Santhal Hul Tribal Uprising of 1855

June 30 marks the 169th anniversary of the Santhal Hul, one of the earliest and most powerful tribal uprisings against British colonial rule in India. This significant event in Indian history highlights the valiant resistance of the Santhal tribe against oppression, exploitation, and imperial injustice.

What Was the Santhal Hul of 1855?

• Santhal Hul of 1855 was a revolt against imperialism led by four brothers, Sidho, Kanho, Chand, and Bhairav Murmu, along with sisters Phulo and Jhano.
• The Santhals also fought against the upper castes, zamindars, darogas, and moneylenders, described by the umbrella term ‘diku’, in an attempt to safeguard the economic, cultural, and religious aspects of their lives.
• In Jharkhand, June 30 is observed as Hul Diwas

Background to the Santhal Hul

• The British East India Company gained control over Indian territories such as Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa after the Battle of Plassey (1757) and the Battle of Buxar (1764).
• In 1793, Governor-General Lord Cornwallis implemented the Permanent Settlement System in the Bengal and Bihar region.
• This system granted zamindars perpetual and hereditary rights over the land in exchange for paying a fixed revenue to the British government.
• However, this system led to the exploitation of peasants and caused widespread resentment among the local population.
• The Santhals were an agricultural tribal group who lived in forests and relied on them for their livelihood
• In 1832, the East India Company demarcated the Damin-i-Koh region, now present-day Jharkhand, and invited Santhals to settle there.
• The area was allocated to the Santhals displaced from Birbhum, Murshidabad, Bhagalpur, Barabhum, Manbhum, Palamau, and Chhotanagpur, all areas the Bengal Presidency.
• Many Santhals took up this offer and settled in the region, but soon found themselves dominated by zamindars, who were tax-collecting intermediaries employed by the East India Company and had a great influence over the economy.

The Uprising

• While the Santhals were promised settlement and agriculture in Damin-i-Koh, what followed was the repressive practice of land-grabbing and begari (bonded labour) of two types: kamioti and harwahi.
• Under kamioti, the borrower had to work for the lender until the loan was repaid
• Under harwahi, the borrower had to provide personal services and plough the lender’s field as needed.
• The terms of the bond were so strict that it was nearly impossible for the Santhal to repay the loan in their lifetime

The Santhal Rebellion Begins

• The Murmu brothers, who saw themselves as acting on the Santhal God Thakur Bonga’s divination, led around 60,000 Santhals against the East India Company
• They engaged in guerrilla warfare against the Britishers and formed their own troops which included the farmers, villagers, and the women.
• In this quest, they were able to capture large parts of land including Rajmahal Hills, Bhagalpur district, and Birbhum.
• The villagers put to fire the storehouses and the warehouses and all forms of communication lines were disrupted.
• The government applied all possible means to suppress the movement. In order to curb the rebellion, Britishers used heavy loaded weapons against bows and arrows used by the Santhals.
• The landlords were in the support of the government whereas the local people supported the Santhals in full vigour.
• The guerrilla warfare continued for almost six months before being finally crushed on January 3, 1856. More than 15,000 Santhals were killed, and 10,000 villages were laid to waste.
• Unfortunately, the duo brother Sidhu and Kanhu were arrested and the revolt had a brutal end.
• The British hanged Sidhu to death on August 9, 1855, followed by Kanhu in February 1856.
• The Santhals were repressed and the movement came to an end in 1856.

Legacy and Impact of the Santhal Hul

• This uprising led to the enactment of the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act of 1876 and the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act of 1908, crucial in preserving tribal land rights and cultural autonomy in India.
• The Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act of 1876 (SPT Act) enacted by the British, which prohibits the transfer of Adivasi lands (urban or rural land) to non-Adivasis, was the result of the Hul.
• The land can only be inherited as per the Act, thus retaining the rights of Santhals to self-govern their land.
• The Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act, (CNT Act) enacted by the British in 1908 a result of the Birsa Movement, allows land transfers within the same caste and certain geographical areas with the approval of the District Collector.
• This Act also restricts the sale of Adivasi and Dalit land, while allowing land transfers between Adivasi individuals from the same police station and Dalits in the same district.

Who are the Santhals?

• The Santhals are believed to have originated from the Champa Kingdom in northern Cambodia.
• They led a nomadic life in the past but eventually settled in the Chhotanagpur Plateau.
• Towards the late 18th century, they migrated to the Santhal Parganas of Bihar and later expanded into Odisha.
• The third largest Scheduled Tribe in India after the Gond and Bhil and primarily consists of agricultural people.
• They are predominantly located in Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, and West Bengal.
• Compared to other tribal groups in these states, the Santhal population has a relatively high literacy rate.
• They speak the Santhali language, which has its own script called Ol Chiki, recognized in the Eighth Schedule of the constitution

List Of Tribal Uprisings In British India

Conclusion: Why the Santhal Hul Matters Today

The Santhal Hul is more than a historical footnote—it is a symbol of tribal courage, resistance, and the fight for justice. It laid the groundwork for future tribal movements and land protection laws in India. Honouring this movement through events like Hul Diwas ensures that the struggles of indigenous communities are remembered, celebrated, and carried forward in the fight for equality and dignity.

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