Durjan Singh

Summary

Durjan Singh was a great leader of Chuar Rebellion of Bengal. Singh was a zamindar of Raipur in Bengal. He led the Chuar Rebellion in 1798–99 in Midnapore district against the British East India Company.[1][2][3]

Rebellion edit

In Bengal, the Bhumijs of Jungle Mahals were called chuars . Some of them became zamindars, and called themselves Rajas or Sardars. Their rebellions during the Company rule were called Chuar Rebellion.[4]

Raja Durjan Singh was the Bhumij zamindar of Raipur, from where he was dispossessed by the British. To get back his Raipur estate, Durjan Singh joined the Chuar Rebellion started by Jagannath Singh, zamindar of Dhalbhum and attacked the British with around 15,000 of his companions and caused havoc in Raipur and surrounding areas.[5][6] He was also supported by other dispossessed Bhumij zamindars, Rajas and Bagri leaders of Midnapore, Dhalbhum, Bankura including Jagannath Singh, Mohan Singh, Subal Singh, Shyam Ganjam Singh, Rani Shiromani, Lal Singh, Baidyanath Singh, Raghunath Singh, Mangal Singh, Lakshman Singh, Achal Singh, Govardhan Dhikpati etc.[7][8] He established his rule over 30 villages and attacked the East India Company establishments. The Chuars (Bhumijs) spread the rebellion in Raipur, Bankura, Phulkusma, Bhalaidiha, Shyamsunderpur and Simlapal.[9][10][11][12]

The Chuar Mutiny, led by Durjan Singh, was at its peak in 1798–99, but was brutally crushed by the Company's private army.[13][14][15][16]

References edit

  1. ^ Chatterjee, Gouripada (1986). Midnapore, the Forerunner of India's Freedom Struggle. Mittal Publications.
  2. ^ Chaudhuri, Sashi Bhusan (1955). Civil Disturbances During the British Rule in India, 1765-1857. World Press. ISBN 978-0-598-57785-6.
  3. ^ Bengal (India), West (1968). West Bengal District Gazetteers: Bānkurā. State editor, West Bengal District Gazetteers.
  4. ^ Journal of the Asiatic Society. The Society. 1973.
  5. ^ Das, Binod Sankar (1984). Changing Profile of the Frontier Bengal, 1751-1833. Mittal Publications.
  6. ^ Bengal (India), West (1968). West Bengal District Gazetteers: Bānkurā. State editor, West Bengal District Gazetteers.
  7. ^ Saraf, R. P. (1974). The Indian Society: A Process of Peoples' Revolutionary Struggle Through the Ages. Progressive Studies, Kashmir.
  8. ^ Rycroft, Daniel J.; Dasgupta, Sangeeta (2011-03-29). The Politics of Belonging in India: Becoming Adivasi. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-136-79115-4.
  9. ^ Hundred Years of Freedom Struggle, 1847-1947. Biplabi Niketan. 1989.
  10. ^ Saha, Sheela; Saha, D. N. (2004). The Company Rule in India: Some Regional Aspects. Kalpaz Publications. ISBN 978-81-7835-251-0.
  11. ^ Sen, Suchibrata (1984). The Santals of Jungle Mahals: An Agrarian History, 1793-1861. Ratna Prakashan.
  12. ^ The Quarterly Review of Historical Studies. Institute of Historical Studies. 2002.
  13. ^ India's Struggle for Freedom: An Album. Department of Information & Cultural Affairs, Government of West Bengal. 1987.
  14. ^ Lāhiṛī, Abanī (2001). The Peasant and India's Freedom Movement. Manak Publications. ISBN 978-81-7827-009-8.
  15. ^ Bengal (India), West (1968). West Bengal District Gazetteers: Bānkurā by Amiya Kumar Banerji. State editor, West Bengal District Gazetteers.
  16. ^ Majumdar, Ramesh Chandra (1978). History of Modern Bengal: 1765 to 1905. G. Bharadwaj.