Tarapur Rebellion in Bastar (1842 AD)

Abstract

Tarapur pargana was considered as a military cantonment against the state of Jaipur (Orissa) rather than a source of revenue. Raja Bhupal Dev of Bastar had increased the rank of Tarapur pargana on the orders of the Nagpur government (Maratha), which was opposed by Governor Dalganjan Singh. When the pressure of the Nagpur government increased on Dalganjan Singh, he decided to leave Tarapur and go to Jaipur instead of accepting loot from the public by increasing the amount. The tribals urged him not to leave Tarapur and revolt against the Anglo-Maratha rule. Although the number of sufferings of the tribals of Tarapur was not many, but whatever they were, they were of a serious nature. The first thing was that the Banjaras, who were instrumental in fulfilling the logistics of the Marathas, had broken the primitive way of life.  The second thing was that due to increasing demand for revenue on Tarapur pargana, illegal taxes were being collected continuously and the riot was upset with them. Those experiences were completely new to the tribal, while the previous regime seldom interfered with the structure of the primitive life of Bastar.  Earlier tribals used to pay tax according to their status, which has now been changed. Dalganjan Singh and his fellow chief, Manjhi, were very agitated by the daily imposition of new taxes by the Diwan Jagabandhu of Bastar and demanded that until the Dewan Jagabandhu was removed and all the taxes were withdrawn, the tribal of pargana would continue to struggle. In this way, the Dewan of Bastar used to hold Jagbandhu responsible for the taxation. Because the policies and taxes of Anglo Maratha rule are imposed in Bastar by them, which Bastar did not oppose, so the tribal of Tarapur started protesting under the leadership of Dalganjan Singh.