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South-West Frontier Agency

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South-West Frontier Agency
Agency of British India
1833[1]–1854
Flag of South-West Frontier Agency
Flag

The South-West Frontier Agency on the eastern side of the Bengal Presidency at its peak in 1853 (in green), with the rest of British India in grey.
CapitalKishanpur[2][3]
Government
Agent to the
Governor-General		 
• 1833-1839
T. Wilkinson[4]
• 1839-1839
Mr. John Davidson[5]
• 1839-1849
Msyor J. R. Ouseley
• 1849-1849
J. Hannyngton
• 1849-1859
Mr. J. H. Crawford
• 1853-1854
Mr. W. J Allen[6]
History 
• Established
1833[1]
• Bifurcation
1854
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Jungle Mahals
Dhalbhum
Chota Nagpur
Chota Nagpur Division

The South-West Frontier Agency was an administrative unit established by the British government in 1833 following the receipt of a detailed report from special commissioners.[7] The agency was later renamed the Chota Nagpur Division in 1854.[8][9][10]

Background

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Main articles: Chuar Rebellion and Kol rebellion

The Chuar Rebellion (1766-1834) and the Kol Mutiny (1831-1832) were significant uprisings by tribal communities against the British East India Company's oppressive policies. The Chuar Rebellion occurred in the Jungle Mahals region, where tribal groups resisted land revenue collection, leading the British to label them "Chuars" as "barbaric." The rebellion spread across Midnapore, Bishnupur, and Manbhum, prompting the British to reorganize the area and impose stricter control by establishing the Jungle Mahals district.[11][12][13][7] Similarly, the Kol Mutiny in Chhota Nagpur was triggered by exploitation, including unfair land policies and forced labor. Despite being suppressed, both uprisings showcased tribal resistance to colonial rule.[14][15] In response, the British created the South-West Frontier Agency to bring stability to the region and prevent further unrest, a strategy that sought to strengthen administrative control. These uprisings significantly influenced the socio-political identity of the affected regions.[8]

History

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Formation and Administrative Structure

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Under Regulation XIII of 1833, the British government introduced new administrative measures, leading to the formation of the South-West Frontier Agency in 1834.[7] The agency was created to bring stability to the region, which had witnessed tribal unrest from 1831 to 1833. The agency was later renamed the Chota Nagpur Division in 1854.[8] The agency had three divisions: Manbhum, comprising parts of the Jungle Mahals and Dhalbhum; Lohardaga, which included the Chota Nagpur Zamindari and its dependent parganas; and Hazaribagh, covering Ramgarh, Kharakdiha, and other estates. The region was deregulated from ordinary laws, and simplified governance ensured direct engagement between officers and locals. Measures were taken to curb exploitation by moneylenders and land speculators, while annual tours by officials and summary trials for tribal cases were mandated. Land transfers in lieu of rent or debt were also regulated.[8]

The Bhumij Revolt of 1832-33 was suppressed, and uprisings in Singhbhum (Kolhan) during 1830 and 1836 created a significant crisis. In response, the British took military action in 1836-37, and the entire region was annexed into the South-West Frontier Agency in 1837.[16][17]

Divisions of South-West Frontier Agency[8][18][19][20]
Before transfer
of estates
(1833-1837)
After transfer
of estates
(1837-1854)
Divisions
 Manbhum Lohardaga Hazaribagh Manbhum Singhbhum (1837) Lohardaga Hazaribagh
Dhalbhum (1833) Chota Nagpur
Zamindari 		Ramgarh Dhalbhum (1837) Dhalbhum (1846)
Transferred to
Burdwan Division
(West Burdwan) 		Years Jungle Mahals
estates 		Barabhum Kharakdiha Barabhum Kolhan
1834 Bishnupur Ambikanagar Other estates Ambikanagar Mayurbhanj
1837 Bankura town Bhalaidiha Bhalaidiha Porahat
1847 Chhatna Chhatna

(1833-1837)

Chhatna

(1837-1847)

Seraikela
Simlapal Simlapal Kharsawan
Supur Supur Chaibasa
Balsye Balsye
Panchet Panchet
Bagmundy Bagmundy
Jhalda Jhalda
Jharia Jharia
Patkum Patkum
Other estates Purulia

(1838)

Other estates

The Wilkinson Rule

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The South West Frontier Agency, incorporating Chhotanagpur, with Captain Wilkinson as Principal Agent. Around the same time, the Ho people revolted against local rulers in Porahat, Seraikela, and Kharsawan. Seeking British help, the rulers signed treaties, leading to military intervention. By 1837, the Mankis and Mundas surrendered and made a treaty with Wilkinson, resulting in the formation of the "Kolhan Separate Estate," including Ho-dominated villages from Mayurbhanj, Porahat, Seraikela, and Kharsawan. The estate was integrated into the South West Frontier Agency. An “Assistant Political Agent” was appointed under Wilkinson, with Chaibasa as the headquarters. Governance was entrusted to Mankis (leaders of pirs) and Mundas (village heads). The “Wilkinson Rule,” introduced in 1834 for the South West Frontier Agency, was extended to Kolhan in 1837.[1]

Transition to Chota Nagpur Division

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Later in 1854, under Act XX, the administrative unit was renamed a Commissionary, with the Political Agent being designated as the Commissioner and the Assistant Political Agent becoming the Deputy Commissioner. This restructuring granted the Deputy Commissioner full executive and judicial powers, significantly enhancing the role’s authority. The region was reorganized into the Chota Nagpur Division, with Ranchi as its headquarters, and Hazaribagh, Chaibasa, and Purulia serving as subordinate district centers. These changes were pivotal in shaping the region’s administration under British rule.[8][1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Courts District West SinghBhum, Government of Jharkhand India".
  2. ^ Roy, Sarat Chandra (1912). "The Mundas And Their Country".
  3. ^ Tiwari, Lalan (1995). Issues in Indian Politics. Mittal Publications. p. 152. ISBN 978-81-7099-618-7.
  4. ^ Jha, Jagdish Chandra (1967). "Singhbhum Under the South-West Frontier Agenby, 1837-'54". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 29: 34–40. ISSN 2249-1937.
  5. ^ Dasgupta, Sangeeta (September 2022). "The Oraons of Chhotanagpur: A journey through colonial ethnography". Cambridge University Press & Assessment. pp. 1375–1415. doi:10.1017/S0026749X21000597.
  6. ^ Roy, Sarat Chandra (1912). "The Mundas And Their Country".
  7. ^ a b c Das, Binod Sankar (1984). Changing Profile of the Frontier Bengal, 1751-1833. Mittal Publications. p. 90.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Gandhi, Rajiv For (1985). Indias Struggle For Freedom Vol. 3.
  9. ^ Dasgupta, Sangeeta (September 2022). "The Oraons of Chhotanagpur: A journey through colonial ethnography". Cambridge University Press & Assessment. pp. 1375–1415. doi:10.1017/S0026749X21000597.
  10. ^ "District census report 1891, Chota nagpur division" (PDF).
  11. ^ "Adivasi resistance in the Jungle Mahals 1767-1799" (PDF). www.wbnsou.ac.in.
  12. ^ "The Adivasi Resistance in Jungle Mahal: A Case Study of Chuar Rebellion" (PDF). joais.in.
  13. ^ गुहा, Abhijit Guha अभिजीत (10 July 2018). "An early freedom struggle that is still not free of the 'Chuar' label". Forward Press.
  14. ^ Kumar, Anil (2001). "An Unknown Chapter of Kol-Insurrection". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 62: 621–626. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44155808.
  15. ^ Shri Jagdish Chandra Jha (1958). "The KOL RISINGS OF CHOTANAGPUR (1831-1833)-ITS CAUSES". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 21. JSTOR: 440–446. JSTOR 44145239. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  16. ^ Jha, J. C. (1965). "THE BRITISH OCCUPATION OF KOLHAN (SINGHBHUM), 1836-37 (Summary)". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 27: 297–298. ISSN 2249-1937.
  17. ^ Jha, Jagdish Chandra (1967). "Singhbhum Under the South-West Frontier Agenby, 1837-'54". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 29: 34–40. ISSN 2249-1937.
  18. ^ Das, Binod Sankar (1984). Changing Profile of the Frontier Bengal, 1751-1833. Mittal Publications. p. 90.
  19. ^ Reid, J. (1912). Final Report on the Survey and Settlement of Pargana Dhalbhum in the District of Singhbhum, 1906 to 1911. Bengal Secretariat Book Departmentôt. p. 6.
  20. ^ "Forest Tenures in the Jungle Mahals of South West Bengal" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.

Further reading

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See also

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