Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research ISSN NO: 0022-1945

Tribal Revolts in British : A Study of the Revolts of Gonds Dr . Shipra P G Dept of History Magadh University , Bodh – Gaya , Bihar , India

Abstract : The present study was conducted to assess the tribal revolts in British India: A Study of the revolts of Gonds. Almost everyone in India knows by heart that British ruled India for 200 years. The tribal of India, 1ike.other social groups, participated in the anti-colonial movement. The tribal anti-colonial movements were of two types - .first, the movements against their oppressors i.e. landlords, money-lenders, traders, thekedars (contractors), government officials and Christian missionaries and second, the movements which were linked to and merged with the Indian, National movement. There were more than 70 tribal revolts over a period of 70 years (1778 to 1948) the researcher has highlighted some of important tribal revolt. Keywords: Tribal revolt, British India, Bisra Munda, Gonds Introduction : India as a country has seen several tribal movements across Bihar (1772), Andhra Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram and Nagaland. Tribal movements in India have seen various shades from being agrarian and forest-based to being ethnic in nature, when tribal directed their revolt against zamindars, moneylenders and even government officials. The Tribal rebellion in India took place for social, cultural and political reasons, particularly against the acquisition of their land and exerted their rights over forest resources. British colonial rule in India precipitated a period of intense rebellion among the country's indigenous groups. Most tribal conflicts occurred in the British provinces, and many historians have documented how a host of colonial policies gave rise to widespread rural unrest and violence. The British had made all efforts to exploit the the downtrodden tribal people. The tribal especially in central India, had reacted against their exploiters. These movements were directed towards freeing their land from all those who exploited them economically and culturally. At the same time, each of these movements put emphasis on revitalisation of their culture, their traditional culture which was swayed under the impact of the outsiders. As soon as the British took over Eastern India, tribal revolts broke out to challenge alien rule. In the early years of colonialisation, no other community in India offered such heroic resistance to British rule or faced such tragic consequences as did the numerous Advise Communities of now , Chhattisgarh, Orissa and . Objective : tribal and tribal revolts during British India The objective of the study was to highlight complete grievances of various classes of the. Tribal : Tribal are economically backward, geographically isolated, to have a common dialect, the least desire to change and to have customary laws. Those tribes who live by hunting in forests earn their livelihood through collection of edible roots and fruits, hunting and fishing. This

Volume XII, Issue III, March/2020 Page No:48 Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research ISSN NO: 0022-1945

class of tribes is found mostly in southern India. A vast chunk of Indian tribes are engaged in shifting cultivation on hilly or mountainous tracts of north-eastern and central India. Some of the Indian tribes earn their livelihood through cottage industries. They are engaged in basket and mat making, weaving, blacksmith, etc., and supplement the need8 of their neighbouring tribal and non-tribal societies. Asur of Bihar and Agarjra of Madhya Pradesh are proficient in iron smelting, the Kolams of Maharashtra are traditional mat weavers and the lrula of Tamil Nadu make beautiful mats and baskets from bamboo. Another class of tribes earn their livelihood by performing dances, acrobatics, snake charming etc., and hence they may be termed as 'folk artist'. Among the tribes engaged in agricultural labour are those which are traditionally agriculturists but due to their landlessness they work as agricultural labour on other's land. According to a conservative estimate about one-fifth of the total tribal population is engaged in agriculture as wage earners. Non-agricultural tribal labour force includes those tribes who are working in local factories and mines of Bihar, Orissa and Bengal and tea plantations of Assam and neighbouring areas. The tribal are poor, devoid of formal education and oppressed by fears. Economic aspects of tribal : The tribal economy is largely influenced by the habitat in which they are living and the level of knowledge about the natural resources and skills. The factors governing the production, distribution and consumption are different in tribal areas. They are more or less guided by ethnic, cultural and non-monetary factors. It is almost obvious that the tribal communities in India are extremely backward and poverty-stricken. Agriculture in the tribal region has remained backward due to natural, technological as well as institutional factors. Tribal economy is intimately connected with the forest and their economy. The forest regions are generally inhabited by the tribal communities who are at one of the earlier stages of economic development when compared to other communities in the country. Generally, forests and tribal are inseparable and existence and development of one depends on the other. Therefore it is said that tribal communities in India largely occupy forested regions where for a long period in their history, they have lived in isolation but in harmony with nature. Tribal Revolts : Tribal are peace-loving people. Their attachment to the land is unmatched. They have generally resisted invasions on their territory. But well-developed sections took undue advantage of the ignorance of the tribal and exploited them thoroughly. The British made serious efforts to penetrate in to the tribal areas mainly for laying communication network with a view to strengthen their administrative control. They wanted trouble free passage for their mail runners who were obstructed by the tribal while passing through their areas. The British infiltration into the tribal areas was strongly protested by the tribal and had at times resulted in violent reactions. Tribal got angry when British transfer tribal land to the outsiders like merchants and moneylenders which caused a great threat to the hereditary independent power of the tribal chiefs. They revolted the despotic law and order of the British Company. This uprising spread over Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Palamau and . British ruthlessly suppressed the revolt and established their control over Kol tribal areas. The British therefore adopted a double-edged policy to divert the tribal anger against their own countrymen by giving free rein to Mahajans (money-lenders), contractors,

Volume XII, Issue III, March/2020 Page No:49 Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research ISSN NO: 0022-1945

Zamindars and officials of excise, revenue, forest and police departments to exploit them. Their exploitation resulted in indebtedness and alienation of their fertile lands to the non- tribal. The tribal' rights in forests were substantially eroded and the government officials, instead of protecting their interests took advantage of their plight. It is not only created bitterness among them for their own countrymen but also isolated them from the mainstream of the society. Eventually the bitterness and unrest among the tribal surfaced in movements and armed revolts. One of the earlier attempts of the British to enter Chotanagpur and Santhal Paraganas in Bihar in the middle of the eighteenth century was violently resisted by the tribal. The whole Chotanagpur region and the adjoining areas now falling in the states of West Bengal, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh were then known as 'Jarkhand', that is the land of forests. The British entry in to these areas resulted in a series of disturbances in 1789, 1801 and 1808, which had to be put down by the use of armed forces. The British soon realised that the use of force alone was not a lasting solution to keep the proud and fighting tribes under control. They adopted a policy of reconciliation rather than confrontation with the tribal. The Pahariyas were a martial tribe of Rajamahal hills. They had a long struggle against the British to resist the encroachment. Mr. Augustus Cleveland, who took over as Collector of Hills, in 1778, had shown unusual love towards the Pahariyas and worked out a workable plan. Mr. Cleveland managed to place the entire range of hills inhabited by Pahariyas under a uniform administration of a hill assembly. Under this system the land was held direct from the government and free of rent. This was the first experiment in providing a simple administration to the tribal. Tilka Manjhi was the first tribal leader to take up the arms against the British in the 1789. He organized the tribal into an armed group to fight against the resource grabbing, exploitation and British tyranny. In the battle that ensued, Tilka attacked and injured the British commissioner who died later. The British surrounded the Tilapore forest, from which he operated, but he and his men held the enemy at bay for several weeks before he was caught and hanged at Bhagalpur. Causes of Tribal Movements : 1. Imposition of Land revenue Settlement: Expansion of agriculture by the non- tribal to tribal area or over forest cover let to the erosion of tribal traditions of joint ownership and increased the socio-economic differentiation in the egalitarian structure of the tribal society. 2. Work of Christian: Missionaries brought about further changes in the socio economic and cultural equation of the tribal and the mainstream society plus in turbulent times, the tendency of the missionaries to refuse to take up arms or in discouraging people from rising against the government made the missionaries to be viewed as extension of colonialism and were often attacked by the rebels. 3. Control of government over forest land: Increasing demand for good from early nineteenth century- first for the royal navy and then railways, led to increasing control of government over forest land. The establishment of the Forest department in 1864, Government Forest Act(1865)and Indian Forest Act in 1878 together established complete government monopoly over Indian forest land. Shifting Agriculture, a wide spread practice amongst the various

Volume XII, Issue III, March/2020 Page No:50 Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research ISSN NO: 0022-1945

Kol Mutiny (1831) : Kol mutiny occurred in Singhbhum area of Chotanagpur. While the British tried to enter the Singhbhum area they faced tough resistance from the Ho tribal. Singhbhum had a long history of independence. In 1821, the British force entered Singhbhum and forcibly annexed four of the five pirs in the Bamanghati sub division of Mayurbhanj state and formed the district of Singhbhum. These four pirs were inhabited by the people belonging to Ho tribe, also called Lanka Kols. The British sought peace with the Hos on the specific treatment and they would be under the direct rule of the British. But unfortunately they were cheated. Therefore, in 1831, the dispossessed Ho tribal and Munda openly revolted. The insurrection quickly spread over a large part of Chotanagpur and the rebellion was, quelled with the help of armed forces. In this way, the Kol Mutiny was a widespread protest of different sections of the tribal against the inequities, injustice and mal-administration by the British and a manifestation of a movement which sought restoration of their rights and protection of their lives and lands from encroachments and honour of their women. It may be reckoned as the first freedom struggle by the tribal, which proceeded the great mutiny of 1857~~. For the same reasons a series of revolts namely Tamar resurrection (1789), resurrections of 1811, 1817 and 1820, 1832, Bhumji revolt of 1789, revolt of Koharwars (1832-33), the revolt of Binjhias broke out. After the Kol mutiny of 1831, the British reviewed its policy towards the tribal and enacted the Bengal Regulation Xlll of 1833. As a result the entire Chotanagpur area was declared as a non-regulation area and was exempted from the administration of general laws. Khond Rebellion (1836-1837): The Khonds are the principal aborigines of the Eastern Ghats and their country extending from Goundwana to the Bay of Bengal and for the Mahanadi to Godavari. The British troops ascended the Ghats in pursuit of Raja of Goomsur, who fled to the Khond Protection. Though not unfriendly, towards the British the Khonds withstood. The British refused to give up their guests. They gave a bold fight but were shot dead like beasts by the Briiishers Santhal Rebellion (1855): The Santhal occupy a third place among the major tribes of India, with their habitat mainly in Bihar, Popularly known as Santhal Paraganas. The land of the Santhal is hill, plateau, valley and ravine. e Mundas and Hos of Chotanagpur, stand in the limelight in their pre-aryan and pre-dravidian culture of India. The tribal economy (barter system), which was hitherto self- sufficient was disturbed by the introduction of money economy by the new comers known as 'Dikus'. The cunning moneylenders with an eye over the tribal land liberally lend money to the tribal with exorbitant interest ranging from1 50 to 500 percent. Under this system of an exorbitant interest the tribal thus became a 'Kamiya' i.e., the bonded servant. The Santhal had no security in the possession of their lands, which they had made fit poor cultivation by clearing the forests. The non-santhals or Dikus gradually acquired more and more lands by exacting mortgage from the tribal in return for loans. The defective British land law was responsible for this state of affairs to a large extent. Thus the main causes that led to the

Volume XII, Issue III, March/2020 Page No:51 Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research ISSN NO: 0022-1945

rebellion were the calculated exploitation by the moneylenders and the traders from the non- tribal country as the case in every struggle between the tribal and the government. The Zamindars, the police, the revenue and court staff subjected the tribal to undue exactions forcible dispossession of their property, abuse of their women, personal violence and a variety of petty tyrannies. Such an iniquitous socio-economic system prevailed in 'Damin-I- Koh' for several years. Also known as the Santhal Hool, it was a native rebellion in eastern India against both the British colonial authority and zamindari system by the Santhal people. The rebellion was led by the four Brothers - Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand and Bhairav. Notably, the uprising was aimed towards ending despotic British revenue system, usury practices, and the zamindari system in India. It began as a reaction against the outsiders, particularly landlords, police and moneylenders. Unable to put up with any more exploitation and injustices, Sidhu, Kanhu with Chand and Bhairab incited the fellow tribal to unite and rise against the exploiters. The Santhals rose in a bloody rebellion in July 1855. They challenged the might of the British government. The cry of the rebels was "death to the police, to the Mahajans, to the civil court officers, to the railway sahibs and to the Zamindm". A British troop under the command of major F.W. Burroughs, sent to Santhals on 10th July, 1855. A large force had to be deployed by the British to face the Santhals and finally crushed by the use of massive force. The Santhal rebellion was followed by tribal unrest in 1869 and 1870 in Dhanbad (Bihar). The tribal revolted against the arbitrary enhancement of rent by Zamindars and restriction over forest rights. In 1887, Munda and other tribal of Ranchi area started an agitation known as Sardari Agitation (1795-1800) against compulsory labour and illegal enhancement of rents by Zamindars. Similar insurrections were followed in 1811,1817 and 1820. All these insurrections were, primarily due to the illegal deprivation of the tribesmen's rights in land and due to various acts of oppression and exactions by Suds and Dikus. In the year 1832, a still more serious insurrection took place. The Maharaja's brother Kaur Harnath Sah, who had received the paragana as a maintenance grant, leased out twelve villages belonging to Singharai Manki (a Munda Chief) to a Sikh, who not content with taking away his lands, carried off his sisters as concubines. On December 20, 1831, the Sonpur Mundas resolved to take revenge. The Omons, Wos and other Munda tribes also joined the insurgents. The insurgents decided that they should not leave a single foreigner alive in Chotanagpur. In every village the Suds (Hindus) and Dikus (Foreigners) were murdered, plundered and their houses were burnt. The Briiish authorities were not prepared for an outbreak of such magnitude and it was not till March 1832 that the revolt was put down. In the same manner the Bhumji tribe revoked against the move of the British to settle jungle mahals between 1798 and 1832. The Pahariyas (1 770), the Kharnars (1 832-33) and the Binjhas also revolted against the oppression in Bihar. Birsa movement 1895: The name of Birsa Munda is cherished in India as one of the greatest freedom fighters. He raised his voice against the transformation of the tribal agrarian system into a feudal system that had led to the alienation of the lands held by the tribal. To the twin challenges of agrarian breakdown and culture change, Birsa along with the Mundas, responded through revolution under his leadership. After a series of uprisings, Birsa was captured and he died in jail in

Volume XII, Issue III, March/2020 Page No:52 Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research ISSN NO: 0022-1945

1900. His portrait hangs in the Central Hall of the Indian parliament, the only tribal leader to have been so honoured. The Birsa movement was directed against the exploitation of the tribal by the Hindu landlords and moneylenders (suds and Dikus) and the conversion of the tribal to Christianity by the missionaries. There was a large scale of conversion to Christianity among the tribal in the belief that on becoming Christian they would be protected from the landlords and moneylenders by the missionaries. In order to wean the tribal from the lures of Christianity, Birsa Munda started a new religion, which was a mixture of Hinduism and Christianity. Through his new religion, he wielded extraordinary influence over the Munda and the Oraon tribes. In 1895, the Mundas revolted under his leadership. They were soon joined by other tribes also. The British had to use force to put down the revolt. In fact, it subsided after the controversial death of Birsa Munda in Jail. After the Birsa revolt and similar other agitations in the Chotanagpur area of Bihar, measures were taken to complete the record of land rights and to protect the tribal interests in land. Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, 1908 was enacted to provide protection to the tribal landowners. It prohibited transfer of the tribal land to the non-tribals. Tana Bhagats was a small tribal community formed by the Oraon saints of Jharkhand, Jatra Bhagat and Turia Bhagat. The Tana Bhagats opposed the exorbitant taxes imposed on them by the British and staged a type of civil disobedience movement in 1914 that was anti- zamindari, anti-missionary and anti-British. Followers of Mahatma Gandhi, and believers in ahimsa (nonviolence), were later closely associated with the Non-Cooperation Movement of the Indian National Congress. Konda Dora revolt 1786-87: A number of revolts were reported against the exploitation by the local Zamindars and by the authorities. In 1786-87, a tribal zamindar namely Guragaballi Desureddi, a Konda Dora revolted against East India Company. In the same manner the Koyas of Chodavaram rose against the British in 1802 under the leadership of Rama Shupathi. In 1800 a tribal army led by Dora attacked the platoons of East India Company. Tribal of northern circle revolted against the 'Muthadars', who were appointed by the British as intermediary rent collectors.

Kandh Rising (1837 -1856) The Kandh rebellion, in Orissa was directed against the British and it continued for about 20 years i.e, from 1837 to 1856, in which the majority of the Kandh population of Ghumsar, China-ki-medi, Kalahandi and Patna actively participated. The Savaras and some local militia clans also joined them. The Kandhas lived in vast hill tracks which stretched from the Presidency of Madras to that of Bengal covering Central Province. The British authorities created a ' Mariah Agency' to deal with the Kandhs firmly and use force. But due to the topography of the area and indomitable spirit of the Kandhs, the war against them continued for a number of years. Chakra Bisoi, a Kandh tribal from the village Tarabadi of Ghumsar played a leading role in the fight against the British. He championed the cause of Mariah and was supported by the Kandh chiefs of Boudh, Sardars of Ghumsar and China-ki-medi, Zamindars of Madanpur, Patna and Bastar and Raja of Angul. The British realized that repressive measures would alone not-work, adopted policy of dividing the Kandhs. They

Volume XII, Issue III, March/2020 Page No:53 Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research ISSN NO: 0022-1945

offered gifts and even bribes to the Kandh Sardars. Even then, the Kandhs did not give up the fight. Chakra Bisoi aroused the Kerndhs against the British not only for their interference in the socio-religious practices of the tribal but also for causing them undue sufferings. The common man, hard pressed by the burden of taxes and other oppressive measures of the British agents joined the revolt. Chakra Bisoi extended his support to the revolt of Savaras of Parlakimidi in 1855, which rose against the oppressive rule of the British. Chakra Bisoi was gradually isolated and was hotly chased time and again. It was finally reported that he escaped from Orissa to inaccessible jungles of the Central Provinces. With his disappearance the Kandh rising came to an end. After the Kandh rebellion was suppressed Government of India issued a proclamation in 1855, by which many reforms and measures for the welfare of the tribal people were introduced. Bhuyan and Juang revolt in Keonjhar In Orissa (1861-68 and 1891 -93): Keonjhar was one of the tributary mahals during British rule in Orissa. It was inhabited mostly by the tribal people. The main tribes were Bhuyans and the Juangs. Keonjhar witnessed two revolts in the nineteenth century, the first in 1867- 68 and the second in 1891- 93. The main cause of the revolt was the hurt pride of the Bhuyans. The Bhuyans held important positions in the administration of Keonjhar. The problem started when the British wanted to install their protege on the throne. Instigated by widowed Rani Vishnu Priya Pattamaha Devi led by Ratna Naik, the Bhuyans rose in arms against the British. The rising was however, suppressed in 1867-68. The second rising in Keonjhar was directed against the feudal and oppressive regime of its kin who was installed by the British authorities. The revolt completely paralyzed the state administration for a number of months and the Raja was forced to seek refuse at . The revolt of 1891-93 helped the British to acquaint themselves of grievances of the tribal and take steps to improve their condition. Revolt of the Andaman Islanders: The Andaman and Nocobar group of islands comprises 223 small and big islands of which 19 are in the Nicobar group and rest in the Andaman group. The tribes of Andamanese can be classified into five divisions such as the great Andamanese, Jarawas, Sentinalese, Onges and Shompens. Some of the tribes are still wild and unapproachable. Several clashes resulting in the death of islanders have occurred between the indigenous inhabitants of these islands and the immigrants in 1859. The revolts of the primitive, unambitious, freedom-loving tribes of Andaman Islands have a peculiarity. In 1837. Dr Helfer, a British Geologist was murdered by the tribes while he was exploring in search of gold. The tribal revolts were followed by reforms in the administration of the tribal areas. The British came to realise that it was very difficult to keep the tribal areas quiet for a long time. They realised the limitation of use of power and therefore sought peace with the tribal. They resorted some of the tribal areas non- regulatory. These areas were exempted from the operation of general laws. Special laws were enacted to deal with some of the tribal problems. They also adopted a policy of non- interference with their customs, traditions and way of life. Many remedial measures were taken under the provisions of this policy to safeguard the interest of the tribal in the non- regulatory areas.

Volume XII, Issue III, March/2020 Page No:54 Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research ISSN NO: 0022-1945

Gond revolted: The Gonds are the most predominant tribal community of India. Gonds constitute 12.65% of the tribal population of India. In Mandla and Chattisgarh, Gonds have adopted a local dialect of . In Bastar, the three important Gond groups namely the Murias, the Hill Murias and the so-called Bison Horn Murias speak Gondi dialects. In Maharashtra in the South Chanda and Yeotmal, Gonds speak Gondi, which is different from that of Satpura region. Sizeable Gond populations who live in Indore, Kawardah, Raigarh and Sarangarh have lost their language and speak only Hindi. In spite of the fact that the Gonds enjoyed a separate identity as a political group in the past, they remain to a large extent in a primitive state mostly confined to forests and remote areas. Gonds lead an isolated but contended life in the forests. They are generally shy and timid people and they are not comfortable at the sight of the strangers. But once they develop a friendly relationship they move very closely and helpful. They are very hospitable and communicative. They are very honest and truthful. The men, among the Gonds are lazy and addicted to drinking. Women are hard working and they attend to both indoor and outdoor work. The Gonds are indigenous people living in Madhya Pradesh, eastern Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Bihar. Their language is related to some Dravidian languages of southern India. The Gonds are the tribal community mostly found in the Gond forests of the central India. Gonds are one of the largest tribal groups in the world. The Gonds have a fairly long history. It was only after Muslim rule the Gonds figure in contemporary chronicles and in the works of historians. Chanda Rajas was the first Gond rajas of Atram land. Sirpur is considered by the Gonds as the early capital of the Gond Rajas of Chanda. According to the list of Gond rulers, they established their rule during the middle of fourteenth century after the collapse of the Kingdom of Warangal in 1323. In 1461 Nizamsah, Bahmani Sultan attacked Gondwana and at that time Raja of Gondwana was with the sultan of Malwa. Later the Gond Raja played a considerable role in the disputes of Bahmani and the allies of Vijayanagar namely Devarakonda and Warangal. Raja of Chand, tactically removed the danger of an invasion from Malwa ruler for a considerable period and he controlled the fort of Manikghar throughout the fifteenth century. In 1859, Ramji Gond revolted against the British along with Rohillas in Adilabad district. A revolt was reported in East Godavari District in 1879, popularly known as 'Rampa Pituri' led by Dwarabandham Chandraiah. The Rebellion of the Gond tribes was highly concentrated in Bastar region. The main cause of this rebellion was excessive intervention of the British Empire into the internal matters of the Gond tribe. This Revolt took place in February 1910 in the battleground of Bastar. The British took over forest land, increased rural taxes and they interfered in tribal administration. This caused discontent among many tribes including the Gonds. The Gonds and other tribes had to borrow money from money lenders to pay taxes. This discontent among indigenous groups led to frequent revolts against the British, which peaked in the 19th century. In 1916- 1918 Garaganda Manga Raju revolted against the British near Krishnadevipeta which was known as 'Lagarayipituri'. The Koyas rose against the British under the leadership of Alluri Seetha Rama Raju in the agency area in 1922-1924. In 1940-41, Komrum Bhim, a Gond of Adilabad revolted against the Nizam's Government.

Volume XII, Issue III, March/2020 Page No:55 Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research ISSN NO: 0022-1945

Conclusion : The establishment of British power in India was a prolonged process of piecemeal conquest and consolidation and the colonization of the economy and society. This process produced discontent, resentment and resistance at every stage. Moreover, erosion of the traditional forms of authority and increased economic pressure were two basic reasons for tribal revolts. However, the major cause of all these civil rebellions taken as a whole was the rapid changes the British introduced in the economy, administration and land revenue system. These changes led to the disruption of the agrarian society, causing prolonged and widespread suffering among its constituents. Above all, the colonial policy of intensifying demands for land revenue and extracting as large an amount as possible produced a veritable upheaval in Indian villages. In Bengal, for example, in less than thirty years land revenue collection was raised to nearly double the amount collected under Mughals. The pattern was repeated in other parts of the country as British rule spread and aggravating the unhappiness of the farmers was the fact that not even a part of the enhanced revenue was spent on the development of agriculture or the welfare of the cultivator. Newly created class of urban intelligentsia was reaping the benefits of the British rule but the traditional sections of society whose lives had been almost completely changed for the worse, who rebelled. The backbone of the rebellions, their mass base and striking power came from the rack-rented peasants, ruined artisans and demobilized soldiers. A large sections of the tribal, not adequately prepared to deal with new challenges, gradually depressed into poorer sections of the society. The establishment of heavy industries, construction of dams and launching of development plans in tribal zones has necessitated displacement of local population. Thousands of tribal families were displaced from their traditional habitats. After independence, various efforts have been made to improve the socioeconomic conditions of the tribal and to sustain the constitutional safeguard given to them. The Central and State Governments have made incessant efforts in the direction of tribal welfare and development. Special programmes for their development have been undertaken in the successive Five Year Plans. The aim was to bring them on par with other developed sections of the society. But the results are not encouraging in all cases with an introduction of development plans, some societies have found themselves disintegrated. References :

The Decline and Rehabilitation of Tribal Population in Adilabad District up to 1948: Tribal Cultural Research and Training Institute Bulletin: Hyderabad, 1963.

Hussain Sk. Mahaboob, The Rural upliftment of Tribes and Backward Classes in Hydorabad Deccan, Manin India, Vo1.29, Bombay, 1949

A. Ramani, The Changing phases of Gonds Economy under Nizam's Administration during 1900-1 948, an unpublished M.Phil. Dissertation, University of Hyderabad, 1988.

Khan, Ismail. 1986. Indian tribe through the ages. Vikas publishing house, New Delhi.

Volume XII, Issue III, March/2020 Page No:56 Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research ISSN NO: 0022-1945

Pattnaik .B. K., 2013. Tribal Resistance Movements and the Politics of Development Induced Displacement in Contemporary Orissa, Social Change, Vol. 43(1), pp 53–78

Volume XII, Issue III, March/2020 Page No:57