This is a classic 'Reward for Reading' question. It checks if you read the text of the chapter rather than just the summary tables. The term 'Ulgulan' is bolded in standard texts like Spectrum and NCERT. If you missed this, you are skimming, not studying.
How this question is built
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements.
Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
Statement 1
In the history of India, is "Ulgulan" (the Great Tumult) the name used for the Revolt of 1857?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs
Fairness: CA heavy
Web-answerable
"His leadership during the Ulgulan (Revolt) of 1899-1900 against British colonialism"
Why this source?
- Explicitly names Ulgulan as a revolt led by Birsa Munda dated 1899-1900.
- By giving the date 1899-1900, this passage assigns Ulgulan to a different event than the 1857 revolt.
"The Munda Rebellion, also known as the Ulgulan or the Great Tumult, ... The rebellion, which took place between 1899 and 1900,"
Why this source?
- Defines the Munda Rebellion as "also known as the Ulgulan or the Great Tumult."
- Provides the date for that Ulgulan as occurring "between 1899 and 1900," distinguishing it from 1857.
"Birsa Munda’s spiritual beliefs became the foundation of the Ulgulan (The Great Tumult), a powerful movement that aimed to overthrow the British authorities"
Why this source?
- Describes Ulgulan (The Great Tumult) as the movement founded by Birsa Munda aiming to overthrow British authorities.
- Associates the term Ulgulan with Birsa Munda’s late-19th-century tribal movement rather than with 1857.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 6: People’s Resistance Against British Before 1857 > Ho and Munda Uprisings (1820-1837) > p. 157
Strength: 5/5
“The Raja of Parahat organised his Ho tribals to revolt against the occupation of Singhbhum (now in Jharkhand). The revolt continued till 1827 when the Ho tribals were forced to submit. However, later in 1831, they again organised a rebellion, joined by the Mundas of Chotanagpur, to protest against the newly introduced farming revenue policy and the entry of Bengalis into their region. Though the revolt was extinguished in 1832, the Ho operations continued till 1837. Nor were the Mundas to be quiet for long. [In 1899-1900, the Mundas in the region south of Ranchi rose under Birsa Munda. The Ulgulan was one of the most significant tribal uprisings in the period 1860-1920.”
Why relevant
Explicitly associates 'the Ulgulan' with the Birsa Munda tribal uprising of 1899–1900, showing the term is used for a later tribal revolt rather than 1857.
How to extend
A student could note the temporal mismatch and check that 'Ulgulan' refers to the Munda movement (1899–1900) not the 1857 events, making it unlikely to be a common name for 1857.
Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 8: The Revolt of 1857 > The Revolt of 1857 > p. 133
Strength: 4/5
“MIGHTY popular Revolt broke out in Northern and Central India in 1857 and nearly swept away British rule. It began with a mutiny of the sepovs, or the Indian soldiers of the Company's army, but soon engulfed wide regions and people. Millions of peasants, artisans, and soldiers fought heroically for over a year and by their courage and sacrifice wrote a glorious chapter in the history of the Indian people. The Revolt of 1857 was much more than a mere product of sepoy discontent. It was in reality a product of the accumulated grievances of the people against the Company's administration and of their dislike for the foreign regime.”
Why relevant
A standard NCERT account of the 1857 Revolt describes its leaders, spread, and popular nature yet does not use the term 'Ulgulan' or any alternate indigenous label in this snippet.
How to extend
A student could infer that major textbook treatments of 1857 would likely mention a widely used indigenous name if one existed, so absence here weakly counts against 'Ulgulan' being a common name for 1857.
Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 8: The Revolt of 1857 > MODERN INDIA > p. 140
Strength: 4/5
“They say that many of the Indian regiments were carefully linked in a secret organisation which had fixed 31 May 1857 as the day when all of them were to revolt. The Revolt began at Meerut, 36 miles from Delhi, on 10 May 1857 and then gathering force rapidly it cut across Northern India like a sword. It soon embraced a vast area from the Punjab in the North and the Narmada in the South to Bihar in the East and Raipurana in the West. Even before the outbreak at Meerut, Mangal Pande had become a martyr at Barrackpore. Mangal Pande, a young soldier, was hanged on 29 March<sup>1</sup>857 for revolting single-handed and attacking his superior officers.”
Why relevant
Another standard description (same chapter) gives dates, places and key incidents of 1857 without using 'Ulgulan', reinforcing that mainstream accounts of 1857 do not employ that term.
How to extend
Combine this absence with the explicit use of 'Ulgulan' for 1899–1900 (snip 5) to suspect 'Ulgulan' is not a name for the 1857 Revolt.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 7: The Revolt of 1857 > Consequences > p. 182
Strength: 3/5
“The revolt of 1857 marks a turning point in the history of India. It led to far-reaching changes in the system of administration and the policies of the British government. Even before the Revolt could be suppressed fully, the British Parliament, on August 2, 1858, passed an Act for the Better Government of India. The Act declared Queen Victoria as the sovereign of British India and provided for the appointment of a Secretary of State for India (a member of the British cabinet). The direct responsibility for the administration of the country was assumed by the British Crown and Company rule was abolished.”
Why relevant
Describes legislative and administrative consequences of the 1857 Revolt (1858 Act) without referring to 'Ulgulan', indicating conventional terminology for 1857 is 'Revolt of 1857' or similar.
How to extend
A student could use this to argue that major consequences and formal records use the standard name, so 'Ulgulan' likely refers to a different event.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 6: People’s Resistance Against British Before 1857 > People's Resistance Against British Before 1857 > p. 136
Strength: 3/5
“Most of us think of the 1857 Revolt as the first major show of resentment against the British who were represented by the rule of the East India Company. However, there were many incidents before the 1857 revolt that indicated all was not well and that there was a building resentment against the alien rule. This resentment manifested itself in several bouts of resistance by different groups of people in different regions of India.”
Why relevant
Discusses various pre-1857 resistances and labels them by region and tribe, demonstrating that Indian uprisings often have specific tribal/regional names (e.g., Ho, Munda), suggesting 'Ulgulan' might be a tribal/regional label separate from the pan-Indian 1857 label.
How to extend
A student could reason that 'Ulgulan' being attached to a tribal uprising (see snip 5) fits the pattern of region-specific names, making it less likely to be a general name for 1857.
Statement 2
In the history of India, is "Ulgulan" (the Great Tumult) the name used for the Mappila Rebellion of 1921?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs
Fairness: CA heavy
Web-answerable
"The Munda Rebellion, also known as the Ulgulan or the Great Tumult, was a direct outcome of Birsa’s teachings and leadership. The rebellion, which took place between 1899 and 1900,"
Why this source?
- Explicitly identifies 'Ulgulan' as the name of the Munda Rebellion (not Mappila rebellion).
- States the rebellion took place in 1899–1900, showing a different event and date than 1921.
"His leadership during the Ulgulan (Revolt) of 1899-1900 against British colonialism and the exploitative practices of the Zamindari system marked a watershed moment"
Why this source?
- Refers to 'Ulgulan (Revolt) of 1899-1900' under Birsa Munda, linking the term to the 1899–1900 Munda uprising.
- Confirms 'Ulgulan' denotes the Munda revolt rather than any 1921 Mappila events.
"The Munda Rebellion in the Ranchi Spread from 1899 to 1900 under the leadership of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. This Rebellion is known in history as ‘Ulgulan’ in Munda language."
Why this source?
- States the Ranchi Munda Rebellion (1899–1900) 'is known in history as ‘Ulgulan’ in Munda language.'
- Clarifies the meaning and usage of 'Ulgulan' as tied to the Munda uprising, not to the 1921 Mappila rebellion.
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 18: Early Resistance to British Rule > Munda Rebellion > p. 292
Strength: 5/5
“The rebellion (ulgulan) of the Munda tribesmen led by Birsa Munda, occurred during 1899-1900. Mundas were a prominent tribe in the Bihar region. During the British rule their system of common land holdings was destroyed. Jagirdars, thikadars (revenue farmers) and moneylenders grabbed the land owned by them. Birsa, born in a poor share-cropper household in 1874, declared himself a divine messenger to drive away the British and establish Munda rule in the region. Under his influence the Mundas strongly opposed non-tribals occupying tribal lands. He urged the Munda cultivators not to pay rent to the zamindars. Birsa Munda led a revolt in the Chotta Nagpur region.”
Why relevant
Explicitly identifies 'the rebellion (ulgulan) of the Munda tribesmen led by Birsa Munda' in 1899–1900, linking the term Ulgulan to the Munda uprising.
How to extend
Compare the regions/communities named here (Mundas, Chotta Nagpur) with the Mappila/Malabar context to judge whether Ulgulan ordinarily refers to Mappila events.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 6: People’s Resistance Against British Before 1857 > Ho and Munda Uprisings (1820-1837) > p. 157
Strength: 4/5
“The Raja of Parahat organised his Ho tribals to revolt against the occupation of Singhbhum (now in Jharkhand). The revolt continued till 1827 when the Ho tribals were forced to submit. However, later in 1831, they again organised a rebellion, joined by the Mundas of Chotanagpur, to protest against the newly introduced farming revenue policy and the entry of Bengalis into their region. Though the revolt was extinguished in 1832, the Ho operations continued till 1837. Nor were the Mundas to be quiet for long. [In 1899-1900, the Mundas in the region south of Ranchi rose under Birsa Munda. The Ulgulan was one of the most significant tribal uprisings in the period 1860-1920.”
Why relevant
Refers to the Ulgulan as one of the significant tribal uprisings (connected to Birsa Munda), reinforcing that Ulgulan is used for that tribal revolt.
How to extend
Use this pattern (Ulgulan = Birsa Munda uprising) and basic geography to see if the 1921 Mappila Rebellion, occurring in a different region, would likely have the same local name.
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 18: Early Resistance to British Rule > Peasant and Tribal 18.4 Revolts > p. 291
Strength: 4/5
“When the British took over Malabar in 1792, they sought to revamp land relations by creating individual ownership in land. A series of incidents therefore occurred in Malabar throughout the nineteenth century. Three serious incidents occurred in Manjeri in August 1849, in Kulath in August 1851 - both in south Malabar - and in Mattannur in the north in January 1852. British armed forces were deployed. to suppress the revolt. The repressive measures restored peace for about twenty years, but then the Mappila[s] rose again in 1870 and the events followed a similar course. Some of the rebellions in pre-1857 India were of the tribals whose autonomy and control over local resources were threatened by the establishment of British rule and the advent of its non-tribal agents.”
Why relevant
Discusses multiple Mappila/Moplah incidents in Malabar across the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, framing the Mappila struggles as region-specific (Malabar) with recurring local labels.
How to extend
A student could check whether local Malabar sources or histories use 'Ulgulan' for their rebellions or prefer terms like 'Mappila'/'Moplah' uprisings.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 31: Peasant Movements 1857-1947 > Mappila Revolt > p. 579
Strength: 4/5
“The Mappilas were the Muslim tenants inhabiting the Malabar region where most of the landlords were Hindus. The Mappilas had expressed their resentment against the oppression of the landlords during the nineteenth century also. Their grievances centred around lack of security of tenure, high rents, renewal fees and other oppressive exactions. The Mappila tenants were particularly encouraged by the demand of the local Congress body for a government legislation regulating tenant-landlord relations. Soon, the Mappila movement merged with the ongoing Khilafat agitation. The leaders of the Khilafat-Non-Cooperation Movement like Gandhi, Shaukat Ali and Maulana Azad addressed Mappila meetings. After the arrest of national leaders, the leadership passed into the hands of local Mappila leaders.”
Why relevant
Describes the Mappila movement's grievances and its merger with the Khilafat agitation, situating the 1921 events in Malabar under the label 'Mappila movement/revolt'.
How to extend
Combine this naming pattern (Mappila Revolt) with the fact that Ulgulan is tied to Birsa Munda to infer that 'Ulgulan' is not the standard name for the 1921 Malabar events.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 6: People’s Resistance Against British Before 1857 > Moplah Uprisings > p. 153
Strength: 3/5
“Hike in revenue demand and reduction of field size, coupled with the oppression of officials, resulted in widespread peasant unrest among the Moplahs of Malabar. Twenty-two rebellions took place between 1836 and 1854. None, however, proved successful.
(The second Moplah uprising occurred after the Moplahs came to be organised by the Congress and the Khilafat supporters during the Non-cooperation Movement. But Hindu-Muslim differences distanced the Congress and the Moplahs from each other. By 1921, the Moplahs had been subdued.)”
Why relevant
Uses the term 'Moplah/Moplahs' and notes repeated uprisings in Malabar leading up to 1921, indicating a local/religio-ethnic label for those revolts rather than the tribal term Ulgulan.
How to extend
A student can contrast the ethnic/region-based naming conventions shown here (Moplah/Mappila for Malabar) with the tribal-specific name 'Ulgulan' for Birsa Munda's revolt.
Statement 3
In the history of India, is "Ulgulan" (the Great Tumult) the name used for the Indigo Revolt of 1859–60?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs
Fairness: CA heavy
Web-answerable
"His leadership during the Ulgulan (Revolt) of 1899-1900 against British colonialism and the exploitative practices of the Zamindari system"
Why this source?
- Explicitly identifies Ulgulan as the revolt led by Birsa Munda and gives the dates 1899–1900.
- Directly contradicts the claim that Ulgulan refers to the Indigo Revolt of 1859–60 by assigning it to a later, different uprising.
"The Munda Rebellion, also known as the Ulgulan or the Great Tumult, was a direct outcome of Birsa’s teachings and leadership. The rebellion, which took place between 1899 and 1900,"
Why this source?
- States that the Munda Rebellion is "also known as the Ulgulan or the Great Tumult" and gives the dates 1899–1900.
- Links the name Ulgulan specifically to the Munda uprising, not to the Indigo Revolt of 1859–60.
"The Ulgulan Movement: A Fight for Freedom ... Ulgulan (The Great Tumult), a powerful movement that aimed to overthrow the British authorities"
Why this source?
- Refers to Ulgulan as "The Great Tumult" and describes it as Birsa Munda’s movement against British authorities.
- Associates the term Ulgulan with the Munda movement rather than with the Indigo Revolt.
History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 1: Rise of Nationalism in India > b) Laissez Faire Policy and De-industrialization: Impact on Indian Artisans > p. 3
Strength: 5/5
“The Indigo revolt of 1859 – 60 in Bengal was one of the responses from the Indian farmer to the oppressive policy of the British. Indian tenants were forced to grow indigo by their planters who were mostly Europeans. Used to dye the clothes, indigo was in high demand in Europe. Peasants were forced to accept meagre amounts as advance and enter into unfair contracts. Once a peasant accepted the contract, he had no option but to grow indigo on his land.”
Why relevant
Explicitly gives the Indigo Revolt as occurring in Bengal in 1859–60 and describes its nature and leaders (peasants vs European planters).
How to extend
A student could use this date and region (Bengal, 1859–60) on a timeline/map to check whether the label 'Ulgulan' appears in Bengal sources for that event.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 31: Peasant Movements 1857-1947 > Indigo Revolt (1859-60) > p. 575
Strength: 5/5
“In Bengal, the indigo planters, nearly all Europeans, exploited the local peasants by forcing them to grow indigo on their lands instead of the more paying crops like rice. The planters forced the peasants to take advance sums and enter into fraudulent contracts which were then used against the peasants. The planters intimidated the peasants through kidnappings, illegal confinements, flogging, attacks on women and children, seizure of cattle, burning and demolition of houses and destruction of crops. The anger of the peasants exploded in 1859 when, led by Digambar Biswas and Bishnu Biswas of Nadia district, they decided not to grow indigo under duress and resisted the physical pressure of the planters and their lathiyals (retainers) backed by police and the courts.”
Why relevant
Also describes the Indigo Revolt in Bengal (1859) with named leaders and specifics of the peasant resistance, reinforcing the event's location and date.
How to extend
Compare the leaders/region/dates here with sources that use the term 'Ulgulan' to see if they match; mismatches would argue against the statement.
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 18: Early Resistance to British Rule > Munda Rebellion > p. 292
Strength: 5/5
“The rebellion (ulgulan) of the Munda tribesmen led by Birsa Munda, occurred during 1899-1900. Mundas were a prominent tribe in the Bihar region. During the British rule their system of common land holdings was destroyed. Jagirdars, thikadars (revenue farmers) and moneylenders grabbed the land owned by them. Birsa, born in a poor share-cropper household in 1874, declared himself a divine messenger to drive away the British and establish Munda rule in the region. Under his influence the Mundas strongly opposed non-tribals occupying tribal lands. He urged the Munda cultivators not to pay rent to the zamindars. Birsa Munda led a revolt in the Chotta Nagpur region.”
Why relevant
Defines 'the rebellion (ulgulan) of the Munda tribesmen led by Birsa Munda' as occurring in 1899–1900 in the Chota Nagpur region, giving an explicit use of the term 'ulgulan' for a distinct later tribal uprising.
How to extend
A student can note the different date (1899–1900) and region (Chota Nagpur) and thus test whether 'ulgulan' is primarily associated with the Munda revolt rather than the 1859–60 Indigo Revolt in Bengal.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 6: People’s Resistance Against British Before 1857 > Ho and Munda Uprisings (1820-1837) > p. 157
Strength: 4/5
“The Raja of Parahat organised his Ho tribals to revolt against the occupation of Singhbhum (now in Jharkhand). The revolt continued till 1827 when the Ho tribals were forced to submit. However, later in 1831, they again organised a rebellion, joined by the Mundas of Chotanagpur, to protest against the newly introduced farming revenue policy and the entry of Bengalis into their region. Though the revolt was extinguished in 1832, the Ho operations continued till 1837. Nor were the Mundas to be quiet for long. [In 1899-1900, the Mundas in the region south of Ranchi rose under Birsa Munda. The Ulgulan was one of the most significant tribal uprisings in the period 1860-1920.”
Why relevant
States that 'The Ulgulan was one of the most significant tribal uprisings in the period 1860-1920' linked to Mundas, indicating 'Ulgulan' as a name for the Birsa Munda uprising within a later time window.
How to extend
Using this broader periodization, a student could check whether contemporary or later histories tie the term 'Ulgulan' to events in the 1850s–60s or only to the Munda movement around 1899–1900.
Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: The Colonial Era in India > Peasant uprisings against economic exploitation > p. 107
Strength: 4/5
“Even without famines, peasants suffered under the unfair British revenue collections, often losing their lands to moneylenders or new landlords. The Indigo Revolt (1859–1862)”
Why relevant
Lists the Indigo Revolt (1859–1862) in a school text, reinforcing the established date range and educational usage for that event.
How to extend
Cross-reference standard school histories and regional histories: if 'Ulgulan' is absent from Bengal/Indigo entries and present in Munda/Birsa entries, that supports separating the names.
Statement 4
In the history of India, is "Ulgulan" (the Great Tumult) the name used for Birsa Munda's Revolt of 1899–1900?
Origin: Direct from books
Fairness: Straightforward
Book-answerable
From standard books
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 18: Early Resistance to British Rule > Munda Rebellion > p. 292
Presence: 5/5
“The rebellion (ulgulan) of the Munda tribesmen led by Birsa Munda, occurred during 1899-1900. Mundas were a prominent tribe in the Bihar region. During the British rule their system of common land holdings was destroyed. Jagirdars, thikadars (revenue farmers) and moneylenders grabbed the land owned by them. Birsa, born in a poor share-cropper household in 1874, declared himself a divine messenger to drive away the British and establish Munda rule in the region. Under his influence the Mundas strongly opposed non-tribals occupying tribal lands. He urged the Munda cultivators not to pay rent to the zamindars. Birsa Munda led a revolt in the Chotta Nagpur region.”
Why this source?
- Explicitly names the rebellion as 'ulgulan' and ties it to Birsa Munda.
- Gives the dates 1899–1900 for the uprising.
- Identifies the Munda tribesmen and locates the revolt in the Chotta/Chhotanagpur region.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 6: People’s Resistance Against British Before 1857 > Ho and Munda Uprisings (1820-1837) > p. 157
Presence: 5/5
“The Raja of Parahat organised his Ho tribals to revolt against the occupation of Singhbhum (now in Jharkhand). The revolt continued till 1827 when the Ho tribals were forced to submit. However, later in 1831, they again organised a rebellion, joined by the Mundas of Chotanagpur, to protest against the newly introduced farming revenue policy and the entry of Bengalis into their region. Though the revolt was extinguished in 1832, the Ho operations continued till 1837. Nor were the Mundas to be quiet for long. [In 1899-1900, the Mundas in the region south of Ranchi rose under Birsa Munda. The Ulgulan was one of the most significant tribal uprisings in the period 1860-1920.”
Why this source?
- States that Mundas rose under Birsa Munda in 1899–1900 and refers to the event as the Ulgulan.
- Describes the Ulgulan as a significant tribal uprising in the period 1860–1920.
- Places the uprising in the region south of Ranchi, confirming geographic context.
Pattern takeaway:
UPSC is shifting from 'Who led what?' to 'What was the cultural identity of the movement?'. They test specific terminology (Ulgulan, Hool, Ghadar) to filter out candidates who rely solely on superficial compilation PDFs.
How you should have studied
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct hit from Spectrum (Chapter: People's Resistance) and TN Class 11 History. Mandatory knowledge for any serious candidate.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Tribal Uprisings (1757–1947). Specifically, the 'Indigenous Vocabulary of Resistance'—UPSC loves asking what a movement called *itself*.
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize these Sibling Terms: Santhal Revolt = 'Hool'; Paika Rebellion = 'Paika Bidroha'; Munda enemies = 'Dikus'; Munda land system = 'Khuntkatti'; Oraon movement = 'Tana Bhagat'.
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When making notes on revolts, create a specific column for 'Local/Indigenous Name'. Do not just memorize 'Birsa Munda = 1899'; memorize 'Birsa Munda = Ulgulan = Anti-Diku'.
Concept hooks from this question
👉 Ulgulan — Birsa Munda tribal uprising (1899–1900)
💡 The insight
Ulgulan is the name given to the late-19th/early-20th century tribal uprising led by Birsa Munda in the Chotanagpur region.
High-yield for distinguishing tribal movements from pan-Indian events: helps answer questions on regional revolts, their leaders, timelines and how they differ in causes and demands from larger rebellions. Connects to topics on tribal polity, land/revenue grievances and regional resistance movements in modern Indian history.
📚 Reading List :
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 6: People’s Resistance Against British Before 1857 > Ho and Munda Uprisings (1820-1837) > p. 157
🔗 Anchor: "In the history of India, is "Ulgulan" (the Great Tumult) the name used for the R..."
👉 Nature and geographical scope of the Revolt of 1857
💡 The insight
The Revolt of 1857 began as a sepoy mutiny and rapidly spread across large parts of northern and central India.
Core concept for modern Indian history: useful for questions comparing types of uprisings, evaluating claims of 'first war of independence', and mapping the revolt's spread and participants. Links to studies of causes, leadership profiles, and regional variations in resistance.
📚 Reading List :
- Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 8: The Revolt of 1857 > The Revolt of 1857 > p. 133
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 7: The Revolt of 1857 > Starts at Meerut > p. 172
- Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 8: The Revolt of 1857 > MODERN INDIA > p. 140
🔗 Anchor: "In the history of India, is "Ulgulan" (the Great Tumult) the name used for the R..."
👉 Immediate political consequences of the 1857 Revolt
💡 The insight
The revolt led to the end of Company rule and the transfer of authority to the British Crown with accompanying administrative changes.
Essential for answering cause–effect and impact questions: explains institutional shifts in governance, legal changes and policy reforms after 1857. Connects to colonial administrative history, constitutional changes and subsequent British strategies to prevent future uprisings.
📚 Reading List :
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 7: The Revolt of 1857 > Consequences > p. 182
🔗 Anchor: "In the history of India, is "Ulgulan" (the Great Tumult) the name used for the R..."
👉 Ulgulan = Birsa Munda's 1899–1900 uprising
💡 The insight
Ulgulan is the local name given to the tribal uprising led by Birsa Munda in Chota Nagpur during 1899–1900.
High-yield for UPSC because precise naming, leader and date linkage helps place tribal resistance in the broader chronology of Indian anti-colonial movements; connects to topics on tribal land rights and forest-society conflicts. Mastering this prevents conflation of regionally named revolts and aids in answering questions on causes and outcomes of tribal uprisings.
📚 Reading List :
- History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 18: Early Resistance to British Rule > Munda Rebellion > p. 292
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 6: People’s Resistance Against British Before 1857 > Ho and Munda Uprisings (1820-1837) > p. 157
🔗 Anchor: "In the history of India, is "Ulgulan" (the Great Tumult) the name used for the M..."
👉 Mappila (Moplah) Rebellion — Malabar, 1921
💡 The insight
The Mappila uprising of 1921 occurred in Malabar and was linked with agrarian grievances and the Khilafat-Non-Cooperation context, distinct from Ulgulan.
Important for UPSC as it highlights communal and agrarian dimensions of regional revolts and their interaction with pan-Indian movements (e.g., Khilafat, Non-Cooperation). Knowing this helps answer comparative questions on rural unrest, communalisation of movements, and regional variations.
📚 Reading List :
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 31: Peasant Movements 1857-1947 > Mappila Revolt > p. 579
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 31: Peasant Movements 1857-1947 > Mappila Revolt > p. 580
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 6: People’s Resistance Against British Before 1857 > Moplah Uprisings > p. 153
🔗 Anchor: "In the history of India, is "Ulgulan" (the Great Tumult) the name used for the M..."
👉 Distinguishing revolts by region, leader, and period
💡 The insight
Revolts in colonial India are often identified by local names tied to specific leaders, regions and years; accurate identification requires matching all three attributes.
Crucial for UPSC to avoid misattribution (e.g., mixing up Ulgulan with Mappila 1921). This concept improves accuracy in chronology questions, source-based questions, and comparative essays on peasant/tribal movements.
📚 Reading List :
- History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 18: Early Resistance to British Rule > Munda Rebellion > p. 292
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 31: Peasant Movements 1857-1947 > Mappila Revolt > p. 579
🔗 Anchor: "In the history of India, is "Ulgulan" (the Great Tumult) the name used for the M..."
👉 Ulgulan — Birsa Munda's 1899–1900 uprising
💡 The insight
Ulgulan refers to the tribal rebellion led by Birsa Munda in 1899–1900, not the mid-19th century indigo peasant movement.
High-yield for UPSC because it tests precise naming and dating of tribal movements; helps distinguish tribal revolts from peasant uprisings and supports accurate chronology-based answers and matching questions. It links to topics on tribal policy, land alienation, and leadership figures in colonial resistance.
📚 Reading List :
- History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 18: Early Resistance to British Rule > Munda Rebellion > p. 292
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 6: People’s Resistance Against British Before 1857 > Ho and Munda Uprisings (1820-1837) > p. 157
🔗 Anchor: "In the history of India, is "Ulgulan" (the Great Tumult) the name used for the I..."
The 'Khuntkatti' System. This was the joint land-holding system of the Mundas that the British replaced with individual ownership, triggering the Ulgulan. Expect a question linking Khuntkatti to the Munda revolt.
Linguistic Profiling. 'Ulgulan' has a distinct tribal (Austro-Asiatic) phonetic sound. 'Mappila' is Malayalam/Arabic. 'Indigo' is usually associated with 'Nil Bidroha' (Bengali). The Revolt of 1857 is 'Ghadar' (Hindustani). The sound of the word points directly to the Chotanagpur tribal belt.
Mains GS1 (Society) & GS3 (Internal Security): The Ulgulan is the historical ancestor of modern tribal assertions. Link it to the 5th Schedule (PESA Act) and the root causes of Left Wing Extremism (alienation from land/forest rights).