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The '''Bastar Rebellion''', also known as the '''bhumkal''' (earthquake) was an [[Adivasi]] rebellion in 1910 against the British Raj in the princely state of [[Bastar state|Bastar]] in central India. It was led primarily led by Gunda Dhur, a tribal leader, as well as by a ''diwan'' and cousin of the king, Lal Karendra Singh. The tribals mobilized, which led to the entire state rising in revolt against the British, overwhelming the small 250-strong police force in the state, and was marked by widespread rioting, looting and arson. By the end of February, however, additional troops from neighbouring [[Kingdom of Jeypore|Jeypore]] and [[Bengal Presidency|Bengal]] had quelled the revolt and arrested the leaders.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=VERGHESE|first=AJAY|date=2015-08-19|title=British Rule and Tribal Revolts in India: The curious case of Bastar|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0026749x14000687|journal=Modern Asian Studies|volume=50|issue=5|pages=1619–1644|doi=10.1017/s0026749x14000687|issn=0026-749X}}</ref>

The primary cause of the rebellion, as was later discovered by several government reports examining the cause of the riots, was oppressive British forest policies. The British had begun reserving forests, which only allowed certain corporations to exploit forest resources. This resulted in the barring of tribals from using the forests for their livelihoods, and oftentimes, the displacement of entire villages, which led to massive resentment against the British.<ref name=":0" />

However, the British, and the post-Independence Indian state, continued to reserve forests and displace tribals from their lands. The continuation of these policies, which have had a detrimental impact on Adivasi livelihood, has been a powerful factor for the intense [[Naxalite–Maoist insurgency|Naxalite insurgency]] in the Bastar division of Chhattisgarh and the continuing tribal support to it.<ref name=":0" />

== Background ==
Bastar was a princely state in central India, administered under the [[Central Provinces and Berar]]. In ancient times it was known as ''[[Dandakaranya]]'' (lit. stick forest), and was mentioned in the [[Ramayana]]. Today, it corresponds to the [[Bastar division]] of [[Chhattisgarh]]. The state covered an area of {{Convert|33830|km2|mi2|abbr=in}} and had its capital at [[Jagdalpur]]. In 1901, it had a population of 306,501. It is a tribal-dominated region, the main tribes being the [[Madia Gond|Madia]], [[Muria people|Muria]], [[Dorla people|Dorla]], [[Duruwa]], [[Halba (tribe)|Halba]] and Bhatra. The Madia, Muria and Dorla are part of the larger [[Gondi people|Gond]] tribe formerly dominant in central India from the 14th to 18th centuries. However the Bastar princely state was ruled by Rajputs who claimed descent from Annamaraja, a brother of the last [[Kakatiya dynasty|Kakatiya]] king [[Prataparudra|Prataparudra II]], who fled to the region after the Delhi Sultanate conquered [[Warangal]] in the early 14th century. The state was tributary to the Mughals and Marathas, and after the British broke Maratha power in 1818, Bastar became tributary to the British.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Shukla|first=Hira Lal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VOVHAAAAMAAJ&newbks=0&hl=en|title=Bhumkāl, the Tribal Revolt in Bastar: The Story of Gundādhūr and His Movement|date=1991|publisher=Sharada Prakashan|location=Delhi|language=en}}</ref>

Bastar is a land rich in natural resources, and the tribals have made the best use of their terrain to exploit that. Traditionally, the tribals practiced ''jhum'' agriculture, and so had an intimate relationship with the forest. Even after adopting settled agriculture, the tribals still relied heavily on collecting minor forest products such as ''tendu'' to supplement their livelihoods. However, starting in 1871, the British began interfering in this procedure by establishing [[Reserved forests and protected forests of India|reserve forests]] in areas especially rich in natural resources. This meant forest which had previously been in tribal hands became directly under state control, allowing the state to decide who was allowed to use the forest and its resources. Oftentimes the British, in order to exploit the valuable deposits of iron, rubber, ''tendu'', timber, and precious minerals, would give corporations monopolies on exploiting the forest while imposing fees on the adivasis for collecting produce or grazing there. In many cases entire villages within reserve forest bounds were forcibly relocated.<ref name=":0" /> This was extended in 1908, when the reserve forest policy was expanded.<ref name=":1" /> Forest produce collected from this system was frequently sold at subsidised rates, meaning very little money would return to the forest or its labourers. Additionally, the British refused to help diversify the tribal economy to make up for this difference. Thus the tribals became exploited labourers at the mercy of oftentimes-corrupt forest officials. In addition, tribal land was slowly being lost as the ''thekadari'' system was implemented: where tribals now became tenants on their own land and whole villages were leased. These policies caused significant hardship to tribals, who were now unable to supplement their incomes from farming.<ref name=":1" /> Therefore British forest policies would cause significant resentment in tribal communities.

The tribals of Bastar have a close relationship with their rulers. Since the rajas are the high priests of [[Danteshwari Temple|Maa Danteshwari]], a goddess sacred to the Adivasis, there is a much closer relationship between the tribals and their rulers than a typical princely state. This is exemplified by the Bastar Dusshera celebrations, where the king is 'abducted' by the tribals on the 11th day and on the 12th is returned to the throne. This level of socioreligious significance held by the king meant any changes to the monarchy would be resisted by the tribals. The British began tampering with the administration by replacing officials, especially the ''diwan''. In 1876, the resentment over changes to the monarchy boiled over when the ''diwan'' attempted to organize a meeting between the Prince of Wales, who had arrived in India, and the Raja of Bastar. The tribals feared this was an attempt at abduction, and so mobilized to prevent the raja from leaving the state. The people demanded the raja dismiss the current ''diwan'' and high court judge since they were oppressive and not leave them in charge of administration if he left. The "rebellion" was relatively bloodshed-free and died down. In 1891, after the death of Raja Pratap Deo and the succession of his 6 year-old son Rudra Pratap Deo, the British took the opportunity to start governing the princely state directly. Even after the raja gained maturity in 1908, Extra Commissioner Panda Bajinath, who had served as superintended for the past four years, became ''diwan'' and essentially forced the raja to follow his advice. Therefore the raja no longer had any real authority over his kingdom, and it was later remarked that the ''diwan'' was the de facto ruler.<ref name=":0" />

Other hardships for the tribals included: an influx of outside traders into adivasi lands, such as Telugu and Chhattisgarhi moneylenders, who had exploitative relationships with the communities in which they worked, the exploitative system of ''begar'', or forced labour, implemented by officials, suppression of their ''ghotul'' culture in the education system, and suppression of their traditional religion by banning home-brewing of alcohol.<ref name=":1" />

== Rebellion ==
In 1908, troops committed serious atrocities against the Duruwa community near the capital of Jagdalpur when they slaughtered a village and raped tribal women. This atrocity caused significant anger among the tribals, and for a year, the talk was all about the oppression they faced from the Britishers and the slow destruction of their culture. Preparations were being made: weapons were collected and prepared and ''ghotul'' meetings were taking place, for 9 months, unnoticed by the administration. The rebellion had two forms of leadership. Covertly, the rebellion was led by Lal Karendra Singh, a former ''diwan'' who was very popular with the tribals. He was a cousin to the royal family, and wished to be ruler. He was supported by the senior ''rani'', Kumari Devi, once questions about Rudra Pratap Deo's legitimacy were raised, and the tribals' faith in the ''raja'' was further reduced by the propaganda they led. On 22 October 1909, Singh held a meeting with the ''majhis'' of the tribals and they agreed to overthrow the British government. The council formed an overt leadership headed by Gunda Dhur, a Duruwa leader. For each region of the state they organized a group of tribal leaders. The plan was to set up an "Independent revolutionary government" led by Gunda Dhur that would take over once the foreign administration was deposed. The preparations were so secret that all the non-leaders knew was they should prepare for a ''bhumkal'' (earthquake). They would implement a surprise attack on the government, cut off communications with the outside, and capture as many officers as possible for hostages.<ref name=":1" />

In January symbolic messages, consisting of red chilis, bows and arrows, mango leaves, lumps of earth, were sent all around the state to alert people to the coming war. On 31 January, the ''diwan'' came to know that "chilis were being circulated," and while the agent he was with continued towards Chanda, he attempted to return towards Jagdalpur. But on hearing about a Madia demonstration there, he went to Bijapur instead. On 6 February 1910, the date of the start of the rebellion, an assault group prepared to capture the ''diwan'' and destroy the state bureaucracy, but the Diwan escaped. Instead, the force killed his officers and searched the entire southern area for the ''diwan''. The same day, violence erupted throughout the state. This violence was directed towards the forest officials and the "outsiders," especially moneylenders and traders. Their shops and houses were burnt and they were beaten and kicked out of the area. Until 13 February, the tribals practically ruled Bastar when government troops entered Jagdalpur and captured Singh.

Meanwhile the ''diwan'', who had been alerted to the general rising of the Madias throughout south Bastar, fled to the neighbouring princely state of Chanda. The British were alerted on 7 February of the uprising by Rudra Pratap Deo, who requested their assistance to deal with Madias and Murias who were "rioting." Also on 7 February, an assembly was held in [[Geedam]] near [[Dantewada]] by many of the Madia Gond leaders, as well as Gunda Dhur. The conclave captured Geedam and recaptured Barsur. The rebels mounted a week-long siege of Kutru. Overall, the rebels managed to take over most of the southeast of Bastar, helped by the mountainous terrain.<ref name=":1" />

In the northwest of the state, rebel leaders began killing forest officials and moneylenders and arming their followers with guns. One Madia Gond leader, Aytu Para, who compared himself with ''Lingo'', had taken over the [[Antagarh]] region. On 9 March, the Abhuj Madias attacked British soldiers near Chhote Dongar led by Commander Drury. In a series of skirmishes and sieges, Drury was driven from the region into Narayanpur. Infuriated, he ordered a scorched-earth policy against the Abhujmarias, killing hundreds and annihilated entire villages.<ref name=":1" />

==References==
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[[Category:Rebellions in India]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bastar rebellion}}
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Bastar rebellion - Revision history

PriscillaNair10: general adjust page for accuracy additionally and improved wording per standard format

223.190.61.230 at 17:28, 13 March 2021