724A. Chuar Rebelliomn

The Chuar Rebellion of Midnapore and Bankura  Posted By : Sita Ram Bansal

The Chuar Rebellion of Midnapore and Bankura (1798-99) and the Laik Rebellion of Midnapore (1806-16) In 1798-99, the massive rebellion that broke out in South-West Bankura and in North-West Midnapore, is known in history as the Chuar Rebellion. The British rulers and some Zemindars of Midnapore insultingly called the tribal and oppressed people of Midnapore, Bankura and Jangal Mahal as chuars. They depended for their existence on the wealth of the forests and cultivated with primitive methods. The collector of Midnapore in a letter to the Board of Revenue wrote: Those who were enjoying the right to this land since the antiquities, when they saw that their land was being taken away from them without any rhyme or reason, or thqt an excessive amount of revenue was sought to be extracted from them, then they took to arms in defence of their rights. This was no matte;'of su;Prise (Letter written on 25 May 1798). During the Mughal period, law and order was maintained in the villages with the help of Paiks. When they were dismissed from service en masse, they too joined the chuar revolt. In 1798, nearly 1500 rebels led by Durjan Singh, established their rule in 30 villages of Raipur Pargana. They attacked the headquarters of the Government's seat of power in this area and after a day long bloody battle, they were defeated. But in Salbani, the rebels were victorious and destroyed the army barracks. They burnt all Zemindary documents. A few Zemindars also joined the ranks of the rebels. Ultimately, by means of bloody repression and the usual policy of divide and rule, British were able to crush the Chuar Rebellion. In 1806, the British confiscated the Irlnd of the Laiks of Bogir and at once the L~ik Re~lIion started. The Laiks were close to the chuars With the deep Sal forest of Gangani near Garbeta their headquarters and led by the indomitable Aehal Sinha, the Laiks revolted against the Raj. They adopted guerilla tactics.      Ultimately the British destroyed the entire forest by heavy artillery fire. Yet some Laiks, headed by Achal Sinha escaped and repeatedly harried the British. An act of treachery led to the arrest of Achal and he was promptly shot dead. In 1816 the rebellion was finally crushed and some 200 rebels were brutally executed.