08-03-22 Daily-Gujarat-GPSC Current Affairs

Pal-Dadhvav massacre refers to the killing of around 1,200 tribal revolutionaries (Bhils) by the British. It happened on 7^thMarch 1922, in the Pal-Chitariya and Dadhvaav villages of Sabarkantha district, then part of Idar state (present-day Gujarat state).

On Amalki Ekadashi, villagers gathered on the banks of Heir River as part of the Eki movement. The Eki movement was led by Motilal Tejawat and the objective is to protest against the land revenue tax imposed on them by the British and feudal lords.

Earlier, Udaipur state (Rajasthan) had outlawed Motilal Tejawat and announced an Rs-500 reward on his head. The Mewad Bhil Corps (MBC) of British was searching for Motilal Tejawat.

MBC got information about the gathering of tribals and they went to the spot. As the tribals raised slogans against the land revenue tax, British soldiers fired bullets on them.

Number of tribals killed is not accurately known. The British claim that 22 people were killed. But the tribals believe that around 1,200 of them died.

According to the government of Gujarat, the Pal-Dadhvav massacre is bigger than the Jallianwala Bagh incident, 1919. In the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, 500-1,000 people are said to have been killed after General Dyers forces opened fire.