Q6.

Analyse the nature and characteristics of major popular uprisings that

took place in various parts of India during the 19th century. [15 marks, 250
words]

Locals, peasants and tribals, who were exploited by the British colonial
economic structure, raised the constant banner of resistance in multiple ways –
directly or indirectly, individually or collectively. All these popular rebellions, over a
hundred between 1783-1900 had certain dominant characteristics as follows:

1. In the initial years of British rule displaced rulers and military personnels
reacted against colonial demands. These were localised protests and rooted in
specific causes.

o Between 1799-1800 Poligars, who were deprived of their military power,

adopted Gorilla warfare to thwart the authority of British rulers, with the support
of local people.

2. In all popular protests, economic exploitation as perpetuated by the British

rule caused tension. The land revenue policies and Forests laws led to
resentment. Alongside exploitation of dominant Indian Zamindars and
Moneylenders was also opposed.

o The revolt of Sanyasis and Fakirs, which resulted from the famine of 1769-70,
was directed against British rulers and local Zamindars in Bengal. The revolt of
Kols (1831-32) was also rooted in colonial exploitation.

3. Many uprisings were restorative in nature. The rebels aimed to restore back
pre-existing political structure and social and economic rights. There was
protest against the penetration of alien authorities and outsiders.

o In the revolt of 1857, leadership of traditional rulers was accepted. Alongside

small peasants belonging to Jat and Rajputs also rose against alien rule. There
were peaceful efforts to restore back what the protestors regarded their rights.

o In the Pabna uprising of 1873-1883 tenant farmers hoped that the British rule
was in favour of restoring back their landed rights.

4. However, in numerous uprisings there was protest against growing

indebtedness. Thus the Deccan revolt of 1875 was against Marwaris
moneylenders.

5. Violence was an integral part of popular protests. It was directed against

oppressors.

6. Over the period of time, protest movements/uprisings became more

organised. The role of charismatic leaders and religion in providing support and
strength to rebels also became clear.

o Thus Titu Mir in rising against the exploitation of zamindars, who were Hindus,
effectively used Islam in forging solidarity among his people.

 7. The millenarians trends were also evident in the revolt of Santhals and
Mundas. E.g Birsa claimed to be a bhagwan himself.

8. In terms of seeking support it was found that inter-tribal and inter regional
linkages were also formed. The revolts were only directed against exploiters.
Thus, the Kinship ties, caste and tribal identities were permeated by class
consciousness.

9. The role of women was also apparent in the revolts of Santhals, Mundas and
Mopilahs. They were an integral part of families and communities. They helped
their male folks in productive activities and during the time of tension, they also
joined them in acts of violence.

Gradually, Gandhian leadership converted national movement into mass

movement by developing a nexus with these local popular movements.

Additional Information:

Peasant and tribal movements have been interpreted differently by different

schools of historians.

• The historians with sympathies towards the British and the established order
often regarded these uprisings as a problem of law and order. The range of
problems faced by these tribals and peasants from the pre-colonial to the colonial
times were often overlooked as possible causes for these uprisings. The rebels
were often portrayed as primitive savages resisting "civilization".

• The Nationalists tended to appropriate the peasant the tribal history to the
purposes of the anti-colonial struggle ignoring certain other facets of the
oppressed people's struggle.

• Those more sympathetic to the cause of the tribals and peasants however
tended to negate very often the logic of peasant and tribal protest in terms of the
people's own experience. It is also necessary to understand the domain of peasant
and tribal action in its own terms which is generally done by subaltern historians.

#GS1 #History

Q7. Discuss the key factors behind increasing vulnerability of Indian cities to
Urban Floods. What steps should be taken to reduce the risk of this disaster?
[15 marks, 250 words]

Recent instances of floods such as the one in Mumbai in 2005 or in Chennai in

2015 illustrates the increasingly vulnerability of Indian cities to this disaster. A
complex set of factors have worked together to deteriorate the condition of our
cities and increase their susceptibility to this devastation. These include:

a)  Unplanned Development – increased concretization of city roads, filling up

of ponds and lakes, encroachment of flood plains etc. have reduced the water
seepage & sinkage and blocked the flow of water. 


b) Improper and Inadequate Drainage system, poor desilting and blockage of

drains due to poor disposal of solid waste makes our cities ill prepared to face
the increased flow of water during rainy season. 


c)   Global Warming and Climate change has made the rainfall very variable
leading to unusually heavy rainfalls sometimes causing floods. 


d)   Social and religious factors such as dumping of religious symbols, dead

bodies etc. in rivers lead to blocking of rivers and this floods the cities during
Monsoon. 


e)  Economic factors such as high poverty and political economy have made it
difficult to clear flood plains of the illegal encroachment by slum dwellers or other
developers 


f)  Absence of political will towards the issue has led to paucity of funds which
turn has 

impacted the infrastructure development and renovation. It has also delayed river 

water sharing agreements between India-Bangladesh and India-China. 

- These urban floods have not only led to death and devastation, but have also
contributed to destruction of infrastructure such as telecommunication lines, roads,
railways etc. They also increase the chances of water pollution and increase the
probability of disease

epidemic.

Way forward

-  Urban planning should keep in mind the geological and hydrological

cycles by ensuring 

non-encroachment of flood plains, restoration of lakes and bonds, and allowing 

infiltration of water into the ground. 


-   Improvement of drainage system – maintenance, desilting of existing

drains, creation of 

alternate pathways, proper disposal of solid waste etc. 


-   Change in social attitude of Common Citizen will go a long way in

controlling urban floods 

– reduce solid waste, promote environment friendly religious practices. 


-   Disaster preparedness: Even after all proper steps, nature may cause
havoc and cause floods, therefore a proper disaster management plan should be
prepared by the ULBs to be battle ready in emergency situations. Fresh Hazard
profiles should be created for the 

cities based on the historic as well as recent flood vulnerabilities. 


Since Urban areas are centers of economic activities, when Urban area is
affected, all the surrounding semi-urban and rural areas also get indirectly
impacted. Thus, it is important that more political will, investment and awareness is
generated regarding urban floods.

#GS3 #DisasterManagement