Chapter 3 – Resistance and Rebellion | Chapter Solution Class 10

RESISTANCE AND REBELLION
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Book Name : Madhyamik History And Environment
Subject : History
Class : 10 (Madhyamik)
Publisher : Calcutta Book House(P) Ltd
Chapter Name : RESISTANCE AND REBELLION (CHARACTERISTICS AND ANALYSES)

Multiple Choice Question (MCQ)

Question 1

Who was affected by the Colonial Forest Act?

  1. Landlords
  2. Farmers
  3. Adivasis
  4. East India Company

Answer

(c) Adivasis

Explanation:

The Colonial Forest Act, which was enacted during the British colonial period in India, affected various groups of people including Adivasis (indigenous people of India). The Act gave the government control over the forests, restricted access to forests, and imposed penalties for illegal felling of trees and hunting. This often led to the displacement of Adivasis and loss of their traditional livelihoods, while farmers and landlords were also affected by restrictions on access to forest resources.

Question 2

Name any one leader of the Chuar Rebellion.

  1. Durjan Singha 
  2. Joyabhagat 
  3. Kanu
  4. Chil Nayek

Answer

(a) Durjan Singh

Explanation:

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.

Question 3

‘Chuar’ means-

  1. Higher caste people
  2. Lower caste people 
  3. Adivasi
  4. Civilized people

Answer

(c) Adivasi

Explanation:

“Chuar” generally refers to a tribe or community of Adivasi people, who are the indigenous peoples of India. The Chuar community is primarily found in the state of Jharkhand and has a distinct culture and way of life.

Question 4

Name any one leader of the Kol Rebellion.

  1. Buddhu Bhagat
  2. Sidhu
  3. Birsa Munda
  4. Dhiraj Ranjan

Answer

(a) Buddhu Bhagat

Explanation:

Buddhu Bhagat was a tribal leader who played a significant role in the Kol Rebellion, also known as the Birsa Munda Rebellion, which took place in the late 19th century in present-day Jharkhand, India. Buddhu Bhagat was one of the first leaders to join Birsa Munda in the rebellion and was known for his bravery and tactical skills.

Question 5

What was the symbol of the Santhal Rebellion?

  1. Banyan tree 
  2. Wood apple tree
  3. Banana tree
  4. Sal tree

Answer

(d) Sal tree

Explanation:

The symbol of the Santhal rebellion was a Sal tree. It was taken as the ideogram of Unity and Strength.

Question 6

When did the Santhal Rebellion start?

  1. 1855
  2. 1856
  3. 1857
  4. 1859

Answer

(a) 1855

Explanation:

The Santhal Rebellion, which was one of the most significant uprisings against British colonial rule in India, began in the year 1855. The rebellion was led by the Santhal people, who are one of the largest indigenous communities in India and was primarily a response to the exploitation and oppression faced by the community at the hands of British colonial authorities and local landlords.

Question 7

Which rebellion was led by Birsa Munda?

  1. Kol
  2. Rangpur
  3. Bhil 
  4. Munda

Answer

(d) Munda

Explanation:

Birsa Munda was a prominent leader of the Munda Rebellion, which took place in the late 19th century in present-day Jharkhand, India. The Kol Rebellion was a significant uprising against British colonial rule led by the Munda tribe and other indigenous communities in the region.

Question 8

Rangpur Rebellion started-

  1. Against Debi Singh 
  2. Against Nurul Uddin 
  3. Against Sidhu
  4. None of these

Answer

(a) Against Debi Singh

Explanation:

The main agenda was to unite the Hindu and Muslim communities in to defy Debi Singh and pay no taxes to him.

Question 9

The leader of Sanyasi Rebellion was-

  1. Majnu 
  2. Musha
  3. Chirag Ali
  4. Bhabani Pathak

Answer

(d) Bhabani Pathak

Explanation:

One of the prominent leaders of the rebellion was Bhabani Pathak, who was a sanyasi and a disciple of the famous ascetic, Bhagawan Murali. Pathak was known for his charisma and his ability to inspire his followers, and he played a significant role in mobilizing the rebellion.

Question 10

Who was the founder of the Farazi Movement?

  1. Shariat Ullah 
  2. Titumir
  3. Dudhu Mian
  4. Syed Ahmed

Answer

(a) Haji Shariatullah

Explanation:

The founder of the Faraizi Movement was Haji Shariatullah, who was a prominent Islamic scholar and reformer in Bengal during the early 19th century. Shariatullah was born in a village in the Mymensingh district of Bengal and later went to Mecca for the pilgrimage.

Very Short-Answer type questions

Question 1

Where did Rumpa Rebellion take place?

Answer

In 1879, Rumpa Rebellion take place at Godavari Basin.

Question 2

What is Damin-i-Koh?

Answer

The term Damin-i-Koh is of Persian origin and means “skirts of the hills”. It was used by the British colonial government to refer to the region in the 19th century.

The Damin-i-Koh region was home to a number of tribal groups, including the Santhals, Paharias, and Malpaharias. These groups had traditionally practiced shifting cultivation and hunting and gathering in the forests of the region.

Question 3

What is the meaning of ‘Diku’?

Answer

Enemy or outsiders in the Santhal-inflicted areas.

Question 4

What is the meaning of ‘Hool’?

Answer

The meaning of ‘Hool’ is Revolt.

Question 5

Name one leader of the Santhal Rebellion.

Answer

Sidhu.

Question 6

Who are the worshippers of ‘Singabonga?

Answer

Mundas.

Write True or False

Question 
  1. Wahabi means reawakening.
  2. Titumir destroyed the Bamboo Fort
  3.  Tipu Garo was the leader of the Pagla-Ponthi Rebellion.
  4. Tariq-i-Mohammadia means prophet.

Answer

  1. True; Wahabi means regeneration.
  2. False; Titumir constructed a bamboo fort. He and his 600 followers defended the fort with green wood apples, brickbats, bows-arrow, etc. but were defeated by the British army and the bamboo fort was reduced to ruin.
  3. True
  4. False; Tariq-i-Mohammadia means the path or way of Prophet Muhammad, not Prophet itself.

Match the columns

Left Column ‘A’ Right Column ‘B’
2.3.1. Sanyasi Rebellion 1. Bishnucharan Biswas
2.3.2. Rangpur Rebellion 2. Birsa Munda
2.3.3. Indigo Revolt 3. Dhiraj Ranjan
2.3.4. Munda Rebellion 4. Debi Chowdhurani
Answer
Left Column ‘A’ Right Column ‘B’
2.3.1. Sanyasi Rebellion 4. Debi Chowdhurani
2.3.2. Rangpur Rebellion 3. Dhiraj Ranjan
2.3.3. Indigo Revolt 1. Bishnucharan Biswas
2.3.4. Munda Rebellion 2. Birsa Munda
Or,
Left Column ‘A’ Right Column ‘B’
2.3.5 Jangal Mahal 1. Santhal 
2.3.6 Bhagnadihi 2. Chuar 
2.3.7 Dharti Aba 3. Way
2.3.8 Tarika 4. Father
Answer
Left Column ‘A’ Right Column ‘B’
2.3.5 Jangal Mahal 2. Chuar
2.3.6 Bhagnadihi 1. Santhal
2.3.7 Dharti Aba 4. Father
2.3.8 Tarika 3. Way

Fill in the blanks

Question 
  1. Name one leader of the ‘Rangpur Rebellion’ was ____.
  2. Bhil Rebellion started in Maharashtra in ____.
  3. Sidhu was the leader of ____ Rebellion.
  4. Titumir was the leader of ____ revolt.

Answer

  1. Sk Nuruluddin
  2. 1819
  3. Santhal rebellion
  4. Barasat

Give the correct interpretation

Question 

Statement: Taking possession of Damin-i-Koh was the main reason Santhal Rebellion 

  • Interpretation 1: It is fertile land, 
  • Interpretation 2: Area with religious value and Tax-Free land, 
  • Interpretation 3: Grazing land of Santhals.

Answer

Interpretation 2: Area with religious value and Tax-Free land

Answer each in Two or Three sentences 

Question 1

What was the cause of the Rumpa Rebellion?

Answer

The main causes of the Rumpa Rebellion were:

  • Rumpa Tribe had to pay taxes for cutting trees or grazing their animals in the forest.
  • Rumpa Tribe lost their khutkathi due to the implementation of Forest law in 1859.

Question 2

Who are known as ‘Chuar’?

Answer

The term “Chuar” is a historical and derogatory term used for a community of people who were traditionally involved in hunting and gathering activities in the Chotanagpur Plateau region of eastern India, which includes parts of present-day Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha.

Question 3

Mention two important characteristic features of Kol Rebellion.

Answer

The two important characteristic features of the Kol Rebellion were

  1. This rebellion spread quickly over the forested area of Manbhum, Singbhum, Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Palamau and Chhotanagpur.
  2. This Rebellion aimed their attack exclusively on the landlords, hoarders, moneylenders and British officials.

Question 4

What do you understand by the term ‘Damin-i-Kohi’?

Answer

Damin-i-Koh was the land of Santhals situated in the Rajmahal hills. The British persuaded the Santhals to live in the foothills of Rajmahal by giving land to them. By 1832, a large part of the land was demarcated as Damin-i-Koh and was declared as the land of Santhals. They had to live in this region, practise plough agriculture and had to become settled agriculturalists.

Question 5

Mention two reasons of the Santhal Rebellion.

Answer

The two main causes of the Santhal Rebellion were

  1. When taxes were imposed on them, they had to borrow from the moneylenders at steep rates of interest,
  2. Being heavily in debt, the Santhal people had to sell off all their worldly possessions in order to repay their loans.

Question 6

Who was Birsa Munda?

Answer

Birsa Munda was a prominent tribal leader and freedom fighter from the Munda tribe of Chhotanagpur region in present-day Jharkhand, India. He was born in 1875 in a small village called Ulihatu, and he played a significant role in the indigenous uprisings against the British colonial government in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Question 7

What was the leading cause of the Rangpur Rebellion? 

Answer

The main cause of the Rangpur Rebellion (1783) was the imposition of a high land tax on the landlords and tenants by the leaseholder Debi Singh. If the landlords or tenants were unable to pay the taxes on time, they were oppressed in many ways, and their properties were confiscated. The rebellion was a result of the farmers’ dissatisfaction and their desire to establish an independent local government.

Question 8

Give the names of two important leaders of the Bhil Rebellion.

Answer

Chil Nayek and Hiriya were two important leaders of the Bhil Rebellion (1818-1846).

Question 9

What was the main cause of the Sanyasi Rebellion?

Answer

The main cause of the Sanyasi Rebellion were

  1. Economic distress: Peasants in Bengal suffered due to high taxes, forced cultivation of indigo, and an oppressive revenue system under British rule.
  2. Religious resentment: British restrictions on traditional religious practices led to resentment among Sannyasis and Fakirs who felt their way of life was threatened.
  3. Political oppression: British laws and regulations curtailed political and social rights, leading to a rebellion by Sannyasis and Fakirs who sought to assert their independence.

Question 10

What are the meanings of ‘Farazi’ and ‘Wahabi’?

Answer

‘Farazi’ means followers of the command of Allah.

‘Wahabi’ means regeneration.

Question 11

What are the main features of the Farazi Rebellion?

Answer

The Farazi Movement is characterised by these features-

  1. To remove all superstitions prevalent in Islam, provide financial independence to people and secure an independent state.
  2. It also aimed at ending tyranny and frustration and introducing hope in the minds of people for a new life.
  3. The Farazi Movement had started to deal with religious issues, but in course of time, it took a political turn. Many Hindu farmers also joined the movement.

Question 12

Why is Titumir remembered even today?

Answer

Titumir, also known as Mir Nishar Ali (1782-1831), is remembered as a heroic figure in the history of Bengal for his leadership in the Barasat Revolt of 1831. He played an active role in spreading the Wahabi Movement in Bengal and was known for his opposition to the British East India Company and the local zamindars (landlords) who oppressed the peasants and workers.

Question 13

What was mentioned in the report published by the ‘Indigo Commission’?

Answer

J. P. Grant, the Deputy Viceroy of Bengal, constituted the Indigo Commission on 31st December 1860. This five-member Commission reported that on principle, the cultivation of Indigo was harmful and erroneous. At the recommendations of the Indigo Commission, the price of Indigo was increased.

Question 14

Give an account of Damin-i-Koh.

Answer

Damin-i-Koh was the land of Santhals situated in the Rajmahal hills. The British persuaded the Santhals to live in the foothills of Rajmahal by giving land to them. By 1832, a large part of the land was demarcated as Damin-i-Koh and was declared as the land of Santhals. They had to live in this region, practise plough agriculture and had to become settled agriculturalists.

Question 15

What was the aim of the Tana Bhagat Movement?

Answer

Tana Bhagat Movement (1914-1920) was a movement in the Chhotanagpur area of British India against the policies of the local British authorities and exploitative business practices of local zamindars, mostly by the Oraon people.

Analytical questions

Question 1

Discuss and compare the three terms Rebellion, uprising and revolt.

Answer

  1. Rebellion:
  • A rebellion refers to a prolonged and organized effort to resist or overthrow an established authority or government.
  • It is often characterized by an ongoing campaign of resistance and the formation of a revolutionary movement with specific political or social goals.
  • Rebellion is typically a long-term struggle, which may last for months or even years.
  1. Uprising:
  • An uprising is a sudden and spontaneous movement of people who rise up against an established authority, often in response to a specific event or circumstance.
  • It may involve large crowds of people engaging in protests or demonstrations and may be characterized by violence or civil disobedience.
  • Uprisings can be short-lived and may occur without a clear plan or specific demands.
  1. Revolt:
  • A revolt is a sudden and violent rebellion against an established authority or government.
  • It often involves a group of people rising up against a ruling power, with the goal of overthrowing it or forcing it to change its policies.
  • Revolts are typically characterized by their intensity and violent nature and may be short-lived.

Question 2

Analyse the features of kol Rebellion.

Answer

The features of Kol Rebellion were

  1. The Kol Rebellion began in 1831-32 in response to the oppression of the Kol tribals by landlords, moneylenders, and the British Government.
  2. The rebellion spread quickly over forested areas of Manbhum, Singbhum, Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Palamau, and Chhotanagpur.
  3. The rebels aimed their attacks exclusively on the landlords, hoarders, moneylenders, and British officials, protesting against leasing out the land to Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh moneylenders who charged exorbitant taxes.
  4. The rebellion was characterized by mass movement and collective action, and the Kols used the term “diku” to refer to their oppressors.
  5. The rebellion was triggered by the high rate of land tax and the introduction of new leasing laws, which caused discontent among the Kol tribe.
  6. The rebellion was initially started by the Munda and Oraon people of Ranchi, who distributed bows and arrows and asked people to unite against the three oppressors, namely, moneylenders, leaseholders, and the government.

Question 3

Discuss the importance of Munda Rebellion.

Answer

RESISTANCE AND REBELLION

  1. Overview: The Munda Rebellion was an armed uprising by the Munda tribe of Chota Nagpur against British colonial rule in India. The rebellion lasted from 1899 to 1900 and was one of the largest tribal uprisings against British rule in India.
  2. Causes: The main causes of the Munda Rebellion were economic exploitation, land alienation, forced labor, and cultural suppression by the British colonial authorities. The British had introduced various policies that adversely affected the tribal way of life, including the introduction of the zamindari system, which led to land alienation and the imposition of various taxes, including the chowkidari tax, which forced many Mundas into debt.
  3. Features: The rebellion was characterized by widespread violence and unrest, with many Mundas taking up arms against the British. The Mundas used guerrilla tactics to attack British officials and their allies, and they also launched attacks on police stations and other government buildings. The rebellion was largely localized to the Chota Nagpur region, but it spread to other areas of eastern India as well.
  4. Spread: The Munda Rebellion spread rapidly throughout Chota Nagpur, with many Mundas joining the rebellion in response to British oppression. The rebellion also spread to neighbouring areas, with many other tribal communities joining in the fight against British rule.
  5. Results: The Munda Rebellion ultimately failed to achieve its objectives, with the British colonial authorities brutally suppressing the rebellion.

Question 4

Give an account of the revolt of Titumir.

Answer

RESISTANCE AND REBELLION

In Bengal, the Barasat Revolt (1831) of Titumir took place for political and religious reasons. Titumir (Mir Nishar Ali 1782-1831) took an active role in spreading the movement in Bengal. During this time, his nephew Commander Golam Masum and his colleague Moinuddin were his main associates. Many lower caste Hindus also joined the forces of Titumir. He constructed a bamboo fort or banserkella in a village called Narkelberia, ten kilometres from Baduria police station, and started collecting taxes by ignoring the British Administration. Titumir and his 600 followers defended the fort with green wood apples, brick bats, bows-arrows, spears etc., but was defeated by the British army and the bamboo fort was reduced to ruins. When Lord Bentinck forbade him to do so, a fierce battle was raised between the two groups. They attacked the British forces from the bamboo fortress on 19th November 1831. At the instructions of Bentinck, they bombarded the bamboo fortress with cannon shells and most of the soldiers perished. This incident came to be known as the ‘Barasat Revolt’

Question 5

Discuss the importance of Indigo Revolt.

Answer

RESISTANCE AND REBELLION

Results or Importance :

  • Firstly, Formation of the Indigo Commission- Going by the results, the Indigo Revolt was a Successful Farmers’ rebellion. Having felt the intensity of the revolt, J. P. Grant, the Deputy Viceroy of Bengal, constituted the Indigo Commission on 31st December 1860. This reported five-member commission principle, the cultivation of indigo was harmful and erroneous. At the recommendations of the Indigo Commission, the price of indigo increased.
  • Secondly, ‘Teen kathiya’, or the system of cultivating indigo in three kottas of land for every bigha, was introduced. There should be no coercion. Luckily, by 1891, Germany started producing synthetic indigo and as a result the importance of indigo cultivation in India was greatly reduced. The business of natural indigo came to an end.
  • Thirdly, The importance of this revolt was accepted in an article in Calcutta Review which stated that ‘this was indeed a revolt’-the whole country participated in it. The Indigo Revolt which started two years after the Sepoy Mutiny continued for two long years. Considering its outcome and importance, the Indigo Revolt is very significant.
  • Fourthly, The main objective of the Indigo Revolt was not political, but economic. The poor farmers united with strong determination and started the revolt against economic oppression and wilfulness. Almost 60 lakh farmers of Bengal, without any military training, leaped in to the revolt. Prof Chittabroto Palit feels that in this revolt the peasants, as such, had no role to play. The landlords participated actively and spontaneously in order to safeguard their own interests.

Question 6

Discuss the Farazi Movement.

Answer

RESISTANCE AND REBELLION

The Wahabi-Farazi Rebellion of Bengal-Characteristics and Analyses :

  • Farazi Rebellion (1818-1905): Haji Shariyatullah (1781-1837) was the pioneer of the Farazi movement in India. The Farazi Movement lasted from 1818 to 1906. The word Farazi means ‘mandatory duties as per Islam’.
  • Characteristics: The Farazi Movement is characterised by these features-
  1. To remove all superstitions prevalent in Islam, provide financial independence to people and secure an independent state.
  2. It also aimed at ending tyranny and frustration and introducing hope in the minds of people for a new life.
  3. The Farazi Movement had started to deal with religious issues, but in course of time, it took a political turn. Many Hindu farmers also joined the movement.
  • Importance: The ideology of the Farazi Movement was not contained within Dhaka, Pabna, Bakhargunj, Mymensingh, Noakhali and Khulna alone, but it spread to Tripura and West Bengal also. After the death of Dudhu Mian (1862), his son Noah Mian again changed the Farazi Movement into a religious movement.
    (i) Firstly, because of narrow religious principles, the Hindu-Muslim unity did not hold ground.
    (ii) Secondly, the absence of political consciousness, real life experience and definite goals resulted in the failure of the movement.
    (iii) Thirdly, when Dudhu Mian was imprisoned, the movement became rudderless without a leader.

Question 7

Discuss the features of the Wahabi Movement.

Answer

RESISTANCE AND REBELLION

The features of the Wahabi Movement are

  • The Wahabi Movement had religious, political, economic and other features.
  • It was primarily a movement by the Muslims and for the Muslims, although Hindus also joined.
  • It started as a fight against religious superstitions and lower caste oppressed Hindus also joined.
  • Politically, it was an uninterrupted fight against British rule till 1870.
  • They called British-ruled India as ‘land of the enemy’ (dar-ul-harb) and aimed to establish the ‘land of piety (dar-ul-Islam)’.
  • The movement was communistic in nature and became an economic revolt of the peasants against the landlords.

Explanatory questions

Question 1

What are the characteristic features of the Chaur Rebellion? Give a brief account of the Kol Rebellion.

Answer

The characteristic features of the Chaur Rebellion are:

  1. The Chuar Rebellion was a fight to maintain the Chuar tribals’ rights over the forest resources and land given by landlords.
  2. The landlords started to forcibly take away the lands belonging to the Chuar people after the introduction of the Permanent Settlement Act (1793) in Bengal.
  3. Rani Shiromoni, the queen of Karnagarh, took the leadership of the revolt in north-west Medinipur, and her three main centres were Shalbani, Bahadur, and Karnagarh.
  4. Chuar rebels, under the leadership of Durjon Singha, occupied 30 villages of Raipur and burned down Government offices in Salboni.

The Kol Rebellion, 1831-32

The Kol Rebellion took place in 1831-32 in the Chhotanagpur area of Bihar. The rebellion was mainly led by the Kol community, who revolted against the landlords, money-lenders and the British Government. After the introduction of the Permanent Settlement Act, the oppression of the Kol tribals increased, which led to the rebellion. However, in the Battle of Chaibasa in 1820-21, the Kols were defeated by the British forces who were armed with modern firearms.

Characteristics of Kol Rebellion:

  • The Kol Rebellion took place in 1831-32 in the Chhotanagpur area of Bihar.
  • The main leaders of the rebellion were Buddha Bhagat, Bindrai Manki, Sui, Munda, etc.
  • The rebellion quickly spread over forested areas of Manbhum, Singbhum, Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Palamau, and Chhota Nagpur.
  • For two months, the rebels targeted landlords, hoarders, moneylenders, and British officials.
  • The rebels protested against leasing out land to Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh moneylenders who charged exorbitant taxes.
  • Mass movement and collective action were important features of the rebellion.

Question 2

Give an account of Santhal Rebellion along with its importance.

Answer

Beginning of Santhal Rebellion : The Santhal Rebellion or Hool was an unrest that started in 1855 as a result of the demand for Permanent Settlement. It began as a fight to maintain the Santhals’ rights over the trees of the forest in the ‘damin i koh’ or foothill lands. The Santhals, who were a united and close-knit group, became angry when outsiders such as zamindars, moneylenders, and others started troubling them. The rebellion was initially restricted to the non-taxable lands, covering 1366 square miles, of which 866 square miles was surrounded by hills, and 500 square miles were agricultural land.

Characteristic of the Santhal Rebellion

  1. The Santhal Rebellion began in 1855.
  2. The Santhals were peace-loving forest dwellers living in a vast area between Rajmahal in Bihar and Murshidabad in West Bengal.
  3. The rebellion was a response to the oppression of landlords, double-crossing leaseholders, and government policies to increase taxes.

Importance of the Santhal Rebellion

  1. The Santhal Rebellion had far-reaching effects and spread rapidly across various regions.
  2. The English army crushed the revolt, but the Government had to create a separate area called ‘Santhaldihi Paragana’ for the Santhal community.
  3. The rebellion showed that even unarmed farmers could build resistance and turn it into a large-scale rebellion.
  4. The rebellion spread to non-tribal people and lower-caste Hindus.
  5. The Government created a separate reserve for the Santhal people and reserved parts of the forest land for them under the Forest Act of 1859.

Question 3

Discuss the achievements of Birsa Munda.

Answer

Birsa Munda was a charismatic tribal leader and freedom fighter who played an important role in India’s struggle for independence. He was born in 1875 in the Munda tribe of Chhotanagpur Plateau, which is now in Jharkhand.

Birsa Munda’s main goal was to unite the tribes of Chhotanagpur and lead them in a rebellion against British rule. He began his movement in 1895, and within a year he had a large following among the tribal communities of the region.

Some of the notable achievements of Birsa Munda are:

  1. Uniting the Tribes: Birsa Munda’s most significant achievement was uniting the tribes of Chhotanagpur, which had been divided among themselves for generations. He urged the tribal people to shed their differences and come together to fight against the common enemy, the British.
  2. Revolt against the British: Birsa Munda led a revolt against British rule in the region in 1895. He attacked British officials, destroyed government property and mobilized the tribal people to resist British rule. Although the revolt was eventually suppressed by the British, Birsa Munda’s legacy lived on and inspired other freedom fighters.
  3. Propagation of Culture: Birsa Munda was a champion of tribal culture and traditions. He encouraged the tribal people to embrace their culture and resist the cultural assimilation policies of the British. He advocated for the revival of traditional practices and beliefs and opposed the imposition of Western culture and education.
  4. Formation of a New Religion: Birsa Munda founded a new religion called the “Jharkhand Movement,” which was a blend of traditional tribal beliefs and Christianity. The movement attracted many followers and played a significant role in the social and political transformation of the tribal communities.

Question 4

Make a comparative discussion of the Farazi and Wahabi Movements.

Answer

Farazi Movement Wahabi Movement
Founder: Haji Shariatullah Founder:  Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab
Time period: Early 19th century Time period: 18th century
Goal: Reform Muslim society through a return to the teachings of the Quran and Hadith, emphasizing education, social justice, and Islamic values Goal: Purify Islam by returning to the original teachings of the Quran and Hadith, rejecting innovations and false beliefs
Beliefs: A moderate form of Islam Beliefs: A literal interpretation of the Quran and Hadith
More successful in achieving goals, had significant influence on the Bengal region, contributed to spreading of modern education and the rise of the Muslim middle class, played a role in the formation of the Muslim League Limited impact on mainstream Muslim society, mainly confined to the northwest frontier region, influenced Islamic revivalist movement in India, played a role in regional politics

Question 5

Write a short essay on Indigo Revolt.

Answer

The Indigo Revolt, also known as the Nilbidroha, was a peasant uprising against the oppressive indigo plantation system in Bengal, India, in the late 19th century. The indigo planters forced the peasants to cultivate indigo on their land, which was a cash crop that was in high demand in Europe. The peasants were forced to grow indigo instead of food crops, and they were paid very little for their labour. The indigo planters also imposed heavy taxes and fines on the peasants, which made their lives even more difficult.

The Indigo Revolt was sparked by a group of peasants who refused to cultivate indigo on their land and organized a protest against the planters. The movement spread quickly, and soon, thousands of peasants joined the revolt. The revolt was led by leaders like Digambar Biswas, Bishnu Biswas, and many others.

The Indigo Revolt was one of the first peasant uprisings against British rule in India, and it was a significant challenge to British authority. The British responded to the revolt with force, and many peasants were arrested and punished severely. However, the revolt also drew attention to the plight of the peasants and led to the passing of the Indigo Commission in 1860, which made it illegal for planters to force peasants to cultivate indigo.

The Indigo Revolt was a turning point in the history of the Indian peasant movement, and it inspired many other movements against British rule. The revolt also led to the growth of nationalist sentiment in India and played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. The Indigo Revolt was a reminder that the peasants were an important force in Indian society and that their struggles could not be ignored.

Question 6

Discuss the features of the Indigo Revolt.

Answer

The Indigo Revolt was a widespread rebellion that took place in Bengal in the late 19th century. Some of the key features of the Indigo Revolt include:

  1. Forced cultivation: The British planters forced the local farmers to cultivate indigo on their lands instead of other crops, which led to a significant reduction in the income of the farmers.
  2. Exploitative practices: The planters imposed unfair contracts on the farmers, which included provisions such as compulsory cultivation of indigo, the provision of free labour, and the payment of high rents.
  3. Low wages: The planters paid very low wages to the farmers, which made it difficult for them to make ends meet.
  4. Revolt: The farmers organized themselves and launched a massive uprising against the British planters. They formed a resistance movement and attacked the indigo factories and the planters’ houses.
  5. Leadership: The Indigo Revolt was led by Digambar Biswas and Bishnu Biswas, who mobilized the farmers and organized them into a powerful resistance movement.
  6. Non-violent protests: The farmers used a range of non-violent protests such as strikes, boycotts, and peaceful demonstrations to highlight their grievances.
  7. Response of the British: The British initially responded to the revolt with violence and repression, but eventually, they had to bow down to the demands of the farmers and change their policies towards indigo cultivation.
  8. Impact: The Indigo Revolt played a crucial role in the development of the Indian nationalist movement. It served as an inspiration for future peasant movements and was one of the earliest examples of successful resistance against British rule.

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