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Difficulty: MediumRevolt of 1857, Peasant Struggles, and Tribal Uprisings

Consider the following statements regarding the Khond Uprisings (1837–1856) against British colonial expansion in India:

1. The resistance was organized under the leadership of Chakra Bisoi in the Ghumsur region of Odisha.
2. A major cause of the rebellion was British interference in tribal customs, particularly attempts to suppress the ritual of 'Mariah' (human sacrifice).
3. The uprising ended in 1845 following an official treaty with the British East India Company that restored Khond sovereignty over tribal lands.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. 1 and 2 onlyAnswer
  2. B
    2 and 3 only
  3. C
    1 and 3 only
  4. D
    1, 2 and 3

Answer

Statements 1 and 2 are correct.
The Khond Uprising was a significant tribal resistance movement in the hilly tracts of Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh. Chakra Bisoi rallied the Khonds against British colonial expansion, land revenue exploitation, and colonial interference in their customary practice of 'Mariah' (human sacrifice). The British created a dedicated agency to end this sacrifice, which the Khonds perceived as an assault on their religious autonomy. The uprising did not end in a peaceful treaty in 1845; instead, it was suppressed through sustained British military action until Chakra Bisoi disappeared around 1856.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate Statement 1 regarding leadership and geography.
Statement 1 is correct. Chakra Bisoi, a nephew of the Ghumsur Raja, led the Khonds of Odisha in their resistance against colonial intrusion.
Chakra Bisoi rallied tribal groups across Ghumsur, China Kimedi, and Kalahandi.
2
Evaluate Statement 2 regarding the causes of the revolt.
Statement 2 is correct. The British formed a specialized 'Mariah Agency' to abolish human sacrifice among the Khonds, which the tribal population viewed as an attack on their religious traditions and agrarian fertility rituals.
Interference in customary practices combined with heavy land revenue demands triggered widespread violent resistance.
3
Evaluate Statement 3 regarding the resolution of the movement.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The rebellion was forcibly suppressed by British forces. Chakra Bisoi was never captured and disappeared around 1856; no formal treaty restoring sovereignty was signed in 1845.
British military suppression led to the eventual collapse of organized Khond resistance by the late 1850s.

Key Concept

Khond Uprising and British Native Policy
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Topics

Revolt of 1857, Peasant Struggles, and Tribal Uprisings

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