Santhal Rebellion (1855-56)

The Santhal Rebellion or Santhal Hool or Santhal Uprising took place in present-day Jharkhand and West Bengal, Eastern India. The rebellion was against both the British East India Company (BEIC) and the Zamindari system. It began on June 30, 1855. The martial law was declared by the East India Company on November 10, 1855. The martial law lasted until January 3, 1856, when it was suspended and the rebellion was eventually suppressed by the Presidency armies.

Santhal Rebellion will be helpful for UPSC IAS Exam preparation. GS Paper-1 History.

Table of Content

• Santhal Tribe
• Background of Santhal Rebellion
• What is Santhal Rebellion?
• Suppression of Santhal Rebellion
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Santhal Tribe

History

• The Santhal Tribe is the third largest tribe of India.
• They primarily reside in West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Assam.
• They have a pre-Aryan origin.
• They were known for their resistance against the British during their rule in India.
• Some Santhals can also be found in Bangladesh.

Culture

• Dancing holds great significance for the Santhal Tribes.
  • It is deeply ingrained in their culture.
• Santhal women dress in red-bordered white saris and perform line dances.
• They also engage in music using instruments like Tirio (bamboo flute), Phet banam (stringed instrument), Tumdak, Tamak, Junko, and Singa.
• Santhals do not have their own temples or worship idols but follow the Sarna religion.
• They pay respect to gods, goddesses, and spirits such as Marangburu, Jaheraera, Kal Sing, Lakchera, and Beudarang.
• The community has village priests called Naiki and Shaman Ujha.
• Animal sacrifices are common in their rituals to appease the deities.

Occupation

• The Santhals primarily depend on the forests in their vicinity for their livelihood.
• They fulfill their basic needs through the resources provided by the trees and plants.
• Their occupations include hunting, fishing, and cultivation.
• The Santhals possess unique skills in crafting musical instruments, mats, and baskets using plants.

Language

• Santhals primarily communicate in Santhali.
  • Santhali belongs to the Austro-Asiatic language family.
• They are generally bilingual and also speak Bengali, Oriya, and Hindi alongside Santhali.
• Santhali is their mother tongue.
• Santhali has similarities with languages like Vietnamese and Khmer.
• Santhals have their own script called Olchiki, which was developed by Dr Raghunath Murmu in 1925.
• It is unique and differs from the Indic or Devanagari scripts.
• It includes three additional vowels that are not found in other scripts.

Festivals and Traditions

Karam Festival

• The primary celebration for Santhals is the Karam festival, observed in September and October.
• It is dedicated to pleasing the gods and seeking an increase in wealth and protection from enemies.
• Santhals follow the tradition of growing Karam trees outside their homes after a purification process.

Other Festivals

• Other festivals of the Santhal community include Maghe, Baba Bonga, Sahrai, Ero, Asaria, and Namah.
• The hunting festival called Disum Sendra is celebrated on Baishakhi Purnima.

Judicial System

• The Santhal community has a well-organized judicial system rooted in their traditions.
• Internal community issues are managed and resolved within the society.
• Every effort is made to solve problems internally before seeking external intervention.
• Head of the Santhal Tribe is called Manjhi Hadam.
  • He holds authority over the judicial, executive, and other societal functions.
• Manjhi is supported by individuals such as Jagmangjhi, Jagparanik, Naike, and Gudit who contribute in diverse areas.

Background of Santhal Rebellion

• The Santhals rebelled against the British East India Company (BEIC), usury practices, and the zamindari system in India.
• Their rebellion originated in the tribal belt of the Bengal Presidency as a response to the oppressive colonial rule.
• The revenue system imposed by the BEIC, along with the local zamindars, police, and courts, contributed to the oppression.
• The Santhals were forest-dwelling communities whose livelihood depended on the forests.
• In 1832, the BEIC allocated the Damin-i-koh region in present-day Jharkhand for Santhal settlement.
• The promise of land and economic benefits attracted a large number of Santhals from various regions.
  • However, money lenders (known as Mahajans) and zamindars, acting as intermediaries, gained control over the economy.
• Many Santhals fell victim to corrupt money lending practices, facing exorbitant interest rates.
• In cases of non-repayment, their lands were seized, and they were forced into bonded labour.
• This sparked the Santal rebellion.

What is Santhal Rebellion?

• On 30th June 1855, two Santal leaders named Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu led a rebellion against the East India Company.
• Sidhu Murmu organized around ten thousand Santhals to establish a parallel government during the revolt.
• The rebellion saw the execution of Zamindars, money lenders, and their associates in many villages.
• The East India Company’s initial attempts by a small contingent to suppress the rebels proved unsuccessful, fueling the spirit of the revolt.
• Eventually, a significant number of troops, supported by local Zamindars and the Nawab of Murshidabad, were deployed to supress the uprising.
• The Santhals, armed with primitive weapons, were unable to match the gunpowder weapons of the East India Company military.
• Troops from the 7th Native Infantry Regiment, the 40th Native Infantry, and others were called into action.
• Major clashes occurred between July 1855 and January 1856 in places such as Kahalgaon, Suri, Raghunathpur, and Munkatora.

Suppression of Santhal Rebellion

• The revolt was eventually quashed after the death of Sidhu and Kanhu in action.
• War elephants were used to demolish Santhal huts during the rebellion.
  • War elephants were provided by the Nawab of Murshidabad.
• The brutal suppression resulted in over 15,000 deaths, and the destruction of numerous villages, and widespread mobilization.

Conclusion

In 1856, the British ended the rebellion. This caused the loss of numerous Santhal lives, including Sidhu and Kanhu. After the suppression, the Santhal Pargana was established. The Santhals resorted to guerrilla tactics, forming their own army that caused disruptions to railway and postal services. Although their actions initially proved effective, the government ultimately quashed the Santhal uprising with its full power.

Ref: Source-1

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)