Keeping focus on the Bombay Deccan, discuss the revolts took place in countryside. Describe briefly the people who revolted in the rural areas during the British East India Company period. Discuss the causes of their revolt also.

The colonial rule is known for dissatisfaction miseries, poverty, debt, bad days of the people (particularly of the common people) throughout within its periods. The lives of peasants of colonial Bengal and the Rajmahal hill areas, Paharias and Santhals expressed their grievences against the colonial rule. Revolts were experienced and seen in the countryside in the Bombay Deccan, also from time to time rebels expressed their anger and fury against the foreign exploiters.

The main participants among the rebels were debtors. They burnt the account books and debt bonds, khatas, looted grain shops in several places such as in Supa (Poona). They attract the houses of sahukars and moneylenders. Their revolt also spread to Ahmednagar. At many places the British officials and their policemen were also attacked. At some places ryots also joined them because they could not pay the amount of revenue in time and they opposed harsh method adpoted by the Company’s officials.

Causes:

(i) The peasants rose against what they perceived to be injustice and the cause of their suffering. If we try to understand the premises of their resentment and peel the layers of their anger, we get a glimpse of their life and experience that is otherwise hidden from us.

(ii) The traders or gaindealers are also considered responsible for the revolts. They did not believe in fair dealing. They use to exploit the adverse economic situation of the ryots and debtors. Shopkeepers use to change the records of account books dishonestly in their own favour.

(iii) The British officials took seriously the rebels activities and their efforts to take law in their own hands. Police posts were established in villages to frighten rebellion peasants into submission.

(iv) According to some historians a new revenue system was also responsible for revolts in Bombay Deccan. As British rule expanded from Bengal to other parts of India, new systems of revenue were imposed. The Permanent Settlement was rarely extended to any region beyond Bengal. In short we can say the Ryotwari System was introduce in Bombay Deccan. The place of zamindars or exploiters was taken directly by the Company itself. Keen on expanding its financial resources, the colonial government had to think of ways to maximise its land revenue. So in territories annexed in the nineteenth century, temporary revenue settlements were made. The farmers had to pay nearly more than 50 percent of their total agricultural produce. In fact the burden of revenue amount was maximum.