Revolt In Midnapore and Dhalbhum (1766-74) [Bengal]
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- Leaders: Damodar Singh and Jagannath Dhal.
- New Land Revenue system of 1772: led to the Zamindars siding with ryots, and against English officials
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Civil Uprisings In Gorakhpur, Basti And Bahraich (1781) [Uttar Pradesh]
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- English Officers as Revenue Farmers: Warren Hastings employed English officers as Izaradars (revenue farmers) in Awadh to raise money for wars against the Marathas and Mysore.
- Alexander Hannay’s (a British officer appointed to collect the Izaras) excessive demands of revenue from zamindars and cultivators led to the uprising.
- Hannay’s subordinates were either killed or besieged by Zamindar’s guerilla forces. Although the rebellion was suppressed, Hannay was dismissed and his Izara forcibly removed.
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Revolt of Raja of Vizianagaram (1794) [Andhra Pradesh]
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- Treaty to Expel the French: In 1758, a treaty was made between the British and Ananda Gajapatiraju (raja of Vizianagaram) to jointly oust the French from the Northern Circars.
- Betrayal and Rebellion: The British went back on the treaty of 1758 and asked Raja Chinna Vizayaramaraju (successor of Ananda Gajapatiraju) to pay tribute and disband his army. Raja, supported by his subject, rose to rebellion.
- Vizianagaram’s Incorporation: He was captured in 1793 and died in battle at Padmanabham (in modern Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh) in 1794.
- Vizianagaram eventually came under company rule.
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Revolt of Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (1797-1805) [Kerala]
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- The Lion of Kerala: Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, also known as the “Kerala Simham” or ‘Pyche raja, was the de facto head of Kottayam in the Malabar region.
- He actively resisted the forces of Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan, and the British between 1793 and 1805.
- Third Anglo-Mysore War: It resulted in British control over Kottayam.
- The British appointed Vira Varma as the Raja, who imposed exorbitant taxes, leading to mass peasant resistance, led by Pyche Raja in 1793.
- Despite a peace treaty in 1797, a conflict over Wayanad in 1800 reignited hostilities, prompting Pazhassi Raja to organize a diverse force, including Nairs, Mappilas and Pathans.
- In November 1805, he died in a gunfight.
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Revolt of Diwan Velu Thampi (1808–09) [Travancore]
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- Resentment in Travancore: Harsh conditions in Travancore following a subsidiary alliance agreement (1805) with Wellesley led to resentment in the region.
- The high-handed attitude of the Company led Prime Minister Velu Thampi to rebel against them, with support from Nair troops.
- He openly called for armed resistance against the British in the Kundara Proclamation, sparking widespread rebellion.
- Suppression of Rebellion: A large-scale military operation was necessary to restore peace as the Maharaja of Travancore defected to the Company’s side.
- Velu Thampi, facing capture, chose to end his own life. The rebellion eventually dwindled out.
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