brief note on indian freedom movement and Tribals of Gujarat

Arun Vaghela

Prof and Head,Dept. of History,

Gujarat University,Ahmedabad, 

From Violence to Non-Violence: A Tribal Journey of Indian Freedom movement (With Reference to Tribals of Gujarat)

Today, the Nation is celebrating ‘Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav’ in which the evaluation of people’s participation in freedom struggle is going to bedone with different viewpoints. The roles of Adivasis (tribals) of Gujarat in freedom struggle have been cleared with the study of nine decades of history of freedom struggle from 1857 to 1947. In respect to Gujarat, their various ideology of participation is motivating. Their population is 90 lacs sharing 15 % of total population of Gujarat. Before the Gandhi era, we can say, from 1857 to 1920, the efforts of tribals to achieve freedom was motivated by violence. The central issues of tribals were regarding to forests, serfdom and land. However, the violent protest has been remained the ultimate alternative of tribals in respect to their existence. The great examples of their struggle like 1857, the Joriya Parmeshwar’s Movementof 1868, the Talaviya Movement of Bharuch of 1885, the revolts of Bhil kings between 1907 to 1914, the Managarh Movement from 1905 to 1917and the Dadhavav Movement from 1919 to 1923, etc.In 1920, Gandhi Age has started in India. On the basis of Gandhian constructive activities, the trends of inclusion of tribal provinces in main stream. Since Bardoli Satyagraha of 1928 to Quit India Movement of 1942 and many others satyagrahs, the tribals participation has remained noteworthy. In this process, thousands of tribal freedom fighters and constructive workers have been participated. 40 freedom fighters only from one village, Vedachi in South Gujarat is notable thing in history of Gujarat.In context to freedom movement in totality, the different aspects, rather viewpoints arose from tribals. In respect to tribals - the leadership come out, the sentiment of co-existence - were the results of freedom movement.Today, it is more important that the Gujarat is having 14% tribals population, even though there is no place of naxals activities, which is the legacy of Gandhian Ideology and freedom movement.