1. Moplahs, or Muslim peasants, created a powerful anti-zamindar movement in:
A. Tamil Nadu
B. Bengal
C. Kerala
D. Uttar Pradesh
Solution
The correct answer is Kerala.
Key Points
- Moplahs:-
- The Moplahs, also known as Mappilas, are a Muslim community indigenous to the Malabar Coast of Kerala, India.
- They are believed to have descended from Arab traders who settled in the region in the 9th century and intermarried with the local population.
- The Moplahs have a distinct culture and language, which is a mix of Malayalam and Arabic.
- They were one of the leading communities in the Malabar Rebellion of 1921, which was a peasant uprising against British colonial rule and the prevailing feudal system.
- The Moplahs have also made significant contributions to the fields of art, literature, and politics.
Additional Information
- Moplah Rebellion of 1921:-
- It was the culmination of a series of riots by Moplahs (Muslims of Malabar) in the 19th and early 20th centuries against the British and the Hindu landlords in Malabar (Northern Kerala).
- Most Moplahs were predominantly converted Hindus during Tipu Sultan’s capture of Malabar.
- The prominent leaders of the rebellion were Ali Musaliyar and Variyankunnath Kunjahammed Haji.
- In November 1921, 67 Moplah prisoners were killed when they were being transported in a closed freight wagon from Tirur to the Central Prison in Podanur. They died of suffocation. This event is called Wagon Tragedy.
2. Bastar Rebellion in central India broke out in _______.
A. 1905
B. 1910
C. 1915
D. 1918
Solution
The correct answer is 1910.
Key Points
- The Bhumkal Rebellion, also known as the Bastar Rebellion, was one of the major rebellions against British colonial rule in India.
- The rebellion was led by Gunda Dhur, a tribal leader from the village of Nethanar.
- He rallied the tribes and organised a guerrilla warfare against the British.
- The rebellion was named ‘Bhumkal’, meaning ‘Earthquake‘, symbolizing the shaking of the British administration.
- It took place in 1910.
- Bastar, located in the present-day state of Chhattisgarh, was a princely state during the British rule in India.
- The British administration introduced many new systems and policies that led to the economic exploitation and socio-cultural disruption of the tribal communities living there, which were primarily the Gond and Maria tribes.
3. Digambar Biswas and Bishnu Biswas led which of the following movements in 1859-60?
A. Munda Rebellion
B. Kuka Revolt
C. Indigo Revolt
D. Faraizi Movement
Solution
Digambar Biswas and Bishnu Biswas led Indigo Revolt in 1859-60.
Key Points
- In Bengal, the indigo planters, nearly all Europeans, exploited the local peasants by forcing them to grow indigo on their lands instead of the more paying crops like rice.
- The planters forced the peasants to take advance sums and enter into fraudulent contracts which were then used against the peasants.
- The planters intimidated the peasants through kidnappings, illegal confinements, flogging, attacks on women and children, seizure of cattle, burning, and demolition of houses, and destruction of crops.
- The anger of the peasants exploded in 1859 when led by Digambar Biswas and Bishnu Biswas of the Nadia district, they decided not to grow indigo under duress and resisted the physical pressure of the planters and their lathiyals (retainers).
- They also organized a counterforce against the planter’s attack.
- The ryots refused to pay the enhanced rents and physically resisted the attempts of evicting them.
- This revolt is also known as Neel Bidroh or the Blue Rebellion.
Hence, the correct answer is – Indigo Revolt.
4. In the Rajmahal Hills, if Paharia life was symbolised by hoe, then the Santhals represented by
A. Sickle
B. Plough
C. Axe
D. Knife
Solution
In the Rajmahal Hills, if Paharia life was symbolised by hoe, then the Santhals were represented by ‘Plough‘.
Important Points
- Paharis were the main residents of the Rajmahal hills.
- They practiced Jhoom cultivation and are very close to nature.
- In 1770’s the British embarked on a brutal policy of extermination, hunting the Paharias down and killing them.
- Then by the 1780’s, Augustus Cleveland, proposed a policy of pacification but this was refused by Paharias.
- As the Paharia pacification campaign continued, the Paharia withdrew deep into the mountains and carrying a war with outsider.
- But by this time there were new intimations of danger from Santhals.
- Santhals were pouring into the area, clearing forest, cutting down timber, ploughing land and growing rice and cotton.
- As the lower hills were taken over by Santhal settlers, the Paharias receded deeper into the Rajmahal hills.
- If Paharia life was symbolised by the hoe, which they used for shifting cultivation, the settlers came to represent the power of the plough.
- The battle between the hoe and the plough was a long one.
Thus, we can conclude that in the Rajmahal Hills, if Paharia life was symbolised by hoe, then the Santhals were represented by ‘Plough‘.
5. In which year was the Oudh Kisan Sabha set up?
A. 1930
B. 1925
C. 1920
D. 1928
Solution
The correct answer is 1920.
Key Points
- Oudh Kisan Sabha was set up in 1920.
- Oudh Kisan Sabha, also known as Awadh Kisan Sabha, was formed by Jawaharlal Nehru, Baba Ramachandra and others.
- It was formed to fight against the landlords and talukdars, who demanded exorbitant taxes and rents.
- After the 1857 revolt, the Awadh taluqdars had got back their lands.
- This strengthened the hold of the taluqdars or big landlords over the agrarian society of the province.
- The majority of the cultivators were subjected to high rents, summary evictions (bedakhali), illegal levies, renewal fees or nazrana.
- The First World War had hiked the prices of food and other necessities.
- This worsened the conditions of the UP peasants. Mainly due to the efforts of the Home Rule activists, Kisan sabhas were organised in UP.
Additional Information
- The United Provinces Kisan Sabha was set up in February 1918 by Gauri Shankar Mishra and Indra Narayan Dwivedi. Madan Mohan Malaviya supported their efforts. By June 1919, the UP Kisan Sabha had 450 branches.
- Other prominent leaders included Jhinguri Singh, Durgapal Singh and Baba Ramchandra.
- In June 1920, Baba Ramchandra urged Nehru to visit these villages. During these visits, Nehru developed close contacts with the villagers.
- In October 1920, the Awadh Kisan Sabha came into existence because of differences in nationalist ranks.
6. In the revolt of 1859, in which the farmers of Bengal refused to produce Indigo, it is known as __________.
A. Neel Rebellion
B. Red Revolt
C. Green Revolt
D. Yellow Uprising
Solution
The correct answer is
Key Points
- Indigo Revolt 1859:
- The revolt began in Govindpur village in the Nadia district of Bengal in 1859, where two peasants Digamber Biswas and Bishnu Biswas gave up indigo cultivation.
- The revolt was against British planters who had forced farmers to grow indigo under terms that were greatly unfavourable to the farmers.
- Followed by the struggle with the Lathials and the revolt spread in many parts of Bengal.
- They attacked the policemen who intervened.
- The planters, in response to this, increased the rents and evicted the farmers which led to more agitations.
- In April 1860, all the farmers in the Barasat division of the districts Nadia and Pabna went on strike and refused to grow indigo.
- The farmers were led by the Biswas brothers of Nadia, Rafiq Mondal of Malda and Kader Molla of Pabna.
- The revolt also received support from many zamindars notably Ramrattan Mullick of Narail.
- The revolt was suppressed and many farmers were slaughtered by the government and some of the zamindars.
- The press also supported the revolt and played its part in portraying the plight of the farmers and fighting for their cause.
- The play Nil Darpan (The Mirror of Indigo) by Dinabandhu Mitra written in 1858 – 59 portrayed the farmers’ situation accurately.
- It showed how farmers were coerced into planting indigo without adequate payment.
- The play became a talking point and it urged the Bengali intelligentsia to lend support to the indigo revolt.
- Reverend James Long translated the play into English on the authority of the Secretary to the Governor of Bengal, W S Seton-Karr.
- The planters who were treated as villains in the play sued Rev. Long for libel. Rev. Long was pronounced guilty and had to pay Rs.1000 as compensation and serve a month in prison.
7. With reference to the history of India, Majnum Shah, Bhawani Pathak and Debi Chaudhurani were associated with which of the following events?
A. The Revolt of 1857
B. Birsa Munda’s Revolt of 1899-1900
C. The Mappila Rebellion of 1921
D. Sanyasi Revolt of 1763-1800.
Solution
The correct answer is Sanyasi Revolt of 1763-1800.
Key Points
The Faqir-Sanyasi Resistance movement
- It was organized and led by Majnu shah.
- From 1763 onwards, the Sanyasi Revolt or uprising had engulfed the area of Bengal (including modern Bangladesh), Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh.
- He was a Sufi saint of the Madaria sect.
- He succeeded Shah Sultan Hasan Suriya Burhana to the leadership of the Bihar-based Madaria Sufi order in the mid-eighteenth century.
- Sanyasi-faqir rebellion commenced in the mid-1760s.
- The rebellion started from 1750 onwards but took a violent turn since 1773 when Warren Hastings assumed the governor-Generalship of Bengal and Bihar.
- Chirag Ali, Devi Chaudhurani, and Bhawani Pathak were also participating in this revolt. Hence, Option 4 is correct.
- Anandamath, written by India’s first modern novelist Bankim Chandra Chatterjee is the best reminder of the Sanyasi and Faqir Rebellion.
8. What was the main demand of the Bardoli Satyagraha organized under the leadership of Vallabhbhai Patel?
A. Granting land ownership right to tiller
B. Withdrawal of enhanced land revenue
C. Released of the Political prisoner arrested during Non-Cooperation Movement
D. Writing off peasant debts
Solution
The correct answer is Withdrawal of enhanced land revenue.
Key Points
- Bardoli Satyagraha movement:
- Started in 1928.
- The Congress leaders set up a Bardoli Inquiry Committee to go into the issue.
- The committee found the revenue hike to be unjustified.
- Vallabhbhai Patel was called to lead the movement for the withdrawal of the enhanced land revenue. Hence, option 2 is the correct answer.
- Under Patel, the Bardoli peasants resolved to refuse payments of the revised assessment until the Government appointed an independent tribunal or accepted the current amount as full payment.
- To organize the movement, Patel set up 13 chhavanis or workers’ camps in the taluka.
- The women of Bardoli gave him the title of Sardar.
- Those who opposed the movement faced a social boycott.
- Special emphasis was placed on the mobilization of women.
- K.M. Munshi and Lalji Naranji resigned from the Bombay Legislative Council in support of the movement.
- By August 1928, massive tension had built up in the area.
- There were prospects of a railway strike in Bombay.
- Gandhi reached Bardoli to stand by in case of any emergency.
- The Government appointed a committee that went into the whole affair and found the revenue hike to be unjustified and recommended a rise of 6.03 per cent only.
9. Which among the following year ‘Santhal revolt’ was occurred?
A. 1831 – 32 AD
B. 1844 – 46 AD
C. 1851 – 52 AD
D. 1855 – 56 AD
Solution
The correct answer is 1855 – 56 AD.
Key Points
- Santhal uprising was a rebellion of Santhal tribes settled in Rajmahal Hills in Bihar (Now in Jharkhand)against British and zamindars
- Santhal uprising was led by Siddhu and Kanhu.
- Santhal uprising took place during 1855-56.
- The tyrannical British revenue system, usury practices, and the zamindari system in India made Santhal peoples annoyed, and two Santhal brothers Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu organized 10,000 Santhals and proclaimed a rebellion against the British.
- The Santhals are one of the largest tribal groups in India, found primarily in Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha..
Additional Information
- Britishers invited the Santhals to come and settle in Jharkhand promising land and economic amenities.
- Thus Santhals from different states came to settle in today’s Jharkhand.
- Later zamindars dominated these areas as they collected taxes and lent money at very high rates which the people could not generally pay and their lands were forcibly taken.
- This became the roots of the Santhal rebellion.
- In a fierce encounter, Santhals were defeated as they were fighting with bows and arrows while Britishers had modern weapons.
- Sidhu was caught in August 1855 and was hanged on a banyan tree at a place called Panchkathia.
10. When did Indigo revolt, a peasant movement, start in India?
A. 1857
B. 1861
C. 1859
D. 1889
Solution
The correct answer is 1859.
Key Points
The Indigo Rebellion (Neel Bidroho) started in Bengal in March 1859 and was a revolt by the farmers against British planters who had forced them to grow indigo under terms that were greatly unfavorable to the farmers.
- The indigo farmers revolted in the Nadia district of Bengal by refusing to grow indigo.
- They attacked the policemen who intervened.
- The planters, in response to this, increased the rents and evicted the farmers which led to more agitations.
- In April 1860, all the farmers in the Barasat division of the districts Nadia and Pabna went on a strike and refused to grow indigo.
- The strike spread to other parts of Bengal.
- The anger of the peasants exploded in 1859 when led by Digambar Biswas and Bishnu Biswas of Nadia district, they decided not to grow indigo under duress and resisted the physical pressure of the planters.
- The revolt was suppressed and many farmers were slaughtered by the government and some of the zamindars.
- The revolt was backed by the Bengali intelligentsia, Muslims, and missionaries. The whole of the rural population supported the revolt.
- The press also supported the revolt and played its part in portraying the plight of the farmers and fighting for their cause.
From the above, we can conclude that the ‘Indigo Revolt’ took place in Bengal in March 1859.
Additional Information
| Peasant Revolt | Year | Region | Causes | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santhal Rebellion | 1855-1856 | Bengal Presidency (Present-day Jharkhand) | Land alienation, high taxes, and exploitation by moneylenders | Crushed by the British, significant loss of life among rebels, but raised awareness of peasant grievances |
| Deccan Riots | 1875 | Deccan | High taxes, economic distress, and drought | Suppression by British authorities; no significant changes |
| Pagal Panthis Uprising | 1878-1879 | Bihar and Bengal | Landlord oppression and demands for land redistribution | Suppression by British authorities; movement weakened but inspired future peasant movements |
| Mappila Uprising | 1921 | Malabar (Kerala) | Land issues, high taxes, and religious tensions | Brutally suppressed by British forces; large number of casualties |
| Bardoli Satyagraha | 1928-1929 | Gujarat | High land revenue and oppressive policies | Negotiated settlement; reduction in land revenue and improved conditions for peasants |
| Telangana Armed Struggle | 1946-1951 | Telangana | Landlord exploitation, oppressive feudal system, and poverty | Suppression by the Indian government; later led to land reforms and redistribution |
| Bardhaman-Tarakeswar Rebellion | 1946-1947 | Bengal | Demands for land redistribution and end of zamindari system | Suppression by British authorities; limited impact on the overall situation |
| Punnapra-Vayalar Uprising | 1946 | Kerala | Protests against high taxes and oppressive policies | Suppression by British forces; significant loss of life among rebels |
| Tebhaga Movement | 1946-1947 | Bengal | Demand for two-thirds share of crops for sharecroppers | Movement gained some concessions but ultimately suppressed by British authorities |
