The Koya rebellion of 1879-1880 in the Malkangiri region (now in Odisha) and the eastern Godavari tract was led by:

The Koya rebellion of 1879-1880 in the Malkangiri region (now in Odisha) and the eastern Godavari tract (now in Andhra Pradesh) was led by Tomma Dora (Tama Dora), a leader of the Koya tribe.

About the Koyas:

• The Koyas are a tribal community living in the forests and hills of the Godavari region, in present-day Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
• They practised shifting cultivation and depended on the forests for their livelihood.

Causes of the rebellion:

• The British introduced forest laws that restricted the tribals' use of the forests, banned shifting cultivation, and reserved forests for the government.
• The tribals were exploited by police officials, moneylenders and traders, who came into their areas.
• New taxes and the oppression of local officials added to their grievances.
• The local chiefs (muttadars) also lost their traditional powers.

The rebellion:

• In 1879, the Koyas, along with the Konda Doras, rose in revolt under Tomma Dora.
• The rebels attacked police stations and government buildings, and killed some officials.
• Tomma Dora declared himself the Raja of Malkangiri.
• The British sent troops to suppress the rebellion; Tomma Dora was killed in 1880.
• The revolt was finally suppressed by the end of 1880.

Other risings in the region:

The Rampa rebellion (1879), in the nearby hills.

Significance:

It was one of many tribal uprisings against British forest laws and the exploitation of tribals by outsiders.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Gomdhar Konwar led an Ahom revolt in Assam.
• ✗Birsa Munda led the Munda uprising in Chota Nagpur.
• ✗Tantia Bhil was a Bhil rebel of central India.