neighbours of the Bhils, and lived in the country both 
above and below the Sahyadri in the Thana District, they were scattered 
over the whole area from the borders of Kutch to the Western Ghats. They 
were by nature a turbulent people. The British had the first taste of the 
Koli intransigence in 1824 when Kolis of Gujarat raised a formidable 
insurrection, burning and plundering villages right upto Baroda. Only the 
use of force strong enough to quell the activities of the desperadoes could 
check their excesses. 
The Kolis revolted again in 1828 because most of them had been thrown out 
of employment by the dismantling of forts by the British, thereby 
depriving them of their livelihood. Inspired by successful insurrection of 
the Ramosis of Satara, the Kolis under the leadership of Ramji Bhungeria, 
(a Koli officer of the Government who had resigned in protest against a 
government order stopping his levy of rupees fifty) raised the standard of 
revolt in 1828. A large body of troops had to be sent against them, and 
detachments had to be posted at Konkan and Sahyadri to prevent them 
from escaping from the combing operations of the British troops. 
The Kolis proved to be a thorn in the flesh of the British Government. 
They posed a serious menace when in 1839 bands of Kolis plundered a 
large number of villages in the Sahyadri. They were joined by other 
turbulent elements of the hills. Both R.C.Majumdar and S.B.Chaudhary 
point out that in these risings, the Kolis were led by three Brahmins (Bhau 
Khare, Chimnaji Jadhav and Nanan Dharbhare) who seemed to have 
harboured some political motives. To quote Majumdar, they “felt strong 
enough to work for the restoration of the Peshwa, as the strength of the 
Poona garrison had lately been reduced. The rebels assumed the charge of 
the Government in the name of the Peshwa. But the British acted swiftly 
and their prompt action averted a crisis. The British forces attacked the 
Kolis dispersed their bands captured and arrested fifty four of whom were 
tried and punished with varying terms of imprisonment; some were 
hanged, including a Brahmin, by name Ramchandra Ganesh Gore. 
The Kolis were not the ones to give in easily; they broke into revolt again 
in 1844. Their leaders this time were Raghu Bangria and Bapu Bangria. 
Starting from their headquarters in the country side to the north- west of 
Poona, they carried on their looting and plunder in the districts of Nasik 
and Ahmadnagar. Next year the Koli disturbances spread as far as 
Purandhar and Satara. The situation appeared to be desperate, until a 
strong military force brought the situation under control. Bapu Bangria 
was caught but Raghu Bangria eluded the vigilance of the police. He had 
tremendous influence over the minds of the people and “lived on 
blackmail levied from Poona and Thana Villages”. Finally he was arrested 
on 2 ndJanuary, 1848 and hanged. By 1850, the Koli rebellion had been 
crushed. 
It is significant to note that during the Koli rebelion of May 1845, Umaji, 
the leader of the Ramosi uprising of 1825, had also joined the Kolis at 
Purandhar lawless activities. Further, in 1873, Honya, an influential Koli, 
raised a well- trained band of followers in the north west of Poona, and 
Page 5


 
 
 
 
 
          
    
 INTRODUCTION 
As soon as the British took over Western India, Indian         tribes revolted 
against them. In the Maharashtra the hills tribes offered heroic resistance 
to British rule. The tribal uprising was the resistance against the Zamindar, 
moneylenders and the British rule. There are many factors that led to the 
tribes to revolts against the British rule.  
In Maharashtra, the agrarian discontent against the British rule was due to 
the exploitative agrarian policy of the British rule. The heavy land tax 
fixed by the land settlement, fall in agricultural produce, growing 
poverty of the agricultural masses and their indebtness added to the 
miseries of the peasants. The British neglected the agricultural industry 
and their alliance with the moneylenders created serious unrest in the 
minds of the peasants. The British company uprooted the peasant and the 
tribal of western Maharashtra who had opposed vigorously their exploitive 
economic policies and tried to throw them out of the country. 
 TRIBAL UPRISINGS 
Indian tribes revolted against the Britishers, as soon as the British 
established their control over Western India. In Maharashtra the hilly 
tribes offered stiff resistance to the British rule. Ramoshis, Bhils, Kolis 
and many other tribal people revolted against the rule of East India 
Company. The tribal uprising was the resistance against the Zamindar, 
moneylenders and the British rule. There are many factors that led to the 
tribes to revolts against the British rule. 
Causes of the revolts 
1) The tribes were not happy with the growing influence of the British in 
their own area of influence. From many years they had been living 
peacefully with the nature. The Mughals and the Deccan kingdoms 
hardly interfere in their day to day life. However the British desire of 
exploiting the natural resources made them rebel and stand of against 
the government. 
2) Most of the tribes like Ramoshis and Kolis attacked moneylenders. 
Their chief aim was to teach lesson to the moneylenders who uses to 
cheat poor ignorant tribal. The moneylenders had protection of the 
British government. So naturally they got evolved against the British 
rule. 
3) The British wished to create a monopoly over forest. Unlike Indian 
ruler, the British could not understand the attachment of the tribes to 
their original inhabitance. They lived in hilly regions and forests. They 
lived in harmony with the nature. They didn’t like the British attitude 
of exploitation of natural wealth for the sake of their material 
development. The tightening of British control over their forest 
  
 
                    
 
 
zones, creation of reserved forests and attempt to monopolize forest 
wealth made the tribes rebellious. 
4) The British disrupted the traditional economic set up. They devoid the 
tribal people of their traditional economic set up and hence the tribal 
were forced to serve as menial labours and miners. They were 
instigated against British by the hostile personalities like Vasudev 
Phadke, Trimbak Dengle and Umaji Naik. 
The revolt normally began when the tribes felt oppressed and had no 
other way but fight. The tribes organized themselves for an armed 
resistance. These tribal people though no match for the modern military 
might of the British rule, their struggle against the colonial power, 
provided inspiration to the other people. 
 THE RISING OF THE RAMOSIS AT POONA (1826-29) 
Ramoshiss also known as Berad, was a nomadic tribe of hunter gatherers 
found in a large scale in western Maharashtra. They served as a fighting 
force in the Maratha army, well known for their bravery. In the early 
nineteenth century the commercial British national forest policy and the 
conflict it created over forest use forced them to start struggle against 
British rule. The Ramosis served in the Maratha police administration in 
the lower ranks. After the final defeat of the Marathas in 1818, the British 
administration of the Bombay Province found it difficult to restore order 
in the region immediately. The new administration was unable to absorb 
the Ramosis in the police administration. Consequently, a vast body of 
unemployed but armed men, including the Ramosis, were thrown upon the 
former territories of the Peshwa. They were prepared to join anyone who 
would provide them suitable employment, and even to help in the attempt to 
overthrow the British power. 
In 1825, the economic distress resulting from scarcity, and reduction in the 
number of soldiers in the local Poona garrison, adversely affected the 
Ramosis. Hence, under the leadership of Umaji Naik and his associate, 
Bapu Trimbakji Sawant, they rose in revolt and resorted to outlawry. From 
1826 to 1829, they committed many excesses in the hills around the fort of 
Torna. They proved to be so turbulent that the Government was forced to 
pardon many of their crimes and placated them by granting lands as well as 
by recruiting them as hill police. However, their risings were quelled by 
the British garrison. Nevertheless. the Ramosis continued to cause trouble 
to the authorities by attacking their oppressors like money-lendersCheck 
your progress:- 
Q.1. Trace the causes of Rising of the Ramos his at Poona ? 
 
 
         
 
 
 
 
 
The Bhils were primitive and predatory peoples. Their settlements were 
scattered in the Western Ghats and in the Country at its base. Their 
stronghold was in Khandesh. They controlled the mountain passes between 
the north and the Deccan. In open country-side, they lived quietly as 
cultivators, and proprietors of the soil. However, in the hilly region, they 
subsisted on the plunder of the rich land-holders in the neighborhood. 
They had suffered exploitation and depredations at the hands of the 
Marathas and others and from the famine of 1802-04. 
All these exciting causes rendered the conditions of Khandesh where the 
Bhils were in the majority, highly anarchical. Thus driven by wars and 
pestilence, against which they had no protection the Bhils, refractory by 
temperament entrenched themselves in the mountains under the leadership 
of their chiefs, the occupation of the Province of Khandesh by the British 
in 1818, naturally increased their restlessness. The Satpuras were the nest 
of these disaffected Bhils in the North, and Satmala and Ajanta in the 
South. Here, different organised gangs of the Bhils were led by thirty two 
leaders. 
In 1817, an insurrection of the Bhils broke out in Khandesh, presumably 
stirred by Trimbakji after his escape from the fort of Thana. When the 
British (Elphinstone) put pressure upon Peshwa Baji Rao II to secure the 
seizure and arrest of Trimbakji, the Bhils turned anti-British and rose in 
revolt against them. Their explosion presented a tempestuous scene of a 
tremendous popular upsurge, and according to S.B.Chaudhary “this stirred 
the country to its depth.” The Government of Bombay used severe military 
action against them and simultaneously used judicious conciliatory 
measures to stop the eruption of the Bhils. 
In the following year the Bhils broke out in a general insurrection on all 
sides and ravaged the neighbouring plains. The British had to employ 
several detachments to suppress them. The trouble continued until 1831 
inspite of vigorous military measures of the Government. Gradually the 
dual measures of coercion, anti -conciliation, at which the British were the 
past- masters, succeeded in quelling the disturbances of the Bhils and 
converting them into peaceful cultivators. Although a section of the Bhils 
once again broke out in revolt in Malwa in 1846, the rising was suppressed. 
The two and a half decades of struggle with the British cost them very 
dearly. Not only many of their leaders were killed or captured but a large 
number of them were killed and their settlements were destroyed their new 
conquerors. 
  
         
 
 
 THE RISING OF THE KOLIS (1828-30, 1839 AND 1844-48) 
  
 
                     
 
 
The Kolis were neighbours of the Bhils, and lived in the country both 
above and below the Sahyadri in the Thana District, they were scattered 
over the whole area from the borders of Kutch to the Western Ghats. They 
were by nature a turbulent people. The British had the first taste of the 
Koli intransigence in 1824 when Kolis of Gujarat raised a formidable 
insurrection, burning and plundering villages right upto Baroda. Only the 
use of force strong enough to quell the activities of the desperadoes could 
check their excesses. 
The Kolis revolted again in 1828 because most of them had been thrown out 
of employment by the dismantling of forts by the British, thereby 
depriving them of their livelihood. Inspired by successful insurrection of 
the Ramosis of Satara, the Kolis under the leadership of Ramji Bhungeria, 
(a Koli officer of the Government who had resigned in protest against a 
government order stopping his levy of rupees fifty) raised the standard of 
revolt in 1828. A large body of troops had to be sent against them, and 
detachments had to be posted at Konkan and Sahyadri to prevent them 
from escaping from the combing operations of the British troops. 
The Kolis proved to be a thorn in the flesh of the British Government. 
They posed a serious menace when in 1839 bands of Kolis plundered a 
large number of villages in the Sahyadri. They were joined by other 
turbulent elements of the hills. Both R.C.Majumdar and S.B.Chaudhary 
point out that in these risings, the Kolis were led by three Brahmins (Bhau 
Khare, Chimnaji Jadhav and Nanan Dharbhare) who seemed to have 
harboured some political motives. To quote Majumdar, they “felt strong 
enough to work for the restoration of the Peshwa, as the strength of the 
Poona garrison had lately been reduced. The rebels assumed the charge of 
the Government in the name of the Peshwa. But the British acted swiftly 
and their prompt action averted a crisis. The British forces attacked the 
Kolis dispersed their bands captured and arrested fifty four of whom were 
tried and punished with varying terms of imprisonment; some were 
hanged, including a Brahmin, by name Ramchandra Ganesh Gore. 
The Kolis were not the ones to give in easily; they broke into revolt again 
in 1844. Their leaders this time were Raghu Bangria and Bapu Bangria. 
Starting from their headquarters in the country side to the north- west of 
Poona, they carried on their looting and plunder in the districts of Nasik 
and Ahmadnagar. Next year the Koli disturbances spread as far as 
Purandhar and Satara. The situation appeared to be desperate, until a 
strong military force brought the situation under control. Bapu Bangria 
was caught but Raghu Bangria eluded the vigilance of the police. He had 
tremendous influence over the minds of the people and “lived on 
blackmail levied from Poona and Thana Villages”. Finally he was arrested 
on 2 ndJanuary, 1848 and hanged. By 1850, the Koli rebellion had been 
crushed. 
It is significant to note that during the Koli rebelion of May 1845, Umaji, 
the leader of the Ramosi uprising of 1825, had also joined the Kolis at 
Purandhar lawless activities. Further, in 1873, Honya, an influential Koli, 
raised a well- trained band of followers in the north west of Poona, and 
 
 
 
 
 
began a series of attacks on the moneylenders “who habitually cheat and 
oppress the hill- tribes and at intervals drive them into crime.” Though 
Honya was caught in 1875, the spirit of insurrection was spread from the 
Kolis to the peace-loving Kunbis of the plains. Between May and July, 
1875 over a dozen assaults were committed on money- Ienders by the 
insurrectionists. The authorities had to summon troops to restore order. 
Again, during the revolt of Phadke in 1879. the peace around Poona was 
disturbed by two gangs: one of the Kolis and the other of the Ramosis. No 
fewer than fifty nine robberies were committed by the gangs. It took a lot 
of hard work for the police and the troops to effectively curb the violent 
activities of these two gangs. 
    Revolt of Gadkari 
Gadkari used to garrison the Maratha forts and enjoyed land grants for 
their service. After the third Anglo Maratha war, their services were 
dispensed and they were required to pay revenues for the lands they held. 
The British took away some other customary privilege of the Gadkaris. 
These activities spread discontent among the soldiers and common people 
against the British. This led to the rising of Gadkaries. The local military 
commanders also joined them. Gadkari rising became a general popular 
revolt against the British. The fire of rebellion spread neighboring states 
also. The rebels captured the forts of Panhala and Pavangad. The Bombay 
government took extensive steps to suppress the revolt. After the intensive 
military campaign, the British finally succeeded in suppressing the risings 
of the Gadkaries. 
Gond uprising 
Maratha power was the last regime which was defeated by the British. 
Bhosale of Nagpur was one of the important center of Maratha might. 
However after the end of their rule, British were free to introduce their 
administrative system in the Nagpur region. Within three years of their 
assuming charge of Chandrapur, the British had to face a trouble in the 
area. A large part of Chandrapur district was covered with thick forest 
populated mainly by Gonds. Several Zamindars also were related to the 
Raj Gond families of Chandrapur. A number of Raj Gond had helped 
Appasaheb Bhosale in his struggle against the British. 
Taking advantage of the revolt of 1857 the Gond Zamindar of Adapalli 
and Ghot revolted against the British. They gathered a considerable force 
of Gonds and brought Rajgad Pargana under his control. British sent 
army to suppress the Gond rebellion. Baburao Gond attacked the English 
camp in the Aheri province and looted it. English army did find it difficult 
to suppress the Gond revolt. However treachery played the trick. Baburao 
Gond was captured and hanged to death. The rising of Chadrapur was 
spontaneous. Though Gond did not become successful, their heroic efforts 
inspired the others.