Review: Civil Disturbances during the British Rule in India (1765–1857)
Summary
This review evaluates Sashi Bhusan Chaudhuri’s book ‘Civil Disturbances during the British Rule in India (1765–1857)’, which documents the numerous uprisings that occurred before the 1857 revolt. The reviewer summarises Chaudhuri’s thesis that resistance to British authority was widespread and varied in cause and character. Chaudhuri identifies over 117 major revolts and dismisses the notion of an unbroken Pax Britannica. The review notes that these disturbances ranged from agrarian uprisings, tribal revolts and peasant tax protests to more organised rebellions led by dispossessed rulers and religious leaders. While acknowledging the book’s impressive scope and reliance on archival sources, the reviewer critiques Chaudhuri for not sufficiently analysing the class interests and ideological motivations behind different movements. He suggests that a comparative framework with contemporary uprisings in other colonised societies might have deepened the analysis. The review, however, commends Chaudhuri for challenging imperialist narratives that minimised indigenous resistance and for highlighting the role of popular discontent in paving the way for the 1857 uprising.
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Conclusion
The review concludes that Chaudhuri’s book is a significant contribution to the historiography of colonial India. By documenting the frequency and variety of uprisings, the work refutes the myth of a peaceful British rule and underscores the agency of peasants, tribals and dispossessed elites. The reviewer calls for further research comparing Indian disturbances with other anti‑colonial movements to better understand patterns of resistance and their impact on the trajectory of the nationalist movement.