Book speaks of regional revolts against the British prior to freedom struggle

HUBBALLI: The Meerut revolt that took place in 1857 is said to be the first freedom struggle in India. However, a new book speaks of many revolts that were regional in nature prior to the Meerut one.
Book ‘Amara Sulliada Raita Horata (1834-1837)’, by Purushottama Bilimale, former head of Kannada language chair, Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi), has been published by Aharnishi Prakashana (Shivamogga).
Bilimale told STOI that there were many revolts against the British by farmers over taxation. “When Thomas Munro, the collector of Dakshina Kannada district, implemented new laws on land in 1810, farmers opposed them. Many kings, queens and commoners had been expressing their dissent over land laws and taxation imposed by East India Company and the British government. But such revolts remained separate from one another. There was no knowledge of nationalism or colonism then. However, they were found in the 1857 struggle,” he added.
Bilimani has also listed about 100 regional revolts prior to the Battle of Plassey in 1757 (exactly 100 years before the 1857 revolt), and some of them are: Sanyasi danga between 1770-1820 in Bengal, Santali rebellion in 1767, Kashi king Chait Singh’s soldiers struggle in 1780, Guerilla Danga in 1781, Goa Pinto’s protest in 1787, Tipu struggle in 1799, Veera Pandyan Kattabomman sacrifice in 1760, Dhondia struggle in 1780, Kannur Palassi Raja’s struggle in 1753, Velu Thampi rebellion in 1809, Jats rebellion in 1805 and 1824, Vellur fight in 1806, Bhillar’s revolt in 1807, Bareli revolution in 1816, Kittur Channamma’s struggle in 1778, Sacrifice of Sangolli Rayanna in 1831, Nagara revolt in 1830, and Amara Sullia rebellion in 1834.
“Such revolts were often called with negative words like loots, robbery and anti-national acts by the rulers. Even leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Balagangadhar Tilak were termed anti-nationals by the rulers,” he added. Historian prof Ashok Shettar said the book links the farmers’ revolt of Sullia to the current farmers’ yearlong agitation in Delhi.