Day 9 – Q.1. Analyse the impact of colonial policies on tribal communities in India. How did tribal resistance evolve in response to these disruptions? (150 words, 10 marks)

  • IASbaba
  • June 17, 2025
  • 0
Indian History & Post-Independence, TLP-UPSC Mains Answer Writing

Q.1. Analyse the impact of colonial policies on tribal communities in India. How did tribal resistance evolve in response to these disruptions? (150 words, 10 marks)


Introduction 

The colonial encounter deeply disrupted tribal ecosystems, dismantling their autonomy, land  rights, and socio-cultural institutions. As David Hardiman observes, “Colonial rule transformed  the tribals from autonomous communities into subordinated populations.”  

Body 

Impact of Colonial Policies on Tribal Communities  

  • Land Alienation: The introduction of the Zamindari system displaced tribals from  community-owned lands, as seen in Santhal areas, where many lost land to  moneylenders and landlords.  
  • Forest Restrictions: Forest Acts curtailed traditional rights like hunting and shifting  cultivation. The Gonds, for instance, were denied access to forest-based livelihood  practices.  
  • Labour Exploitation: Tribals like the Oraons were pushed into plantation labour under  semi-bonded conditions, especially in tea estates of Assam and Bengal. 
  • Cultural Disruption: Missionary activities led to mass conversions, changing religious  identities and weakening tribal belief systems, particularly among the Oraons. 
  • Displacement: Expansion of railways, mines, and plantations led to forced  displacement, as seen in Chotanagpur, where tribal settlements were uprooted. 
  • Criminalisation: The Criminal Tribes Act (1871) stigmatised communities like the  Pardhis and Kanjars, placing them under surveillance and limiting their mobility.  

Evolution of Tribal Resistance  

  • Spontaneous Uprisings: Early revolts like the Khond rebellion (1846) were direct  reactions to revenue demands and cultural interference.  
  • Militant Movements: The Santhal Hul (1855–56) became a major armed uprising  targeting colonial officials and landlords.  
  • Spiritual Leadership: Birsa Munda led the Ulgulan movement combining religious  revival with anti-colonial mobilisation and demands for land rights.  
  • Guerrilla Tactics: Alluri Sitarama Raju’s revolt (1922–24) used guerrilla warfare in  forested regions of Andhra to challenge British authority.  
  • Nationalist Alignment: Tribal anger merged with freedom movement goals, seen in  the Telangana armed struggle (1946–51) involving tribal peasants.  
  • Political Assertion: The Tana Bhagat movement reflected a shift toward non-violent,  Gandhian resistance, demanding rights and dignity within a constitutional framework.  

Conclusion 

Tribal resistance was not peripheral—it was a vital strand of India’s anti-colonial fabric. As  Ramachandra Guha notes, “the history of tribal revolts is also the history of India’s  conscience.” These revolts embodied resilience, dignity, and defiance.

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