The Santal Hul of 30 June 1855 marks the beginning of a major tribal uprising against British colonial rule and exploitative landlordism in eastern India, specifically in the region known as Damin-i-Koh (present-day Santal Pargana in Jharkhand)1.
Key Details:
- Leaders: The revolt was led by four brothers—Sidho (or Sidhu), Kanho (or Kanhu), Chand, and Bhairav Murmu—along with their sisters Phulo and Jhano1.
- Participants: On 30 June 1855, over ten thousand Santals from hundreds of villages gathered at Bhognadih, declaring their intent to fight against oppression4.
- Targets: The uprising was directed against the British colonial authorities, zamindars (landlords), moneylenders, and corrupt officials, collectively referred to as diku by the Santals.
- Causes: The rebellion was fueled by land alienation, heavy taxation, forced labor, economic exploitation, and the loss of traditional rights5. The British Permanent Settlement policy disrupted traditional land ownership, and moneylenders and landlords exploited the Santals, pushing them into debt and poverty5.
- Events: The Santals used guerrilla tactics, issued ultimatums to colonial authorities, and initially achieved some success. However, the British imposed martial law, brutally suppressed the uprising, and killed tens of thousands of Santals235.
- Outcome: The rebellion was crushed by January 1856, but it led to the creation of the Santal Pargana district and influenced later tribal and peasant movements in India23.
- Legacy: June 30 is commemorated as Hul Diwas in Jharkhand, celebrating the courage and sacrifice of the Santal uprising, though it remains less recognized in mainstream Indian historiography compared to other tribal revolts6.
Significance:
The Santal Hul of 1855 was a significant and organized challenge to British rule in 19th-century India, uniting tribals, dalits, and backward communities in a fight for justice and autonomy47.
- https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/santhal-hul-of-1855
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santhal_rebellion
- https://tribaldarshan.com/2024/06/29/30-june-santal-hul-rebellion-celebration/
- https://journalirr.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Amisha-Raj-D.N.-Verma-9.pdf
- https://vajiramandravi.com/upsc-exam/santhal-rebellion/
- https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-history/expert-explains-santal-hul-ignored-public-memory-9422950/
- https://m.thewire.in/article/history/santal-hul-revolution
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/44147237