Why in News?

June 30, 2025, marks the 170th anniversary of the Santhal Hul (Rebellion)—a significant tribal uprising against British colonial rule. The state of Jharkhand observes this day annually as ‘Hul Diwas’.

Background & Causes:

• Damin-i-Koh (1832): Region created by the British in Rajmahal Hills to settle Santhals from Bengal regions (Birbhum, Murshidabad, Manbhum, etc.).

• Broken Promises: Santhals were promised cultivable land but faced:

  • Land alienation

  • Bonded labour (kamioti and harwahi)

  • Exploitative moneylenders, zamindars, and British officials

The Revolt (1855-56):

• Leaders: Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu (brothers)

• Nature: Organised armed resistance involving 32 tribal and non-tribal communities

• Objective: Fight economic exploitation and establish self-rule

• Suppression: Crushed by British using modern firearms, cavalry & war elephants

• Both Sidhu and Kanhu were killed.

Significance & Impact:

• Preceded 1857 Revolt: Seen as a precursor to the First War of Independence

• Inspired later revolts in areas like Manbhum and Hazaribagh during the 1857 mutiny

• Laid foundation for tribal consciousness and resistance identity

Who Were the Santhals?

• Migrated due to 1770 Bengal famine

• Encouraged by British to settle forests for agricultural revenue

• Third-largest tribal group in India today; primarily in Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal

Knowledge Nugget: Other Major Tribal Revolts:

Post-Revolt Reforms:

• Chotanagpur Tenancy Act (1908): Protected tribal land from transfer to non-tribals

• Tenancy Act (1903): Recognised traditional rights like khuntkatti