Tribal resistance in colonial India: Reclaiming the legacy of Bhima Nayak and Sukhlal Baiga
Author(s): Shubham Patel Kurmi and Alkesh Chaturvedi
Abstract: The landscape of India’s freedom struggle remains incomplete without acknowledging the fierce and fearless resistance offered by its tribal communities. Among the forgotten frontlines of anti-colonial defiance lies Mahakaushal, a region dense in forests, cultures, and history, where indigenous leaders such as Bhima Nayak and Sukhlal Baiga emerged not merely as rebels but as architects of resistance with their own visions of justice and autonomy. This paper interrogates the systematic erasure of these leaders from mainstream historical narratives, arguing that their strategies, motivations, and legacies constitute a distinct paradigm of subaltern resistance.
Employing a qualitative and interpretive historical method, the study draws upon oral archives, colonial reports, folk songs, and ethnographic accounts to trace the sociopolitical trajectories of these leaders and their communities. Far from being isolated revolts, the tribal uprisings in Mahakaushal were grounded in collective memory, cultural identity, and ecological consciousness. This research foregrounds their struggle as a complex interplay of spiritual symbolism, guerrilla warfare, and communal solidarity, offering a counter narrative to the linear portrayal of India’s national movement.
The paper ultimately calls for an epistemological shift in how we chronicle resistance, away from metro-centric, elite-led perspectives towards the grassroots, embodied histories of indigenous peoples. In doing so, it contributes to the growing discourse of decolonial history and asserts the intellectual necessity of re-inserting tribal agency into the centre of India’s liberation story.
DOI: 10.22271/27069109.2025.v7.i9b.519Pages: 84-88 | Views: 141 | Downloads: 64Download Full Article: Click Here
How to cite this article:
Shubham Patel Kurmi, Alkesh Chaturvedi.
Tribal resistance in colonial India: Reclaiming the legacy of Bhima Nayak and Sukhlal Baiga. Int J Hist 2025;7(9):84-88. DOI:
10.22271/27069109.2025.v7.i9b.519
