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Sanyasi Revolt (1763-1800)
- The disastrous famine of 1770 and the harsh economic order of the British compelled a group of sanyasis in Eastern India to fight the British.
- These sanyasis were joined by a large number of dispossessed small zamindars, disbanded soldiers and rural poor.
- They raided Company factories and the treasuries, and fought the Company’s forces.
- Equal participation of Hindus and Muslims characterised the uprisings, sometimes referred to as the Fakir Rebellion.
- Majnum Shah (or Majnu Shah), Chirag Ali, Musa Shah, Bhawani Pathak and Debi Chaudhurani were important leaders.
- Debi Chaudhurani’s participation recognises the women’s role in early resistances against the British.
- Anandamath, a semi-historical novel by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, is based on the Sanyasi Revolt.
- Bankim Chandra also wrote a novel, Devi Chaudhurani, as he saw the importance of women taking up the struggle against an alien rule.
- It was only after a prolonged action that Warren Hastings could subdue the sanyasis.