The Sanyasi Revolt
The Sanyasi and Fakir
Revolt
Sanyasi and Fakirs were a
part of the Indian Society. They lived on charitable gifts. The Sanyasi
Revolt was a combine armed rebellion of both Muslim fakirs and Hindu
sannyasis. It was directed against the dominance of the English East India
Company in Bengal. Majnu Shah was the leader of Fakir revolt while Bhawani
Pathak led the Sanyasis.
Region of Sanyasi and
Fakir Revolts
The Sanyasi and the Fakir
Revolts may be divided into two phases. (i) Revolts before Bengal Famine and
(ii) revolt after Bengal Famine. In 1760, the Sanyasis of Burdwan attacked upon
the English officers. In 1763, the Fakirs of of Barisal attacked the English
settlement there. Then it took place around
Murshidabad and Baikunthupur forests of Jalpaiguri. This resistance
began in 1760 and continued for more than four decades.
Historical Proofs
We find the mention of
Sanyasi revolt in the famous novels the Anandmath and the Debi Chaudurani
written by Bankim Chandra Chattapadhyay. Poems of Majnu written by Panchanam
Das and Rhym of Mahasthangarh written by Dwija Gaurikanta also give information
about the Sanyasi Revolt. The famous leaders of this rebellion were Bhabani
Pathak, Debi Choudhurani, Musha Shah, Majnu Shah and Paragal shah.
Characteristics of the
revolt.
The leaders of the Sanyasi
revolt were religious minded, but it was not a religious revolt. It was purely
a peasant revolts. Many hungry peasants, landless zamindars and jobless army
were united under the Sanyasis and the Fakirs. Attacking the kuthi, treasury,
Granary and godowns of company was the main characteristics of the revolt.
Causes of the revolt
A Sanyasi or Fakir is a person who has renounced the world and is free from all attachments and worldly desires. The rebel Sanyasis and Fakirs were not necessarily men who had renounced the world. In fact, many were settled farmers. They used to go for their annual pilgrimage at a particular time of the year. The British were wary of these wandering men and called them by various epithets like ‘erratic beggars’, ‘gypsies of Hindusthan’, ‘lawless mendicants’, ‘religious vagrants’, etc.
After
the establishment, the East India Company had imposed huge tax of the Zamindars
of Bengal. Many zamindars had fallen upon hard times owing to the steep tax
rates. It was the practice of the Sanyasis to collect alms and contributions
from these zamindars during their religious travels. Paying a high revenue rate
to the British, these zamindars found it too difficult to provide alms to
Sanyasis and Fakirs.
The
Sanyasi and Fakirs became resentful when the British administration
intentionally imposed pilgrim taxes on them. During the famine of Bengal 1770,
the rebels lost their confidence on the British and moneylenders. The Sanyasis
rose in rebellion against the British and raided English factories and
government treasuries.
Failure
of the revolt
The leaders of the Sanyasi
and the Fakir revolt introduced guerilla tactics of warfare against the
British. Internal conflict among the leaders was the main cause for its
failure. Lack of fire arm, organization, and planning was also a cause of
decline.
Role
of Majnu Shah
Majnu Shah was the leader of Fakir revolt. He travelled from
places to places to inspire to continue struggle. After his death, his brother
Musa Shah took the leadership and continued rebel for some time.
Later, Chirag Shah led the Fakirs to launch attack on British establishments.
Role
of Bhabani Pathak and Devi Chaudhurani
Bhabani Pathak was an important leader of the Sanyasi Movement
in West Bengal. He was a large following in the downtrodden society and was
acceptable much like Robinhood. He was killed by the British. Bhabani Pathak
was in league with Devi Chowdhurani led the Sanyasis after his death. Devi
chaudhurani was a decoit. She lived in boats and had a large force in her pay.
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Important
Questions
Q1: Was Sanyasi simply
a religious revolt?
Ans: The leaders of the Sanyasi revolt were religious
minded, but it was not a religious revolt. It was purely a peasant revolts.
Many hungry peasants, landless zamindars and jobless army were united under the
Sanyasis and the Fakirs.
Q2: Why the
Sanyasi revolt failed?
Ans: The leaders of the Sanyasi and
the Fakir revolt introduced guerilla tactics of warfare against the British.
Internal conflict among the leaders was the main cause for its failure. Lack of
fire arm, organization, and planning was also a cause of decline.
Q3: Where did
the Sanyasi revolt? Write the names of its two leaders?
Ans: The Sanyasi
and Fakir revolts began in 1760 and continued
for more than four decades. Majnu Shah was the leader of Fakir revolt while
Bhawani Pathak led the Sanyasis.
Q4: What were the Sannyasi and Fakir revolts?
Ans: Sannyasi-Fakir Revolt
was a remarkable event in the history of peasants’ rebellions, Almost 50,000
people had participated in this rebellion. The fakirs of North Bengal belonging
to the ‘Madari’ sect and ‘Girl’, ‘Gosain’ and ‘Naga’ sages of North Bengal and
Mymensing were the first to lead this rebellion.
اہم سوال۔
Q1: کیا
سنیاسی محض ایک مذہبی بغاوت تھی؟
جواب: سنیاسی بغاوت کے رہنما مذہبی ذہن کے تھے ، لیکن یہ مذہبی بغاوت نہیں تھی۔ یہ خالصتا ایک کسان بغاوت تھی۔ بہت سے بھوکے کسان ، بے زمین زمیندار اور بے روزگار فوج سنیاسیوں اور فقیروں کے تحت متحد تھے۔
Q2: سنیاسی بغاوت کیوں ناکام ہوئی؟
جواب: سنیاسی اور فقیر بغاوت کے رہنماؤں نے انگریزوں کے خلاف جنگ کے گوریلا ہتھکنڈے متعارف کروائے۔ رہنماؤں کے درمیان اندرونی کشمکش اس کی ناکامی کی بنیادی وجہ تھی۔ آگ بازو ، تنظیم اور منصوبہ بندی کی کمی بھی زوال کی ایک وجہ تھی۔
Q3: سنیاسی نے کہاں بغاوت کی؟ اس کے دو رہنماؤں کے نام لکھیں؟
جواب: سنیاسی اور فقیر کی بغاوتیں 1760 میں شروع ہوئیں اور چار دہائیوں سے زیادہ جاری رہیں۔ مجنو شاہ فقیر بغاوت کا رہنما تھا جبکہ بھوانی پاٹھک نے سنیاسیوں کی قیادت کی۔
Q4: سنیاسی اور فقیر بغاوتیں کیا تھیں؟
جواب: سنیاسی فقیر بغاوت کسانوں کی بغاوت کی تاریخ کا ایک قابل ذکر واقعہ تھا ، اس بغاوت میں تقریبا 50 50،000 لوگوں نے حصہ لیا تھا۔ شمالی بنگال کے فقیر جن کا تعلق 'مداری' فرقے سے ہے اور 'بنگالی' ، 'گوسین' اور 'ناگا' شمالی بنگال اور میمن سنگ کے باشندوں نے اس بغاوت کی قیادت کی۔