The People’s Resistance in India represents a wide-ranging struggle against British rule, involving peasants, artisans, tribals, military personnel, and religious leaders. From early protests in Benares and Surat to uprisings in Bareilly, these movements reflect the resilience and unity of Indian society. Understanding the causative factors, genesis, and forms of resistance is crucial for students preparing for Indian history exams.
People’s Resistance in India (1810–1816): Defining the Scope Against British Rule
Scope and Participants:
(i) The term ‘people’ encompassed various sections of Indian society affected by colonial rule, including peasants, artisans, tribals, ruling classes, military personnel, and religious leaders.
(ii) Participants sometimes acted individually, sometimes united, to protect their interests against British exploitation.
(iii) Examples:
Agitation in Benares in 1810 against a house tax imposed by the colonial government
Surat riots in 1814 against the salt duty
Rising in Bareilly in 1816 against police tax and municipal taxes
(iv) According to Bipan Chandra, resistance took three broad forms: civil rebellions, tribal uprisings, and peasant movements. Military revolts involving Indians in the Company’s forces are also considered a form of people’s resistance.
Genesis of People’s Resistance: Roots of Anti-British Sentiment
Protests in pre-colonial India laid the groundwork, but the establishment of British colonial policies intensified grievances, pushing people towards organized resistance.
Pre-Colonial Protests and Early Grievances
(i) High land revenue demands and corrupt practices of State officials provoked local protests.
(ii) Colonial rule exacerbated conditions, as the Company prioritized revenue extraction over people’s welfare.
Tribal Resistance
(i) Encroachment into independent tribal territories intensified anger and violent resistance.
(ii) Tribal communities faced conditions similar to the mainland but with added intrusion into their autonomy.
Causative Factors for People’s Uprisings Against British Rule
The uprisings were triggered by oppressive economic, social, and administrative measures imposed by the British.
Economic Exploitation
(i) Colonial land revenue settlements and heavy taxes, eviction of peasants, and encroachment on tribal lands.
(ii) Exploitation in rural society due to intermediary revenue collectors, tenants, and money-lenders.
(iii) Loss of tribal control over agricultural and forest land due to expanded revenue administration.
Impact on Indigenous Industry
(i) Promotion of British manufactured goods and high duties on Indian exports devastated handloom and handicraft industries.
(ii) Destruction of local industry forced workers to migrate to agriculture, increasing pressure on land resources.
Summary: People’s Resistance Against British Rule
The People’s Resistance in India illustrates the widespread opposition to British rule from 1810 to 1816, involving peasants, artisans, tribals, military personnel, and religious leaders. Triggered by economic exploitation, oppressive taxes, and industrial disruption, these uprisings demonstrate the resilience of Indian society. Knowledge of these events is crucial for students of Indian history as it shows the evolution of organized resistance prior to larger nationalist movements.
