a. Why did the Kols rebel?:

The Kol tribesmen of Chotonagpur were long been exploited and looked down upon by the non-tribal outsiders. Ultimately the Kols burst out in rebellion in 1831.

Under the leaders like Buddhu Bhagat, Joa Bhagat and Madara Mahato the Kols raised the banner of rebellion.

The Kols of Chotonagpur became very much aggrieved as they found that their territories were being increasingly encroached by the non-tribal planters, zamindars and other agents of the British.

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Besides, the oppression of the merchants and money-lenders from the plains forced the Kols to raise the banner of revolt.

It is known from official records that owing to the acts of violence of the Kol rebels the flourishing area of Chotonagpur was reduced to a desert.

b. The objectives of the Kols:

The Kols were tribal people. They considered them to be sons and daughters of forest. They reclaimed the forest land and started cultivating it in their own traditional way.

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They had been enjoying certain rights which no one questioned so far.

But under the British revenue system they found that their traditional rights were being encroached Thus by raising the banner of rebellion the Kols wanted to restore their traditional world. A world that is solely their own.

There would be nobody from outside to interfere with The Kol rebellion may be described as a restorative movement.

c. End of the Kol Rebellion:

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Contemporary records show that almost the entire tribal population was up in arms against the non- tribal of Chotonagpur.

The acts of violence, rapine and murder caused so much destruction of property that the flourishing area of Chotonagpur was reduced to a desert.

The British sepoys, reinforced by the troops from other places, could ultimately suppress the Kol rebels.

Despite the personal bravery shown by the Kols the rebellion was unsuccessful as the traditional weapons were powerless against the British army armed with modern instruments of warfare.