New Reflections on the Sannyasi, Fakir and Peasants War

and Peasants War Suranjan Chatterjee The defeat of Siraj-ud-danlah in the battle of Plassey in 1757 led East India Company to interest itself in the polities of Bengal and enhance its mercantile interests, it was not easy to realise this objective and the Company's efforts met with resistance. The Fakir, Sannyasi and peasant struggles of 1763-1793, which combined un element of spontaneity with an element of organised, leadership from outside, are an example of such resistance. This article analyses the organisation and activities of the Fakirs and Sanyasis and the reasons for their rebellion together with those for the peasant participation in this rebellion.