Q6 of 23 Page 58

Which movement was run by Govind Guru?

Govind Guru was a social and religious reformer in the early 1900s in the Adivasi-dominated border areas of present-day Rajasthan and Gujarat. He mainly worked with the Bhils who were a conservative tribal community. He led Adivasi movements not only against English rule, but also against native kings and the Begari (forcing village workers to work without wages) practices of jagirdars. To create moral upliftment among the Bhils, he established the Sampath Sabha. He also started the Bhagat Movement and preached monotheism, observance of temperance, forsaking crimes, following agriculture, giving up beliefs in superstition, etc. He faced high opposition from the native rulers and the English which led to the dire events at Mangarh. Govind Guru and his followers had gathered in the hills of Mangarh. The English, fearing the unity of the Bhils sent in troops to subjugate them who open fire on the gathered crowd resulting in the death of almost 1500 Bhils. This led to the cessation of the Bhagat movement and Govind Guru was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment.


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