Introduction:- 

The Kols are tribal inhabitants of the Chota Nagpur region, part of Bengal Presidency during the British rule in India. They comprised of the Kols, Bhils, Hoes, Mundas and Oraons tribes. The Kols feared that their independence would be threatened by the Britishers and so, in order to resist the British invasion, the Kols rose in rebellion in 1831.

The leaders of the rebellion were Buddhu Bhagat, Joa Bhagat and Madara Mahato.

Causes of the Revolt :- 

• British Exploitation of the forest :- The Kols were tribal people. They considered them to be sons and daughters of forest. They reclaimed the forest land and started cultivating it in their own traditional way,
• Social Exploitation :-  The Kols were tribal people. They considered them to be sons and daughters of forest. They reclaimed the forest land and started cultivating it in their own traditional way.
• External Encroachment :- They had been enjoying certain rights which no one questioned so far. But under the British revenue system they found that their traditional rights were being encroached Thus by raising the banner of rebellion the Kols wanted to restore their traditional world. A world that is solely their own.There would be nobody from outside to interfere with The Kol rebellion may be described as a restorative movement.

Course of Revolt :- 

In 1820, the king of Porhat agreed to pay huge taxes to the British government, but the Kols refused the agreement and broke into a rebellion. The British showed their support to the King by sending in troops in order to suppress the rebellion.

The Kols with their traditional bows and arrows faced the British troops armed with modern weapons. Even though they put up a brave fight, the British succeeded to suppress them in no time. The traditional weapons could not match up with the British army’s sophisticated modern weapons.

The Mundas then joined the Kols in this rebellion.

The Kols rose again in 1831. The Chhota Nagpur region was leased out to Hindu, Muslim and Sikh money-lenders for revenue collection.

Their oppressive tactics, high revenue rates, British judicial and revenue policies devastated the traditional social framework of the Kols.

They gathered under Bir Budhu Bhagat, Joa Bhagat, Jhindrai Manki and Sui Munda. In 1831, Munda and Oraon peasants first took up arms against the British.

It encouraged tribals in Singbhum, Manbhum, Hazaribagh and Palamou.

Suppression of the Revolt :- 

• The insurgents adopted most cruel means and spared no one. They torched houses and killed the enemies.
• Only carpenters and blacksmiths were spared since they made weapons and other useful goods for them.
• After two years of intense resistance they lost to modern weapons of the British. Thousands of tribal men, women and children were killed and the rebellion was suppressed