Author:

Arun Krishna Ghosh
Research Scholar
Department of History
University of North Bengal
Darjeeling,West Bengal,India

Email: histarun42428@gmail.com

Abstract:: The Oraon Unrest of 1916 is one of the significant subaltern reactions during colonial
rule in the tea districts of Northern West Bengal. This unrest was nonviolent and it was indeed a remarkably different type of anti-colonial reaction to establish Oraon Raj in lieu of the British Raj. From Oraon Raj to Gandhi Raj, the movement was primarily based on rumours and songs. The Oraons were accused of singing a song, imposed sedition charges and ultimately, they were convicted under the Defence of India Act. For two such cases against the Oraons, i.e. the cases of Tashati T.E. and Gurjangjhora T.E., the Amrita Bazar Patrika vehemently criticized the conviction and made strong arguments against the sedition charges. During wartime, the Amrita
Bazar’s reaction was not taken lightly by the British Raj. In fact, the Government criminal intelligence reported against Amrita Bazar’s articles stating that the newspaper seemed to have committed criminal offence

Key Words:Amrita Bazar Patrika,Oraon,Tana Bhagat movement, Sedition, Tea Estate,etc.