Tribal Resistance in Post-Independence Odisha

Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 Tribal Resistance in Post-Independence Odisha Sabitri Sethy INTRODUCTION (A) Objectives of the Study :- Odisha, the land of Jagannath and a i. To examine the nature of the tribal colorful region with the blue Ocean lapping its resistance and its outcomes in Odisha. eastern shore in foaming tides and the land ii. To assess the magnitude of displacement studded with verdant green hills, was not only and role of the state Government in the famous for her trade and commerce, culture, fine process of industrialization. art, architecture and sculpture but also known for its rich history, revolutionary freedom movement, (B) Tribal Communities of Odisha :- sacrifices and brave resistance movements Odisha occupies an unique position in the confronting foreign rules especially British ethnographic map of India for having the largest colonialism and the development induced variety of tribal communities. The major tribes of displacement process during Post-Independence Odisha are Kondh, Gond, Santhal, Saora, era. This paper is an humble effort to highlight Bhuiyan, Paraja, Koya, Oraon, Gadaba, Juang about the tribal resistance in post colonial Odisha and Munda. They have been living in the forest, and their main reasons. It will also focus about hills and naturally isolated regions for generations. the tribal people of Odisha who have not yet given Forest based resources are essential to the social proper recognition and justice due to and cultural existence of these tribal people. displacement and development projects. They Odisha has the largest varieties of tribes have been neglected in different sectors of the i.e. 62 in number including 13 Primitive Tribal society and to protect that they have been resisting Groups (PTGs) as well as the third highest tribal against the rulers over the years. As result of population numbering over 9.3 millions, protest movements, construction of many projects accounting for about 9.7% of the country’s total has been delayed or withdrawn raising questions tribal population and constituting 22.85% of the of economic viability. Thus protest movements state’s total population as per 2011 census. These have forced the respective governments to tribals live across the length and breadth of the reconsider the problems of displacement and take state and are found in all the districts in varying necessary measures to address these problems. numbers. August - 2016 77 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review (C) Tribal Resistance Movement In Christian missionaries. The British treated the Odisha :- tribals as a separate groups, kept them under formal control and supervision; enforced their laws Tribal resistance in Odisha, presents a wide and regulation on them, implemented oppressive spectrum. By temperament, they are simple, revenue system; interfered in their traditional innocent and nature-loving people. In cultural privileges and imposed new socio-economic and complexities, economic backwardness and political order. These activities of the British political primitiveness, they are differentiated from government grew unrest among the tribals who the rest of the people. They have their own social, had started relentless rebellions against the land cultural and religious identity. Any attempt of the –grabbers and oppressors. They violently Government and Administration to make an challenged the Zamindars, formed alliances inroad into the tribal society by way of reformative against the Kings; conspired to overthrow the and correctional changes, is bound to be resisted British and demonstrated ample courage in battling by the tribals with their individual and collective caste supremacism. might. During Pre-Independence era, the tribal They had resisted against the British resistance movements in Odisha had constantly authorities and have revolted against democratic targeted foreign interventions via expropriation of elected government. They launched movements their lands that threaten to result in economic against their oppressors in their respective regions distress. and revolted against them because of their exploitation in the form of encroachment on their The British Policies disturbed the traditional tribal system. They changed the land land, eviction from their land, annulment of the system of the tribals who reduced to the position traditional legal and social rights and customs, of tenants. Many of them forced to retreat farther against enhancement of rent and tax, for transfer into the hills. Belated legislation to present of land to the industrialist and against alienation of land by the tribal people failed to displacement. On the whole, these movements halt the process. had social and religious overtone. But they are and were directed against the issues related to The introduction of modern means of their existence. They are mostly affected and communication and transportation, converted the worst sufferers in industrial and mining projects self-sufficient tribal economy into the market of the state. economy. The tribals were integrated with the outside world. The customary system of justice 1. Tribal Resistance in pre- was replaced by the new legal system which was Independence Odisha :- not suitable to the tribals. All the oppressors who Odisha has a strong tradition of people’s were introduced by the British in Orissa and movements since the time of Gandhi and before. known as “Dikus” by the tribals, invaded the tribal After occupation of Orissa in 1803, the British regions; disrupted tribal traditional way of life; deeply humiliated the aborigional tribals by the extracted exorbitant amount of rent from the oppressors viz, landlords, money-lenders, traders, tribals; evicted them from their land; assaulted the kadars (contractors), government officials and physically and forced to sell out their belongings, 78 August - 2016 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 children and wives to meet the requirements of Tribal movement in Midnapur (1918-19), Santal the landlords and money-lenders. movement in Malda (1924-32), Tribal and Colonialism also transformed the tribals National movement in Orissa (1921-1942) and relationship with forest. The forest policy (1884) Tribal movement in Assam (1873). of the British curtailed the customary rights of the In these movements the heroic role played tribals to use the forest produce. The tribals used by some distinguished tribal leaders like “Laxman forest for food, fodder, fuel and raw materials for Naik of Koraput, Ratan Naik of Keonjhar, Dora their handicrafts. The development of the Bisoyee and Chakara Bisoyee of Ghumsur, Veer communication system and introduction of the Surendra Sai of Sambalpur, Nabaghan Kanhar administrative system ruined the natural economy of Boudh, Modri Kalo and Nirmal Munda of of the forests and deprived the tribals from their Gangapur, Sadhu Jani and Dunai Jani of Banapur, traditional means of livelihood. The forest law Tama Dora of Malkangiri and Rendo Majhi of forbade shifting cultivation and put severe Kalahandi, had sacrificed their lives to liberate restriction on the tribals for use of the forest and mother India and Odisha from the British their access of forest products. imperialism and injustice. Odisha is proud for The natural calamity like famines which these tribal leaders who fought tooth and nail occurred in the later half of the 19th century against the British Raj. We are also highly indebted worsened the condition of the tribals. The to the tribal leaders of Odisha for their continuous increase in the prices of the essential contribution, devotion, patriotism and sacrifice for commodities made their conditions unbearable. mother Odisha. Abolition of feudal and Semi-feudal form These movements were directed against of land ownership alienation from land ; annulment the issues related to their existence and launched of their traditional legal and social rights and under the leadership of their respective chiefs customs; encroachment on their land; popular in their respective regions. Although indebtedness; exploitation of middlemen; denial these movements initially began on social and of access to forest and forest products; religious issues and against the oppression of the enhancement of rent and extortion by policemen, out-siders, in course of time, they merged with forest officials, government officials led to series the National movement and with the non-tax of tribal uprisings in the 19th and 20th centuries. campaign. The tribals fought against their enemies On the whole, these movements had social and with their traditional weapons i.e. bows, arrows, religious overtones. lathis and axes; looted government offices; murdered oppressors and burnt their houses. The tribals responded to their exploitation and oppression in the form of revolts and Most of the movements were ruthlessly movements i.e. Santhal Revolt of 1855, Ghumsar suppressed by the British authorities. The rising (1834-1856), Bhuinya rising (1868 and Government forced the tribal to adopt British 1890), Sambalpur revolt (1827 to 1864), policies; introduced protective administration in Nayagarh uprising (1849-52), Kandha uprising tribal areas; passed Scheduled District Act (1874) of Kalahandi (1882), Gangapur uprising (1895), and categorized the tribal areas as excluded areas Munda Revolt led by Birsa Munda (1895-1901), in the Govt. of India Act of 1935. August - 2016 79 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review 2. Tribal Resistance In Post –Independence lands due to development projects and many have Odisha:- seen access to traditional resources under-cut

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