Tribal Uprisings in Colonial Odisha: Ghumsur, Khond & Bhuyan Rebellions

The 19th century witnessed powerful tribal rebellions against British rule across Odisha. These uprisings — driven by oppressive revenue systems, interference in religious practices, missionary activities, and destruction of traditional privileges — demonstrated that India’s tribal communities were among the earliest and fiercest resisters of colonial domination.

The four major tribal uprisings in colonial Odisha were:

• Ghumsur Rising under Dora Bisoi (1835-1837)

• Khond Rising under Chakra Bisoi (1846-1856)

• Bhuyan Rising under Ratna Naik (1867-1868)

• Bhuyan Rising under Dharanidhar Naik (1891)

Common Causes of Tribal Uprisings

• Strong dislike for the new British rule

• Oppressive revenue system and high rent

• Threat to traditional privileges of tribal people

• British interference in religion (suppression of Meriah sacrifice)

• Christian missionary activities in tribal areas

• Steps taken against their traditional rulers

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1. Ghumsur Rising under Dora Bisoi (1835-1837)

Background

The Ghumsur region (in present-day Ganjam district) was under the Madras Presidency. The Bhanja rulers of Ghumsur had strained relations with the British. Growing discontent among the Kandha (Kondh) tribals from the beginning of British rule set the stage for rebellion.

Causes

• Suppression of Meriah sacrifice — a direct attack on the traditional religious faith of the Kandhas

• Christian missionary activities infuriated the Kandhas

• Land revenue up to 50% collected through forceful methods

• Flight of Raja Dhananjay Bhanja to the jungle seeking Kandha protection

• Immediate cause: Death of Dhananjay Bhanja (31 December 1835) — royal family members Brundaban Bhanja and Jagannath Bhanja became rebellious with Dora Bisoi’s support

About Dora Bisoi

• Full name: Kamal Lochan Dora Bisoi

• Tribe: Benniah Kandha

• Born in village Binjigiri near Kullada (Lower Ghumsur)

• Title: ‘Maliah Bisoi’ (Head Agent) of the Kandhas of Ghumsur

• Role: Commander-in-Chief of the Ghumsur army

• Skills: Expert sword-fighter and wrestler

Course of the Revolt

Date | Event

31 Dec 1835 | Death of Raja Dhananjay Bhanja

11 Jan 1836 | George Edward Russel reaches Ghumsur to suppress rebellion

14 Feb 1836 | Captain Butler leads troops to the Ghats

Feb 1836 | Kandhas attack British detachment between Udaygiri and Durga Prasad — Lt. Bromly and Ensign Gibbon killed along with 13 sepoys

1837 | Dora Bisoi captured through treachery of Raja Somnath Singh of Angul

Guerrilla Warfare

Dora’s supporters — Brundaban Bhanja, Jagannath Bhanja, Madhu Bhanja, Baliar Singh, Sundaray Bisoi, Sangram Singh, Nanda Bisoi — adopted guerrilla tactics, concealing themselves in jungles and ghatis (mountain passes) to make sudden attacks on British troops.

Capture and Punishment

• British announced prize of Rs. 5,000 for Dora’s capture

• Henry Ricketts (Commissioner of Odisha) instructed Raja Somnath Singh of Angul to betray Dora

• Dora was handed over by Somnath Singh in 1837

• Sentenced to life imprisonment; died in Ooty prison in 1846

• 40 persons given death sentence

• 29 received life imprisonment

• Sam Bisoi appointed new Chief of Kandhas

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2. Khond Rising under Chakra Bisoi (1846-1856)

Background

The Kandha rebellion did not end with Dora’s imprisonment. His nephew Chakra Bisoi resolved to avenge his uncle’s fate and posed an even greater threat to British authority for a full decade.

Causes

• Death of Dora Bisoi (1846) — left a scar in Chakra’s mind; desire for revenge

• S.C. Macpherson (Meriah Agent) interfered in Kandha religion, rescued Meriahs, and punished Kandhas mercilessly

• Humiliation of Macpherson at Bisipara (1846) — Kandha revolutionaries forced him to surrender rescued Meriahs, emboldening the rebels

• Kandhas installed Pitambar (minor son of Dhananjay Bhanja) as king of Ghumsur

Key Events

1846: Chakra’s followers humiliated Macpherson and looted his camp. British replaced Macpherson with Lt. Col. Campbell as Meriah Agent, who adopted a conciliatory approach.

Campbell’s Strategy: Won over most Kandhas; got them to promise abstaining from Meriah sacrifice. But Chakra did not submit.

Role of Somnath Singh of Angul: Assisted Chakra and Nabghan Konhoro. When exposed:

• 1846: Somnath forcibly took a Hindol village; fined Rs. 3,000

• 1848: Angul confiscated; Somnath Singh imprisoned at Hazaribagh Jail

Chakra’s Alliances:

• Allied with Savaras of Parlakhimedi under Dandasena of Gaiba

• United Savaras and Kandhas to fight the British

• Captain Wilson captured and hanged Dandasena

Final Phase: Chakra moved to Tel valley, then into forests of Kandhamal. Government of Bengal ordered annexation of Kandhamal in 1855 to deny him shelter.

End

• Chakra Bisoi was never captured by the British

• Died in 1856

• G.F. Cockburn (Commissioner) wrote in 1857: “perhaps he has abandoned this country”

• For a decade (1846-1856), Chakra’s activities were a “severe headache” to British authority

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3. Bhuyan Rising under Ratna Naik (1867-1868)

Background

The Bhuyan rising was centred in Keonjhar state and was triggered by a succession dispute in the royal family.

Cause: The Succession Crisis

After the death of Maharaja Gadadhar Bhanja of Keonjhar, his eldest son Dhanurjay (born of a concubine/phulabivahi wife) became king in 1861 as a minor. Pattamahadei (Chief Queen) Bishnupriya protested, claiming the deceased king had proposed Brundaban Bhanja as heir.

The queen’s petitions were rejected at every level:

• T.E. Ravenshaw rejected it

• Calcutta High Court rejected it

• Privy Council in London rejected it

Desperate, Queen Bishnupriya appealed to Ratna Naik to intervene.

About Ratna Naik

• Born at Tarpur village, Keonjhar (1820)

• Leader of the Bhuyans

• Brave from childhood; aware of Dhanurjay’s autocratic rule

• Organised Bhuyans and Juangs to fight for the queen’s cause

Course of the Revolt

Plan: Queen Bishnupriya left the palace for Basantpur. She met Ratna Naik, Bhuyans, and Juangs. All took a vow to oust Dhanurjay.

Ravenshaw’s Mediation: T.E. Ravenshaw negotiated a reconciliation — queen returned to palace and blessed Dhanurjay’s coronation.

Betrayal and Revolt: Ratna Naik felt betrayed by the queen’s reconciliation. He organised Bhuyans, Juangs, and Kohlas, declaring they would not stop until Brundaban Bhanja was placed on the throne.

28 April 1868: Ratna Naik entered the palace with supporters and kidnapped the Dewan and court officers.

British Suppression

• Dr. W. Hayes (Deputy Commissioner of Singhbhum) reached Keonjhargarh on 7 May 1868 with armed forces

• Rebels killed the Dewan and cut postal service between Chaibasa and Cuttack

• Colonel E.T. Dalton (Commissioner of Chhotanagpur) marched with contingent

• Dalton ordered Bhuyan houses burnt

• Kings of Bonai, Mayurbhanj, Pal Lahara, and Dhenkanal sent their Paiks to help

• T.E. Ravenshaw also reached Keonjhargarh

End: Ratna Naik and Nanda Naik surrendered. The ‘Ratna Meli’ came to an end.

Consequences

• Ratna Naik and 6 others awarded capital punishment

• Queen Bishnupriya lived in Cuttack for the rest of her life

• Bhuyans remained defiant — the seeds of the next revolt were sown

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4. Bhuyan Rising under Dharanidhar Naik (1891)

Background

The spirit of resistance among Keonjhar’s Bhuyans did not die with Ratna Naik. Under Dharanidhar Naik, they rose again against the same tyrannical King Dhanurjay Bhanja.

Causes

• Bethi (forced labour) — a burden the Bhuyans were forced to suffer

• Dhanurjay’s tyrannical rule — exploitation of tribal people

• Appointment of Fakir Mohan Senapati as Dewan — disliked by Dharanidhar

• Role of Bichitrananda Das (king’s adviser) — ordered forced labour for dam construction on stream Machha Kandana

• Personal betrayal: Dharanidhar was fraudulently dismissed from service through Bichitrananda’s treachery

About Dharanidhar Naik

• Born 5 May 1864 at Kusumita village

• Parents: Baigani Devi and Laichhan Naik

• Education: Trained as survey overseer at Tulsipur, Cuttack

• Employed in Dhanurjay’s administration

• Dismissed through treachery by Bichitrananda Das (who stole credit for his work)

Course of the Revolt (‘Dharani Meli’)

Dharanidhar gathered Bhuyans, Kohlas, and Juangs around him. Key events:

• Proceeded to Champakpur and killed Nanda Dhal (former Dewan)

• King Dhanurjay fled to Anandpur

• Fakir Mohan Senapati (Dewan) captured by Dharanidhar while going to meet Commissioner

• Rebels looted houses of non-supporters, freed prisoners from royal prison

• Dharanidhar declared himself adopted son of the Queen of Keonjhargarh

The Clever Trap

Fakir Mohan Senapati, while captive, wrote a coded letter to Bholanath Dey containing military instructions disguised as domestic requests. The letter read: “send 100 betel leaves and 200 betel nuts for the Queen’s son… The sugarcane field is to be irrigated by digging canal from the north.”

Decoded meaning: Attack the palace from the northern side with bullets.

Fakir Mohan then advised Dharanidhar to meet Deputy Commissioner H. Dawson near Ruchir village — where he was captured as planned.

Consequences

• Dharanidhar sentenced to 7 years in Cuttack Central Jail

• Released in 1897; lived at Banki Muhana near Puri as a hermit

• Died in 1944

• Followers Mani Mohapatra, Aguan Singh, Banamali MahaNaik — transportation for life

Far-reaching Results

• British agent H.P. Wylly took charge of Keonjhargarh administration

• Fakir Mohan Senapati resigned; replaced by Durga Das Mukherjee

• Administration became more humane; grievances were heard

• Dhanurjay later restored (with Political Agent oversight)

• Ray Bahadur Nanda Kishore Das appointed as Political Agent

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Legacy of Tribal Uprisings in Odisha

These tribal uprisings collectively demonstrate:

• Early resistance: Tribal communities resisted British colonialism decades before the mainstream national movement

• Unity across tribes: Kandhas, Bhuyans, Juangs, Kohlas, Gonds, and Binjhals united against oppression

• Guerrilla warfare: Dora Bisoi and Chakra Bisoi pioneered guerrilla tactics that later inspired other movements

• Never captured: Remarkably, Chakra Bisoi was never captured by the British — a testament to tribal solidarity

• Forced reforms: Each uprising compelled the British to introduce administrative reforms and reduce exploitation

These movements are integral to understanding Odisha’s colonial history and remain essential topics for OPSC examinations.

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This article is part of the DailyIAS Odisha History series for OPSC preparation. For detailed revision notes, check our Notes section.