Tribal Revolts in Colonial Andhra: Godavari and Vizagapatam Regions 1857-1917

Contents: Foreword. Preface. 1. Background. 2. Subba Reddy’s revolt, 1857-58. 3. Sanyasi Bhupathi’s revolt in Gudem, 1858. 4. Anti-Mansubdar movement in Rampa 1861-62. 5. Savaras in revolt, 1864-69. 6. Rampa rebellion, 1879-80. 7. Gudem uprising. 8. Santha Bhupathi’s revolt, 1891-92. 9. Grain riots, 1897. 10. Swami of Korravanivalasa: a messianic Movement of 1900. 11. Lagarai fituri, 1914-16. 12. Conclusion. Bibliography.

The tribals/adivasis are marginalized people living in the hills and forests often exploited by their more advanced brethren occasionally resulting in armed insurrections. The present work attempts to provide a comprehensive account of tribal uprisings in the hill portions of Andhra in the second half of nineteenth and early decades of twentieth centuries. These uprisings were ostensibly triggered off by the British government’s efforts, aimed at the curtailment of the extraordinary powers of the native tribal chiefs and the colonization of tribal economy.

The book identifies the causes of unrest among tribals and gives an insight into the dimensions of tribal defiance, which involved various categories of tribal population spread over an extensive area in the present day state of Andhra Pradesh. The work also analyses the roles of tribal chiefs and the methods adopted by the tribal leadership, for the mobilization of support for ending British colonial exploitation, oppression, and arbitrary rule. The colonial government countered the challenge and eventually established its exploitative authority. Nevertheless, it was abundantly proved that it was a daunting and challenging task, to curb the insurrectional spirit in the tribal areas. (jacket)