Santhal Hul (Rebellion)

GS1 (Medieval Indian History)

Causes of the Uprising

• Colonial Revenue System: Following the Battle of Plassey (1757), the East India Company (EIC) enforced taxation and administrative policies to strengthen its control over India.
• Permanent Settlement Act (1793): Introduced by Lord Cornwallis in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, this system granted landlords perpetual rights over land, provided they met fixed tax obligations to the British authorities.
• Impact on the Santhal Community: Indigenous lands were confiscated and auctioned if peasants failed to pay rent, leading to the disruption of their traditional livelihood and self-sustaining economy.
• Damin-i-Koh (1832): A region designated by the British for Santhal settlements, under the pretense of non-interference in their affairs.
• Rising Land Rents: Excessive revenue demands placed severe financial burdens on the Santhals.
• Economic Hardship: The community, accustomed to a barter economy, struggled with cash-based transactions, leading many to borrow money at exorbitant interest rates from moneylenders.

The Rebellion

• Outbreak (June 30, 1855): The Santhal uprising, led by Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand, Bhairav, and their sisters Phulo and Jhano, began as an armed resistance.
• Mobilization: Thousands of Santhals, including farmers and women, took up arms, capturing regions such as the Rajmahal Hills, Bhagalpur, and Birbhum. They targeted British infrastructure, destroying supply depots and disrupting communication lines.
• Suppression: With support from landlords, British forces retaliated using advanced weaponry. Sidhu and Kanhu were captured, and by 1856, the rebellion was completely crushed.

Consequences

• Brutal Repression: The British crushed the movement with severe consequences for the Santhal community, resulting in heavy losses.
• Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act (1876): Enacted to protect Adivasi land from being transferred to outsiders, ensuring land could only be inherited within the community.
• Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act (1908): Inspired by the Birsa Movement, this act restricted the sale of Adivasi and Dalit lands.
  • Allowed land transfers only within the same caste.
  • In specific cases, with approval from the District Collector, Adivasi land transfers could occur within the same police station jurisdiction, while Dalit land transfers were permitted within the same district.