With reference to the history of India, “Ulgulan” or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following events? [2020]

With reference to the history of India, “Ulgulan” or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following events?

The Revolt of 1857
The Mappila rebellion of 1921
The Indigo revolt of 1859-1860
Birsa Munda’s revolt of 1899-1900

Explanation

Option (d) is correct

Birsa Munda, referred to often by Jharkhand’s tribal residents as “Birsa Bhagwan,” led what came to be known as “Ulgulan” (revolt) or the Munda rebellion against the British colonial government-imposed feudal state.

Addition Information

Birsa was born on November 15, 1875, into a poor Munda tribal family.’
Birsa passed the lower primary examination from the German Mission school, where he was forced to convert to Christianity and renamed Birsa David.
After studying for a few years, Birsa left the Mission School.
In 1891, Birsa went to Bandgaon, where he met Anand Paure, a prominent Vaishnav preacher. Influenced by him, Birsa wore a sacred thread, advocated the prohibition of cow slaughter, and began to value the importance of purity and piety.
In 1895, Birsa declared that God had appointed him to save his people from trouble and free them from the slavery of dikus (outsiders).
Later, Birsa declared himself a god or Bhagwan and started his religion, Birsait, among Mundas, Santhals and Oraons.
He urged his followers to give up drinking liquor, clean their village, and stop believing in witchcraft and sorcery. He also turned against missionaries and Hindu landlords.
Munda Rebellion
- Birsa Munda wanted to drive out outsiders (dikus) such as missionaries, moneylenders, landlords, and the government and set up a Munda Raj with Birsa at its head.
- He identified all these forces as the cause of the misery of the Mundas.
- On Christmas Eve, 1899, Birsa proclaimed a rebellion (Ulgulan) to establish Munda rule in the land. He urged his followers to destroy “Ravana” (dikus and the Europeans) and establish a kingdom under his leadership.
- Birsa’s followers attacked police stations and churches and raided the property of moneylenders and zamindars.
- They raised the white flag as a symbol of Birsa Raj.
- Birsa Munda was captured at the beginning of February 1900. He died of cholera while in jail in June, causing the movement to fade out.
- Impact of the Movement:
  - Between 1902 and 1910, the government conducted surveys and settlement operations for the tribes to prepare land records and safeguard tribal interests.
  - The rebellion forced the colonial government to introduce laws to prevent the dikus from easily taking over the land of the tribals.
  - The government passed the Tenancy Act of 1903, which recognised the Mundari Khuntkatti system and the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act in 1908.
  - The government abolished the compulsory begar system.

Option (a) is incorrect

The Revolt of 1857 was a widespread uprising against the British East India Company’s rule. It involved various military and civilian sectors across northern and central India.

Option (b) is incorrect

The Moplah (Muslim) peasants in Malabar (Kerala) faced severe oppression from Hindu zamindars and the British government, including high fees and illegal levies.
Despite multiple uprisings between 1850 and 1900 being suppressed, conditions for the peasants remained harsh.
The Mappila movement, gaining support from Khilafat-Non-cooperation leaders like Gandhi, Shaukat Ali, and Maulana Azad, eventually merged with the broader Khilafat and non-cooperation movement.

Option (d) is incorrect

Also known as the Neel Bidroha, it was a rebellion by farmers in Bengal against the oppressive practices of indigo planters.
Farmers were forced into unfavourable contracts to grow indigo, leading to widespread discontent and revolt.

Answer: (d) Birsa Munda’s revolt of 1899-1900; Difficulty Level: Easy

2020, PYQs

With reference to the history of India, “Ulgulan” or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following events?

Explanation

Option (d) is correct

Addition Information

Option (a) is incorrect

Option (b) is incorrect

Option (d) is incorrect

Answer: (d) Birsa Munda’s revolt of 1899-1900; Difficulty Level: Easy

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