Tribal movements in colonial India such as the Santhal Rebellion (1855) and the Birsa Munda Uprising (1899) resisted British land policies, forced labor and cultural suppression.Contemporary tribal movements in India reflect historical grievances against colonial policies in several ways i.e. –

1. Tribal movements continue to demand rights over their ancestral lands which were alienated during the colonial era through policies like the Indian Forest Act (1878) and the Land Acquisition Act (1894).
2. Tribals demand greater autonomy and self governance resisting the imposition of external administrative structures that were established during the colonial era.
3. Tribal movements seek to preserve their cultural heritage which was eroded during colonial rule through the imposition of Western education, culture and values.
4. Tribals demand economic empowerment and compensation for historical injustices such as forced labor, land grabbing and exploitation of natural resources.
5. Tribal movements resist displacement from their lands due to development projects such as dams, mines and industrial complexes which is reminiscent of colonial era policies that displaced tribals for tea plantations, railways and other infrastructure projects.

Examples of contemporary tribal movements that reflect historical grievances include –

• The Narmada Bachao Andolan (Save the Narmada Movement) against the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat.
• The Dongria Kondh movement against bauxite mining in Odisha’s Niyamgiri Hills.
• The Pathalgadi movement in Jharkhand which demands autonomy and self governance for tribal communities.

These movements demonstrate the ongoing struggle of tribal communities to address historical injustices and assert their rights over land, culture and self determination.