Saurabh jain at 16:01, 29 March 2026

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{{Short description|1766–1834 peasant rebellion}}
{{Cleanup rewrite|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox event
| title = Chuar Rebellion
| image = Medinipur town, West Midnapore 02.jpg
| caption = Memorial of Chuar Rebellion at [[Midnapore]]
| date = 1766 – 1834
| Location = [[Jungle Mahals|Jungle Mahal district]], British India
| also known as = The Jungle Mahal movements
| participants = Tribal peasants of Jungle Mahals
}}
'''Chuar rebellion''', also known as Jungle Mahal movement was a series of [[peasant movement]]s between 1766 and 1834 by the tribal inhabitants of the countryside surrounding the [[Jungle Mahals]] settlements of [[Dhalbhum]], Barabhum, [[Midnapore]], [[Bankura]], [[Manbhum]] and [[Singhbhum district|Singhbhum]] against the rule of the [[East India Company]] (EIC).<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Bhattacharyya |first1=Ananda |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/adivasi-resistance-in-early-colonial-india-comprising-the-chuar-rebellion-of-1799-by-jc-price-and-relevant-midnapore-district-collectorate-records-from-the-eighteenth-century/oclc/982448451 |title=Adivasi resistance in early colonial India: comprising the Chuar Rebellion of 1799 by J.C. Price and relevant Midnapore District Collectorate records from the eighteenth century |last2=Price |first2=J. C |date=2017 |isbn=978-93-5098-167-2 |language=English |oclc=982448451}}</ref><ref name="Bhattacherje2009">{{Cite book |last=Bhattacherje |first=S. B. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oGVSvXuCsyUC&pg=SL1-PA97 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Events & Dates |date=2009-05-01
|page=97 |publisher=Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd |isbn=978-81-207-4074-7 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=5FtXAAAAMAAJ&q=Chuar+bhumij+revolt&dq=Chuar+bhumij+revolt&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjnoevS2uH7AhW7R2wGHd44BGQ4FBDoAXoECAgQAw#Chuar%201834 |title=Indian Book Chronicle |date=1997 |publisher=Vivek Trust |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ray |first=Nisith Ranjan |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=nOzsAAAAMAAJ&q=Chuar+1760+1833&dq=Chuar+1760+1833&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjghtab4KD8AhXr8DgGHW6zBVsQ6AF6BAgEEAM#Chuar%20Revolt%201760%201833 |title=Agrarian Bengal Under the Raj |last2=Palit |first2=Chittabrata |date=1986 |publisher=Saraswat Library |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BHASA ANDOLON {{!}} Purulia District, Government of West Bengal {{!}} India |url=https://purulia.gov.in/bhasa-andolon/ |access-date=2023-08-20 |language=en-US}}</ref> This was the first revolt against the East India Company (EIC) in [[Chota Nagpur Division|Chotanagpur]] areas of [[Bengal Presidency]] (now [[West Bengal]] and [[Jharkhand]]).

[[Bhumij rebellion]] led by [[Ganga Narayan Singh]] against the [[British East India Company]] in 1832–33, is also considered as one of the series of Chuar rebellion. The British had called it as 'Ganga Narain's Hungama', while many historians had written it as Chuar rebellion.

== Chuar people ==
The literal meaning of ''Chuar'' or ''Chuad'' or ''Chuhad'' is a barbaric, an uncultured or a robber. During the British rule, primarily the [[Bhumij people|Bhumijas]] of the [[Jungle Mahals|Jungle Mahal]] area were called '''chuars''',<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Minz |first1=Diwakar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W5dVaq4_cLoC |title=Encyclopaedia of Scheduled Tribes in Jharkhand |last2=Hansda |first2=Delo Mai |date=2010 |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |isbn=978-81-7835-121-6 |language=en}}</ref> their main occupation was hunting of animals and birds and farming in the forests, but later some Bhumij became [[zamindar|''zamindars'']] and some started working as ''Ghatwals'' and ''Paiks'' (soldiers). When the [[East India Company]] started collecting revenue for the first time in 1765 AD in the Jangal Mahal district of Bengal, then in this conspiratorial way of the British, the water, forest, land grab activities were first opposed by the people of [[Bhumij people|Bhumij]] tribe and the revolution was blown against the British rulers in 1766 AD. When the Britishers asked who these people were, their stoic landlords addressed them as ''Chuar'' out of hatred and contempt, after which the name of that rebellion was 'Chuar Rebellion'.

== Rebellion ==
When the [[East India Company]] first began collecting revenue in the [[Jungle Mahals|Jangal Mahal district]] of [[Bengal Presidency|Bengal]] in 1765, the ''Chuars'' revolted against them. Various ethnic groups, viz. [[Bhumij people|Bhumij]], [[Sadgop]], [[Bagdi (caste)|Bagdi]], [[Kudmi Mahato|Kudmi]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Burman |first=B. K. Roy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_daAAAAAMAAJ&q=chuar+rebellion+kurmi |title=Tribes in Perspective |date=1994 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-535-7 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Adivasi Resistance in Early Colonial India (Comprising the Chuar Rebellion of 1799 By J.C. Price and Relevant Midnapore District Collectorate Records from the Eighteenth Century) {{!}} Exotic India Art |url=https://www.exoticindiaart.com/book/details/adivasi-resistance-in-early-colonial-india-comprising-chuar-rebellion-of-1799-by-j-c-price-and-relevant-midnapore-district-collectorate-records-from-eighteenth-century-naz720/ |access-date=2022-12-07 |website=www.exoticindiaart.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Mishra |first1=Asha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ul6fWJQOfzwC&dq=kudmi+in+chuar+revolt&pg=PA47 |title=Tribal Movements in Jharkhand, 1857–2007 |last2=Paty |first2=Chittaranjan Kumar |date=2010 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-8069-686-2 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last=Bayley | first=H.V. | title=Memoranda of Midnapore | location=Calcutta | year=1902 | pages=10–12}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title=History of Midnapore | volume=1 | first=Narendranath | last=Das | location=Midnapore | year=1956 | pages=20–21}}</ref> [[Bauri]] and other communities could not tolerate the British policy of resumption of land which they enjoyed since the Mughal period, joined the ''chuars''. In 1766, this tribal revolt started in [[Dhalbhum]], [[Manbhum]], [[Midnapore]] and [[Bankura district|Bankura]] districts of [[Jungle Mahals|Jungle Mahal]]. Jagannath Singh, zamindar of Ghatsila, led the rebellion with his five thousands of followers at [[Dhalbhum]] in 1766–71. In 1769, Jagannath Singh, Subal Singh and Shyam Gunjam Singh revolted along with 5000 Bhumijes of Dhalbhum and Barabhum. [[Raghunath Mahato]] also led the revolt in 1769 and was killed by the British in 1778.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Mishra |first1=Asha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ul6fWJQOfzwC&dq=raghunath+mahato&pg=PA46 |title=Tribal Movements in Jharkhand, 1857–2007 |last2=Paty |first2=Chittaranjan Kumar |date=2010 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-8069-686-2 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">झारखंड। लेखकः डाॅ अनुज कुमार धान एवं मंजू ज्योत्स्ना। प्रकाशकः प्रकाशन विभाग सूचना और प्रसारण मंत्रालय। भारत सरकार। प्रकाश कालः 2008। पृष्ठाः 113।</ref><ref name=":2">रघुनाथ महतोः विद्रोही "दी ग्रेट"। (चुहाड़ विद्रोह का संक्षिप्त वृत्तांत)। लेखकः डाॅ शशी भूषण महतो एवं रतन कुमार महतो। प्रकाशकः आदिवासी कुड़मी समाज, राँची। प्रकाश कालः 2010। पृष्ठाः 1–12।</ref> Again in 1770, Subal Singh of Kuilapal, Shyam Gunjam Singh of Dhadka and Dubraj Singh revolted against the British. The Chuar people intensified this rebellion in the surrounding areas of [[Manbhum]], [[Raipur, Bankura|Raipur]] and [[Panchet]]. It was later led by Jagannath Singh's son Baidyanath Singh and grandson [[Raghunath Singh (Bhumij)|Raghunath Singh]]. In 1782–84, Mangal Singh along with his allies also led this rebellion. The Chuar Rebellion was at its peak in 1798–99 under the leadership of [[Durjan Singh]], Lal Singh and Mohan Singh, but was crushed by the British Company's forces.

In early 1799, the Chuars were organized at three places around [[Midnapore]]: [[Bahadurpur, Paschim Bardhaman|Bahadurpur]], [[Salboni]] and [[Karnagarh]]. From here they launched guerrilla attacks. Among these was the residence of [[Rani Shiromani]] in Karnagarh, who actively led them. According to the letter written by the then collector, the Chuar rebellion continued to grow and by February 1799, they had occupied a continuous wide area of many villages around Midnapore. In March, Rani attacked with about 300 rebels and looted all the weapons of the Company's soldiers in the garh (local fort) of Karangarh. In July 1799, Gobardhan Dikpati burnt two villages of Shilda and revolted in [[Kshirpai]] and [[Anantapur, Purba Medinipur|Anantpur]] with his 400 rebels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Midnapore.in – Freedom Fighters of Midnapore |url=https://www.midnapore.in/fighters_gobordhan.html |access-date=2022-10-28 |website=www.midnapore.in}}</ref> This sequence of attacks and plunder continued till December 1799. Later, other zamindars, along with the Ghatwals and Paiks, spread this revolt to the entire [[Jungle Mahals|Jungle Mahal]] and the surrounding areas, which lasted till 1816. Even after this, the rebellion continued in some areas of [[Bengal]] in a sporadic form.

[[Ganga Narayan Singh]] led a revolt against the British in 1832–33, called [[Bhumij rebellion]]. The British also called it as '''Ganga Narain's Hungama''<nowiki/>' while many historians had written it as ''Chuar rebellion''.

== Leaders ==
Bhumij ''zamindars'' Jagannath Singh Patar of Dhalbhum, [[Rani Shiromani]] of Karnagarh, [[Durjan Singh]] of Raipur, [[Ganga Narayan Singh]] of Barabhum, [[Raghunath Singh (Bhumij)|Raghunath Singh]] of Dhalbhum, Subal Singh of Kuilapal, Shyam Ganjam Singh of Dhadka, Lakshman Singh of Barabhum, Baidyanath Singh of Dhalbhum, Raja Madhu Singh of Manbhum, Raja Mohan Singh of Juriah, Mangal Singh of Panchet, Lakshman Singh of Dulma, Lal Singh, Sunder Narayan Singh, Fateh Singh and ''Bagri'' leaders Achal Singh and Gobardhan Dikpati and Kudmi Mahato leader [[Raghunath Mahato]] and other ''Rajas'' of [[Midnapore]] and [[Jungle Mahals]] led this peasant rebellion at different periods during 1766–1833.

The Chuar Mutiny, led by [[Durjan Singh]], was at its height in 1798–99, but was crushed by the Company's army.

== See also ==
* [[Bhumij rebellion]]
* [[History of Bengal]]
* [[History of Jharkhand]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite book |last=Bhattacharya |first=Birendra Ku |url=http://purulia.nic.in/services/downloadforms/distgazetprl.pdf |title=West Bengal District Gazetteers: Puruliya |publisher=State editor, West Bengal District Gazetteers |year=1985 |pages=94–104 |language=en |archive-url=https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.18270 |archive-date=31 Oct 2018 |url-status=live}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Sengupta |first=Amrita |date= January 2020 | title=Adivasi resistance in the Jungle Mahals 1767–1799 |journal=NSOU-Open Journal | volume= 3 |issue=1|url=http://www.wbnsou.ac.in/openjournals/Issue/1st-Issue/January2020/Amrita-final.pdf |issn=2581-5415 }}
* {{Cite journal |first1=Supta |last1=Bhattacharya |first2=Ananda |last2=Bhattacharya |date= 1–19 August 2021 |url=http://joais.in/Journal/JAIS-Aug%25202021%2520Article%25201%2520A.pdf |journal=Journal of Adivasi and Indigenous Studies |issn=2394-5524 |title=The Adivasi Resistance in Jungle Mahal: A Case Study of Chuar Rebellion |volume=XI |issue=2 }}

[[Category:Bengal Presidency]]
[[Category:Rebellions in India]]
[[Category:History of Jharkhand]]
[[Category:Rebellions by ethnic group]]
[[Category:Bhumij]]
[[Category:18th century in British India]]

Chuar Rebellion - Revision history

Saurabh jain at 16:01, 29 March 2026

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article