Question

Explain the struggles before 1857.

Answer 1

Before 1857, the Indians fought against the British in the following ways:

Bhil Revolt:

1. In 1818, the British East India Company took complete charge of Khandesh. The Bhils in the region of Satpuda, Satmala, and Ajintha united against the British. Trimbakji Dengale, an advisor of Bajirao Peshwa II, was imprisoned by the British. He somehow managed to escape from the prison.
2. Under the leadership of Godaji and Mahipa, nephews of Trimbakaji Dengale, the Bhils revolted against the British. There were 8000 of them who participated in the revolt.
3. Captain Briggs blocked all the supplies coming to the Bhils. At the same time Mount Stuart Elphinston, a British officer adopted a policy of pacifying the Bhils.
4. Major Morin left no alternative for the Bhils but to surrender. Around 1822, the revolt under the leadership of Hariya Bhil was crushed by Captain Robinson.
5. Another revolt of the Bhils, in which thousands of Bhils participated, was crushed by Lieutenant Outram.

Revolt of the Paiks:

1. In 1803, the British took over Odisha from the Bhosale of Nagpur. The British seized the lands cultivated by the Paiks for generations. It enraged the Paiks.
2. Also, the salt tax made salt an unaffordable commodity making the daily life of people miserable. This situation resulted in an armed revolt by Paiks. Bakshi Jagbandhu Bidyadhar was the leader of this revolt.

Ramoshi Revolt:

1. In Satara District, the Ramoshi community revolted under the leadership of Chitursingh.
2. Santaji Naik and Urnaji Naik were among the captains heading the Ramoshi groups.
3. They seized the consignment of some money lender that was in transit from Pune to Mumbai.

As a result, the uprising occurred prior to 1857.