The alliance between local feudalism and British imperialism in Rajasthan was first opposed by the Mer, Meena and Bhil tribes.
Reasons of tribal movements:-
1. The affected tribes could not understand the new administrative system and were exploited under this system.
2. The forest rights of the 2 tribes were abolished.
3. The social traditions of the tribes were restricted. One of such incident was in 1853 AD when Mewar Maharana Swaroop Singh banned the Dakan pratha.
4. In 1818 AD, after the treaty with the British, Colonel James Todd, the Political Agent of Mewar, abolished the Bolai tax (highway tax) and guarding tax (for the protection of the village), taken by the Bhil Gametis (chief).
5. The kings had given the rights of protection to the British, so the Bhil soldiers of the kings’ armies became unemployed.
6. The traditional agricultural system of the tribes was destroyed.
7. Under the new Excise Policy, the Bhils’ Mahua liquor was banned.
8. Taxes on opium, tobacco, and salt were increased.
9. The tribes were forced to do begar by feudal lords and kings.
10. At the time of the census of 1881 AD, there was discontent among the Bhils because they felt that their youth would be sent to the Afghan war. They also felt that by counting people, tax would be levied on them.
11. In 1822 AD, Merwada Battalion (Beawar) and in 1841 AD, Mewar Bhil Corps (Khairwada) were established in tribal areas and the burden of their expenditure was placed on the tribes.
Bhagat Movement / Lasadia Movement
1. This movement was started by Bhil tribe of Vagad region.
2. Leader were 1. Govind Guru 2. Surji Bhagat
3. Govind Guru was born in a Banjara family in Vedasa (Dungarpur) village. He established his dhuni and nishan (flag) in a village called Basian.
4. Govind Guru did the moral and spiritual uplifting of the Bhils. Govind Guru emphasized on monotheism in Bhils. He encouraged Bhils to give up theft, alcohol and other evils. He established Panchayats to resolve mutual disputes. Emphasized the use of indigenous goods.
5. Govind was influenced by Guru Dayanand Saraswati. He established the Bhagat sect to keep the tribals in Hinduism.
6. In order to increase mutual harmony among the Bhils in 1883 AD, he established Samp Sabha. In 1903 AD The first session of Samp Sabha took place on the Mangarh (Banswara) hill. In 1910 A.D. 'Samp Sabha’s 33 demands were put before the government, but the problems were not resolved.
7. Govind Guru went to Idhar in 1908 AD, and did public awareness work among Bhils there, due to which the Jagirdar of Palpatta had to conclude agreement with Bhils on 24 February 1910 AD. There were 21 conditions in this agreement.
8. In 1911, Govind Guru returned to his native place of Vedasa, and by setting up dhunis here, started giving sermons to the Bhils on modern method. Vedasa became the center of the activities of Govind Giri. The Bhils of Ider, Sunth, Banswara, Dungarpur, Panchmahal, Kheda started coming here.
9. In 1911, he organized his sect in a new form and along with religious teachings started explaining to Bhils the way of freedom from feudal and colonial exploitation. He set up his dhunis in every Bhil village and appointed a Kotwal to protect them. The Kotwal appointed by Govind Giri was not only the religious head, but also an admininstrative head. He was incharge of all the affairs of his region and settled disputes between the Bhils.
10. In this way, on one hand parallel government of Govind Giri started running, but on the other hand persecution of his disciples by kings and Jagirdars continued. The oppressive behavior by feudal and colonial power prompted Govind Giri and his disciples to plan for the establishment of Bhil Raj and to get rid of feudal and colonial slavery.
Mangarh (Banswara) Massacre - 17 November 1913 AD.
1. The firing was done by the police on a session of Samp Sabha. More than 1500 Bhils were killed. It is called the Jallian Wali massacre of Rajasthan.
2. Govind Guru and his aide Poonja Dheerji were arrested.
3. Due to the popularity of Govind Giri, his life imprisonment was commuted to a sentence of ten years and later after seven years of imprisonment he was released on the condition that he will not enter Sunth, Dungarpur, Banswara, Kushalgarh and Idher states.
4. He spent the rest of his life peacefully in Kambia village of Gujarat. Govind Giri used to give lectures to his Bhagat Bhils in Jhalod village of Panchmahal district under Ahmedabad division under government supervision.
5. Govind Guru was a supporter of non-violence. His white flag was a symbol of peace.
Aki / Bhomat Bhil Movement
1. This movement was started by the Bhil and Garasia tribes of Gogunda, Jhadol and Kotda areas, influenced by the Bijoliya peasant movement. This movement started from a place called Matrukundia (Chittor).
2. Leader was Motilal Tejawat.
3. Motilal Tejawat was born in a Oswal Jain family in a village named Koliari. He used to work in Jhadol tikhana. Seeing the pathetic condition of Bhils and Garasis during this service, Tejawat left the job, and made efforts to establish unity among these tribes. Tejawat got the support of Jat farmers under the leadership of Gokulji Jat of Podoli village.
4. Motilal Tejawat put 21 demands in front of Mewar Maharana. These demands are called the Pukar of Mewar. But these problems were not resolved. Gradually this movement spread to the princely states of Mewar, Vagad, Sirohi, Idhr and Vijayanagar (Gujarat).
Neemada (Vijayanagar, Gujarat) murder case - 6 March 1922 AD.
1. The firing on Bhils was done by Major Sutton. More than 1200 Bhils were killed. Motilal Tejawat fled.
2. On 3 June 1929 A.D. At Gandhiji’s insistence, Motilal Tejawat surrendered at a place called Khedbrahma in Idhar.
3. On 3 April 1936 A.D. In the Mahaindraj Sabha, Motilal Tejawat was released with the intervention of Manilal Kothari (Gandhiji’s PA). He was released from jail on the condition that he would not do any agitational work and would not leave Udaipur city without the permission of Udaipur state. The state of Udaipur paid Rs. 30 for his survival per month as allowance. He was again imprisoned in January 1945, when he tried to enter the restricted area and was released from prison in February 1947.
4. He spent the rest of his life in the creative activities of Gandhiji. Tejawat ji is called the Messiah of the tribals and the tribals used to call him Bavji.
Mahaindraj Sabha
1. This was Mewar’s Supreme Court.
2. It was established by Maharana Sajjan Singh in 1880 AD.
Sirohi Bhil Movement
1. On January 1922, Motilal Tejawat reached Sirohi, and inspired the Bhils and the Garasis to be united.
2. On January 24, 1922, the Bhils and Garasis raised the sesame crop without paying it to the state. The Bhils were responsible for the safety of passengers on the road from Abu Road to Ambaji. They stopped the work of guarding it. The Garasis destroyed the station of Moongthala and looted the revenue officer’s house.
3. Tejawat ji became very popular among the Bhils and Garasis of Sirohi. They called him as Gandhi of Mewar. The Idhar Prajamandal also supported this movement.
4. Ramakant Malaviya, Diwan of Sirohi, invited Vijay Singh Pathik for the agreement. Pathik ji came to Sirohi with Ramchandra Vaidya and Brahmachari Hari. He met Tejawat ji at Bhagwan Garh, and advised him to run a peaceful movement.
5. On 12 February 1922, at a place called Gopeshwar, Pathik ji and Ramakant Malaviya assured the farmers to reduce their problems and pain, but the problem could not be resolved.
Siava Massacre - 12 April 1922 AD
1. In this incident 3 Garasians were killed, and one was injured. 40 houses of the Garasis were destroyed, and their storehouses were burnt.
Balolia and Bhula massacre- (5-6 May 1922 AD)
1. Major Pritchard led the shootout. 50 people were killed and 150 people were injured in this incident.
2. Rajasthan Seva Sangh sent Ramnarayan Chaudhary and Satya Bhakta to Sirohi to investigate this incident. Full details of this incident were published in Tarun Rajasthan newspaper.
Meena Movement
1. In 1924 AD The Criminal Tribes Act was passed, and the Meena tribe was included in it. In 1930 A.D. 1992, the Jayaram Pesha Act was passed.
2. Under this, it was made mandatory for every Meena woman and man to attend the police station. Meena society opposed this.
3. Chhotulal Jharwal, Mahadev Ram Pabdi, Jawahar Ram formed the Meena Caste Reform Committee.
4. In 1933 AD “Meena Regional General Assembly” was formed .
Neem Ka Thana (Sikar) Conference 1944
1. Jain saint Magan Sagar organized it. He wrote a book called Meen Purana. He told the Meena community about their glorious history.
2. Meena Reform Committee was formed in this conference.
3. Leader - Banshidhar Sharma, Laxminarayan Jaharwal, Rajendra Kumar Ajay Bagwas (Jaipur) Conference - 28 December 1946 AD
4. In this conference 26000 Meena watchman resigned from their posts. It was celebrated as the Liberation Day.
5. In 1952 AD With the efforts of Hiralal Shastri and Tikaram Paliwal, the Jayaram Peshha Act was abolished.
6. Famous tribal leader Thakkar Bapa made efforts to relieve Meenas and improve the situation and wrote a letter to the Prime Minister of Jaipur, Mirza Ismail.