6th July 2022 | Peoples Movement against the Nizam’s Rule – Adivasi revolts – Ramji Gond and Kumaram Bheemu Telangana Peasants Armed Struggle – Role of Andhra Mahasabha and the Communists

Syllabus- Peoples Movement against the Nizam’s Rule – Adivasi revolts – Ramji Gond and Kumaram Bheemu Telangana Peasants Armed Struggle – Role of Andhra Mahasabha and the Communists

Number of questions- Mains: 02, Prelims – 10

Mains Questions of the day:  

1.The altered socio-economic conditions of the tribal people of Telangana under the Forest Acts of Government, led to witness many periodical tribal revolts in Hyderabad in order to oppose the tyrannical rule of the Nizam and wanted their rights to be protected, Discuss.

Introduction:

Mention the state or condition of tribal people in Telangana.

Body:

Discuss series of reasons that lead to Tribal revolts in Telangana.

Conclusion:

The main aim was to do away with the illegal and excessive exploitation done by the Nizam government, the British Government and Non-locals of Telangana in the name of Forest Acts.

Content:

• According to the census report, the Gonds were the largest tribal race in India. 
• Now the Gonds are seen in Adilabad district of Telangana and their occupation was agriculture.  
• The Gonds easily moved from one settlement area to another settlement area as and when they wanted to do so. 
• But that freedom was gradually declined because of the decline in the land area owned by the Gonds. 
• With the implementation of the forest acts, the lands of the Gonds were merged with the forests. 
• As a result, there was a drastic change in the lifestyle of the Gonds. 
• The tribals were subject to the opression of:

• the Government officers and 
• the non-tribals such as the Marathas, Shaukars, Brahmins, Moneylenders etc. 
• This miserable condition of the Gonds forced them to revolt against the authorities. 

Revolts of the Tribals:

• Most of the tribal revolts in Telangana were agricultural in nature. 
• Some were also due to the forest laws. 
• The tribals were subject to lot of oppression.
• When they failed to repay their lands were confiscated. 
• These tribals were used for the private and public works by the authorities of Goverment. 
• Because of such miserable condition of the tribals in Telangana witnessed many periodical tribal revolts.

The Revolt of Ramji Gond:

• Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor, handed over the administration of Berar to the viceroy of Deccan. 
• The capital of Deccan was shifted from Aurangabad to Hyderabad during Mughal era.  
• The Berar state included in Adilabad district of Telangana. 
• Taking advantage of the political changes, the Gonds captured the fort of Manikgarh. 
• In 1853 a treaty was concluded between the Nizam and the East India company. 
• By this treaty, the Nizam assigned Berar and other districts to the British in lieu of the expenditure incurred on the Nizam. 
• The treaty was not liked by the tribals. 
• Between 1853 and 1860, the tribal people (Gonds) and the Muslims (Rohillas) revolted under the leadership of Ramji Gond and Haji Rohilla against the British government. 
• Ramji Gond was an exceptional leader of the tribals. 
• He freed the Adilabad and ruled independently.  
• He also built up a strong army consisting of: 

• Gond soldiers
• Rohilla Muslim soldiers and 
• Telugu and Maratha soldiers. 

• However, he could not rule this area for a long period. 
• Soon the combined forces of the British and the Nizam fought against the Gonds. 
• By adopting the gorilla method of warfare, the Gonds defeated the British army in some areas. 
• However, the Gonds were finally defeated by the British. 

The Revolt of Kumrum Bheem:

• Kumrum Bheem was born into a Gond tribal family in Adilabad district. 
• Most of the Gond tribals were the agriculturists. 
• The Act of 1917, brought about by the Nizam’s Government for the protection of the Adivasi lands caused much disturbance and confusion in the lives of the tribals. 
• The Act levied tax on the tribals for feeding their cattle and also pay for bringing the firewood. 
• The other taxes which were paid by the tribals. 
• Their main occupation was agriculture and the forests were used by the tribals as financial source. 
• A paper mill was established to fetch the raw material for the paper mill, the government occupied a wide forest area. 
• As a result, the Gond tribals became the factory workers.
• In addition to these problems the tribals were threatened by the non-locals like the Marathas, Muslims and Telugu people. 
• They even occupied the lands of the Gonds and Kolams. 
• It was under these circumstances, Kumram Bheem had decided to fight against the Nizam’s government and also against the exploitation of the non-locals.   
• As part of the protest, the tribals deified:

• the courts and laws and 
• also the Government authorities. 

• Kumram Bheem also strengthened his struggle against the rulers.  
• In that fight Kumrum Bheem was killed.
• Thus the movement between 1935-1940 organised by the tribals came to be known as the Jodeghat Tribal Movement. 
• It was after this revolt there was a tremendous progress in the lives of the tribals. 
• The Gond Tribal Movement, in fact, acted as a base for the Peasant Armed Struggle fought against the Nizam Government between 1946-51.

2. Comment the phases of Telangana Peasants Armed Struggle. 

Introduction:

Write briefly about reasons that led to Peasants revolts in Telangana.

Body:

Mention the phases of Telangana Peasant Revolts.

Conclusion:

The Telangana peasant armed struggle under the leadership of the Communist Party was against the oppressive rule of landlordism which was patronised by the British Government and the Nizams of Hyderabad.

Content:

Telangana Peasants Armed Struggle:

• The Communists had established a strong base in Nalgonda and Warangal district. 
• The main reason for their expansion was the presence of large number of landlords with large estates covering thousands of acres of land. 
• Between 1942 and 1946, there was a steady influence of Communists over the peasants, tenants, cultivators and landless labourers. 
• Several incidents which had occurred between 1947 and 1950 is the main reasons for major peasant uprising. This could be done in three phases. 

The First phase:

• The first phase of the movement witnessed a mass resistance. 
• The political condition of Telangana during 1947 was different from the rest of India. 
• During the Second World War period, India was suffering from acute food shortage. 
• To overcome the crisis, the British Government had introduced the rationing of essential commodities. 
• This system required from each cultivator certain quantity of food grains which should be sent to the Government. 
• But in practice it was the poor farmers became the victims of this system and the landlords managed to escape the crisis.
• After the conclusion of World War II, the Communists intensified their struggle. 
• Their struggle was directed against the big landlords and Deshmukh. 
• They even forcibly confiscated the lands of the landlords. 
• Unable to bear this situation, so many landlords even migrated to cities and the police had to deal with the billions peasants. 
• The peasants also fought back the police.

• Martyrdom of Doddi Komaraiah a peasant, marked the beginning of the Telangana Peasant Armed Struggle. 
• By the end of 1946, the militants struggle against the landlords, Deshmukhs and village officials had spread to villages in Telangana. 
• Simultaneously, the Communist party of India was propagating the demands of Telangana peasantry and exposed the oppression and brutality of the landlords. 
• Therefore, the Nizam’s Government banned the Communist party in 1946.  

The second Phase of the Peasant Movement:

• This period could be called as the liberation movement in which both the Congress and the Communists played a vital role. 
• The Hyderabad State Congress began to mobilise people to fight against the Nizam’s Government and liberate the Hyderabad State. 
• They even prescribed the Nizam of Hyderabad to join the Indian union once India gets Independence. 
• But the Nizam was firm on his decision of not joining either the Indian Union or Pakistan.  
• This caused great disappointment to the people of Hyderabad. 
• Nizam’s decision was supported by a Muslim party (Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen), while all other political parties favoured the merger of Hyderabad State with the Indian Union.
• The Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen began to raise a cadre of volunteers (Razakars). 
• As the peasant movement in Telangana, the Nizam’s Government began sending Razakars to deal with the revolutionaries. 
• The Razakars resorted to largescale violence. 
• The atrocities of Razakars created anarchy. 
• This helped the communists to spread the movement. 
• The Communists also established a parallel administration in villages. 
• Tenants began occupying the lands and the Government lands were distributed among the landless labourers. 
• However, this movement was not supported by the Congress. 
• Though the Congress favoured agrarian reforms, they did not support the class struggle in any form.

The Third Phase:

• The struggle happened in Telangana, prepared the agricultural labourers to fight against the landlords to end feudal hegemony. 
• At the same time the Nizam’s government encouraged the Razakars to save the landlords from the peasants. 
• Between 1947 and 1948, the Razakars indulged in terrorising activities. 
• In retaliation the Communists attacked police and destroyed village records, manhandled a large number of village officials
• Shoebullah Khan was the editor of Urdu, in his paper he criticized the activities of Nizam and his officials.  
• However, he was shot dead by the Razakars.

Prelims questions of the day:

1.Under the Hyderabad land revenue system during Nizam era, which of the following lands were under the direct management of Government?

1. Diwani lands
2. Non-khalsa lands 
3. Sarf-e-Khas
4. Jagirs 

Answers: A

Explanation:

• The Hyderabad State for purposes of land revenue administration, the lands were broadly divided into Khalsa or Diwani (Government) or and Non-Khalsa(Non-Government) lands. 
• Khalsa or Diwani lands were under the direct management of the Government and revenue from them went to the Government exchequer. 

2.Which of the following statement is correct regarding the “Razakars” of Hyderabad state?

1. Communist party of Telanagana supported them.
2. It was formed by Qasim Razvi 
3. They were the paramilitary volunteer force.
4. They expanded their operations under the leadership of Bahadur-Yar-Jung.

Answer: C

Explanation:

• The Razakars were the paramilitary volunteer force of the Muslim nationalist Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) party in the Hyderabad State under the British Raj. 
• Formed in 1938 by the MIM leader Bahadur Yar Jung, they expanded considerably during the leadership of Qasim Razvi around the time of Indian independence.

3.Which of the following was the original name of “Andhra Mahasabha”?

1. Andhra Samvardhini Grandhalaya 
2. Andhra janasangham
3. Samaikya Andhra Movement
4. Library movement

Answer: B

Explanation:

• Andhra Mahasabha was an organization originally started under the name Andhra jana sangham which means Andhra people’s society. 
• It was established in November 1921. 
• Its main aim was to forefront people’s awareness and people’s movements among the Telugu-speaking residents of the state.

4.In which of the following year “Telanagana Mahasabha” formed?

1. 1938
2. 1957
3. 1921
4. 1940

Answer: B

Explanation:

Telangana Mahasabha was formed in 1957.

5.Who among the following was the founder of “Andhra Jana Sangam”?

1. Suravaram Pratapareddy
2. S.R. Ranganathan
3. S.V. Kanagasabai Pillai
4. Madapati Hanumanta Rao

Answer: D

Explanation:

Madapati Hanumanta Rao

• Andhra Jana Sangham was a people’s organization in the state of Hyderabad. 
• This was a mass movement launched to uplift the self-esteem of telugu speaking people of Hyderabad state under Nizam rule. 
• The Andhra Jana Sangham was founded in 1921 by Madapati Hanumanta Rao.

6.Who among the following gave the slogan of “Jal, Jangal, Zameen” (Water, Forest, Land) during Tribal revolts in Telangana?

1. Ramji Gond 
2. Haji Rohilla
3. Komaram Bheem
4. None

Answer: C 

Explanation:

Komaram Bheem:

• He gave the slogan of “Jal, Jangal, Zameen” (Water, Forest, Land) during Adivasi movement in Telanagana. 
• By definition, it means that the people who live in forests should have rights on all the resources of the forest.
• In his movement against Nizams, he argued that complete rights on all the resources of forest should be given to Adivasis.

7.Which of the following was the headquarter of Sarf-e-Khas lands during the reign of Nizam-II?

1. Dar-ul-Shifa
2. Baghyanagar
3. Hyderabad
4. Aurangabad

Answer: A

Explanation:

• Sarf-e-Khas are crown lands across the princely state of Hyderabad belonging to the Nizam family covering 10,000 square miles. 
• The Dar-ul-Shifa was the headquarter for Sarf-e-Khas during the reign of Nizam II.

8.Which of the following administration was related to the term “Diwani” during Mughal era?

1. Civil
2. Revenue
3. Military
4. Both A and B

Answer: B

Explanation:

• During Mughal era, administration had two main branches – nizamat and diwani. 
• Broadly speaking

• nizamat meant for civil administration and 
• diwani meant for revenue administration. 

• The provincial subahdar was in charge of Nizamat (he was also called nazim)  
• The Diwan was in charge of revenue administration.

9.Which of the following statement is incorrect regarding “Demands of Andhara Maha Sabha”?

1. Compulsory primary education should be implemented. 
2. Telugu should be the medium of instruction.
3. Both A and B
4. None

Answer: D

Explanation:

Some of the demands of the Andhra Mahasabha were: 

• Removal of untouchability 
• Discouragement of child marriage, 
• The medium of instruction should be Telugu 
• The introduction of local self-government and 
• The legal rights of the people should be protected
• Compulsory primary education should be implemented

10.Komaram Bheem, belongs to which of the following Tribal community of Telangana?

1. Rohillas
2. Gonds
3. Bhil
4. Kolams

Answer: B

Explanation:

Komaram Bheem:

• He was a Gond (Indigenous) tribal and was born on 22nd October. 
• Komaram Bheem birthplace was Jodeghat of Asifabad in Adilabad District of Telangana.