PREFACE
By the first half of 19th century, most of India (including present day Pakistan and Bangladesh) came under the British Empire, either ruled directly by the British East India Company or indirectly through subsidiary alliances with princely states. Until this time, several agrarian, tribal, and political rebellions broke out against the foreign rule. Notable among them were Sanyasi rovolt in 1776-77 in Murshidabad (Bengal and Bihar province), Peasant uprising of Rangpur, Bengal (1783) Tilka Manjhi Andolan (1783-85) in present day Bhagalpur, Bihar, revolt of Kattambonnan (1792-99) in Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu, rebellion of the Paiks (1804-06) in Orissa, revolt of Velu Thampi (1805-09) in Travancore, uprisings of the Bhils (1818-31), the Kol uprising (1831-32), and Santhal revolt in present day Jharkhand and West Bengal in 1855 led by Sidhu and Kanhu. However, such rebellions were sporadic and failed to garner nationwide support from the masses. Finally, the 'Revolt of 1857', started as a mutiny by sepoys of East India Company, became the first major, large-scale uprising in the Indian freedom struggle. Even though the rebellion was contained in northern India and was soon suppressed by the Britishers, it emerged as a launch pad for all the subsequent struggles against the British rule.
The revolt of 1857 made a significant impact on the public in stirring Indian nationalism against a foreign foe. The revolt was followed by a period of growing political and religious awareness as well as the manifestation of Indian public opinion. Thereafter, numerous organisations were formed that strived for some sort of self-governance and rights for the Indians. For instance, in 1867, Dadabhai Naoroji established the East India Association, and Surendranath Banerjea formed the Indian National Association in 1876. Soon after, at the time of growing popular support, A.O. Hume, a retired Scottish civil servant, proposed a foundational, formal meeting for delegates from all over India. Eventually, seventy-two Indian delegates met in Bombay in 1885 and led to the formation of the Indian National Congress (INC). Initially, the INC called for moderate constitutional reforms under the British Raj in India. By early 20th century, it became the focal point of national movements calling for complete independence from British rule. Ultimately, Congress led India to its independence in 1947. The Indian Congress was the first modern nationalist movement not just in India, but in the entirety of the British empire, and went on to become an inspiration for many subsequent anti-colonial movements.
Several scholars have documented the role of INC in the freedom struggle. A large body of literature describes prominent national leaders and how they played a pivotal role in the movement. The overwhelming contributions of these freedom fighters were invaluable and deserve the scholarly attention they have received over the decades. However, a crucial element of the success of Congress was its pan-India support that extended beyond major cities to smaller cities and villages. As a result, besides national leaders, there were many regional leaders whose contributions in the Indian independence were critical and exemplary. Similarly, how local support culminated in small cities and villages and how it shaped national movements remains understudied.
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