UPSC Exams
Latest Update
Coaching
UPSC Current Affairs
Syllabus
UPSC Notes
Previous Year Papers
Mock Tests
UPSC Editorial
Bilateral Ties
Books
Government Schemes
Topics
NASA Space Missions
Deccan Riots 1875: History, Causes, Outcomes & More - UPSC Notes
IMPORTANT LINKS
Modern History UPSC Notes
|
Syllabus |
|
|
Topics for Prelims |
Agrarian Movements |
|
Topics for Mains |
Peasant Revolts and Uprisings, Economic Impact of British Colonial Rule |
About Deccan Riots 1875
The Deccan Riots of 1875 were an early outburst of peasant rebellion in British India. This incident took place in the Deccan region heavily affected by the policies of the British East India Company. It was mostly agrarian; therefore, farmers underwent the maximum burdens of high land revenue and unjust treatments of landlords. More importantly, however, it shook the conscience of the peasantry as their simmering anger against exploitative taxation policies burst into flames.
Furthermore, the British East India Company created land revenue demands that could be met only with severe hardship by the farmers, thus rendering many destitute. In addition, begar made farmers do work without payment and pushed many more into this discontent. This angry peasantry moved up with many other underprivileged groups in open revolt against the system. They seem to have been agitated and angry by this colonial economy failing to address the needs of the populace while demanding large sums of money as revenue.
Background of Deccan Riots
The Deccan region had been long characterized by economic struggle. Under the Marathas, constant warfare ripped through the region, hampering agricultural production and the economy. However, it was now, under British rule, that things went a step worse. The British government introduced a series of revenue policies that burdened the farmers, such as the high land taxes that were implemented without consideration for the agricultural conditions or the income of the farmers.
One of the prominent reasons for the riots was the Permanent Settlement imposed by the British in Bengal, extended later to the other regions including Deccan. This had fixed the revenue demand at such a level that it was too high for a farmer already struggling with unpredictable yield of crops, problems pertaining to crop yields, and, also, with the British East India Company's having monopoly over trade and land tenure through ever-increasing charges for agriculture-related activities, massive discontent widely spread.
Besides the economic causes, there were also social tensions that resulted in unrest. There was growing discontent against traditional landlord-principal systems that jeopardized the livelihood of local populations with the help of British authorities. The presence of a landlord and tax collector who was deemed an ally of the colonial powers added to the oppression of the peasantry, hence inciting riots.
Read the article on the Tribal & Peasant Movements in India!
Causes of Deccan Riots
As with any other riots, Deccan Riots were due to multiple causative factors: economic, social, political, and so on. Some of those causes are briefly mentioned here:
- The British East India Company charged extremely high land taxes from the farmers to the extent that they were unable to pay them. These taxes were, indeed most of the time, not based on their actual agricultural output, and debt went very common as a result of it.
- The land revenue system did not take into consideration any uncertain nature of crop yields. Even in bad years, farmers were unable to afford to pay their crop fees, thus being forced to lose their lands and sell them into some kind of poverty.
- Forced Labor was common; peasants were made to work without any payment by the landlords or the government. Such exploitation both by the British and local landlords bred a lot of resentment.
- Most local-moneylenders and landlords were in collaboration with the British and thus harassed the peasants. They usually charged high-interest rates resulting in increased debt burdens placed on the farmers.
- The social system which was favorably inclined toward the rich landowners and British alienated the common man, especially peasants. The disparity in wealth and resources distribution made the common man much more susceptible to exploitation.
- Policies imposed by the British also had far-reaching cultural and religious effects. Not only did traditional systems get dislocated, but also local ones were at risk-and all this caused dissatisfaction to soar.
Read the article on the History and Evolution of Peasant Movements in India!
Course of the Deccan Riots
The Deccan Riots of 1875 started not as a singular event but as a series of smaller uprisings occurring over some time. Farmers, artisans, and poor urban populations came together to protest various forms of exploitation of the time.
- Initial Revolts: The revolt began from the rural areas, with the agricultural population most affected by the economic policies-they started to revolt against the revenue observations and arbitrary demands of British officials.
- Escalation of Violence: As unrest spread, violence broke out. The peasants were supported by the local communities in attacking their landlords, moneylenders, and British officials. These actions were mainly spontaneous, although some parts of the region saw organized revolts.
- Repression by British Forces: The British reacted with military action to suppress the uprisings. The army went into action with bloodshed and rampage to crush the revolts.
- Spread of the Riots: The Deccan Riots spread in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, where conditions were similar, often seen in Deccan. They are no isolated accidents but represent growing demands of the districts against colonialism.
Read the article on the Meaning and Nature of Colonial Economy!
Outcomes of the Deccan Riots
The Deccan Riots had major outcomes affecting the immediate future of the area and the larger resistance movements in British India:
- The British East India Company imposed a tighter grip on the Deccan region with much harsher revenue collection. If the uprisings were crushed, they did expose the weaknesses of the colonial administration.
- The riots demonstrated the failure of the British land revenue system, leading to reforms in subsequent years. Nevertheless, these reforms went not to ease the plight of farmers but, rather, to enhance their compliance with the revenue collection system.
- The Deccan Riots were among the early symptoms of peasant dissatisfaction with British policies, drawing attention to the plight of farmers and laying the foundation for subsequent agrarian struggles in the colonial period.
- Also, the Deccan Riots drew inspiration for other anti-British uprisings, including the renowned 1857 Rebellion, which was likewise fuelled by the same grievances.
Read the article on the British Rule in India!
About the Deccan Riots Commission
The growing unrest among the peasants, consequent upon the riots, made the British government set up the Deccan Riots Commission in 1875. The commission was required to investigate the causes of the riots and to make recommendations to deal with the issues causing violence.
The Deccan Riots Commission revealed that landlord exploitation, heavy tax burdens, and the inadequacies of an arbitrary revenue system were among the main reasons behind the riots. As the government suggested reforms to the land revenue system with better protection for peasants, not all these suggestions were put into effect, and the larger exploitation problems remained unaddressed.
Practice the UPSC Test Series here!
|
Key Takeaways on Deccan Riots for UPSC Aspirants
|
Download the Key Takeaways PDF for Deccan Riots!
Testbook is one of the fastest-growing e-learning platforms for competitive exam preparations. Download the Testbook App now!
Deccan Riots UPSC FAQs
What was the Deccan Riots Act?
The Deccan Riots Act was a legislative measure enacted by the British to control and suppress the violence that occurred during the riots. It allowed the British to take strict actions against the rioters.
Which group was mainly affected by the Deccan riots?
The peasantry, particularly the farmers, were the most affected by the Deccan Riots, as they were the ones suffering from the oppressive policies of the British East India Company.
What was the reason for the Deccan riots?
The Deccan Riots were caused by the oppressive land revenue policies, forced labor, exploitation by landlords, and economic hardships faced by the peasantry under British rule.
Who was the leader of the Deccan riots in 1875?
The Deccan Riots in 1875 were not led by a single individual but were spontaneous uprisings by the peasants and local communities against British exploitation.
What was the immediate cause of the Deccan riots of 1857?
The immediate cause of the Deccan Riots of 1857 was the failure of the British East India Company’s land revenue system, which resulted in extreme hardships for the peasants.