Home > Society > Religion in India > Gujjars in Indian Freedom Struggle of India
Gujjars in Indian Freedom Struggle of India
Gujjars in Indian Freedom Struggle played a dominant role. The Gujjar leaders curbed the British rule at several districts of the country.

Share this Article:

Gujjars in Indian Freedom Struggle of IndiaThere was a remarkable contribution by the Gujjars in Indian freedom struggle. Like for instance, during India`s first war of Independence, known as the Sepoy Mutiny, 1857, a Gurjar called Kalyan Singh had terrorised the British forces for several years. The Sepoy Mutiny was a remarkable event in the Indian history. From 1822 to 1825, the Gujjar community held a fierce armed protest against the British rule. Several times, when the British were transporting their treasury from one place to place they were killed and looted by the Gujjar protestors. Most of the Gujjar occupied areas like Ladhora, Prikishatgharh, Samther`s boundaries were reduced by the British. The Estates of thousands of villages were reduced to only few hundred villages. Revolts in western Uttar Pradesh (Saharanpur district) during 1821 to 1825 led to the killing of thousands of Gujjars. Many were hanged and thousand of them were given life sentence. Thus, in this way the entire Gujjar community considered the British as their main rivals.

Gujjar soldiers of Meerut camp revolted in 1857 under Gujjar leader from Panchli Village. They elected the Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah I, as their leader. Then Gujjars of Uttar Pradesh and Delhi region joined the rebellion against the British rulers. Gurjars ended the British rule for some period, disabled the postal system, sped the transportation and killed both British officers and civilians. Further, they handed over the British treasury to Mughal King Bahadur Shah Jafar. Moreover, Gujjars in Saharanpur district gave some horrible time to the British officers. Gujjars in several districts like Gurgaon, Karnal, Muradabad, Muzafarnagar and Bijnor emerged and revolted against the Britishers and they gave them a very tough time. They destroyed policed stations and district courts.

Gurjars of Bijnor were fighting under the leadership of Gurjar leaders Kadam Singh and Dulal Singh. In the whole revolt Gurjars were fighting along with the Muslims. Gurjars in Mathura and Agra region also fought against the British and gave them a horrible period. That is why when the revolt ended, the properties of the Gurjars were impounded. Gurjars in Ludhiyana, Firozpur, Gujaranwala, Sialkot, Gujarat, Jalandhar district, Kangada revolt against the British and tried to end the British rule but when the revolt failed, the properties were impounded by the British. Hundreds of villages in district Bulandshahar were ruined by the Britishers but Gujjars fought with full strength. Not only had the Britishers declared Gujjars as criminal tribe by defining Criminal Tribes Act. However, in the freedom struggle of India, Gujjars were working as the main leaders of the Non Cooperation Movement of Mahatma Gandhi in the country. History states that there were freedom fighters in each and every single Gujjar village of the country.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in Religion in India


Religion in Indus Valley Civilization
Religion in Indus Valley Civilisation included Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Details about the religion in Indus Valley Civilization have been gathered from archaeological artefacts.
Shaivism Religion
Shaivism is the second largest “religious community” in modern India with its roots deeply seated in the Hindu Vedic belief.
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is among the more popular denominations of Hinduism, with its own distinctive ideas about spirituality and morality. Vaishnavism concentrates on worshipping god Vishnu and of his incarnations.
Hinduism Religion
Hinduism is more of a philosophy which is a way of living according to the understanding of the principles of Vedas and Upanishads.
Islam
Islam is a religion that beliefs in Allah as the one and only God and creator of the Universe. Islamic law or Sharia is characterised by the five pillars of Islam which comprise the essential duties of every Muslim.
Christianity
Christianity is a religion based on the teachings and life of Jesus Christ and it is the largest religion in the world.
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and a philosophy that encompasses a wide variety of beliefs, practices and traditions that are chiefly based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha and its later disciples.
Jainism
Jainism chronologically preceded the religion of Buddhism. It is considered as one of the oldest religions of India. Jainism in India shared with Hinduism and Buddhism. It is an integral part of South Asian religious belief and practice, but it is not a Hindu sect and not a Buddhist heresy, as earlier scholars believed.
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism, closely related to Judaism, Christianity and Islam was founded by Zoroaster.
Sikhism
Sikhism is a religion started by Guru Nanak in land of Punjab in 15th century A.D.