TRIBAL FREEDOM MOVEMENTS AGAINST BRITISH RAJ IN BENGAL: A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS

The present study deals with the real nature of the tribal movements that had taken place in Bengal province against the British raj and assess the role played by them in the freedom struggle of India. Each resistance movement against the British rulers made by the Tribal people of British ruled Bengal province is described and the course of its development has been summarized with historical analysis and discussions. It rebuts the charge that tribal movements were not freedom struggles but a revolt against Indian moneylenders, Jaigirdars, and landlords. These tribal freedom movements of Bengal may be called the precursors of the revolutionary nationalistic movements which ultimately forced the Britishers to quit India. The point to be emphasised in this study is that these tribal freedom movements triggered the British Empire to its establishment long before the national political parties move up their slogan of “Swaraj”. Keywords: Tribal Freedom Movements, Bengal Province, British Raj, Historical Analysis