Santhal Rebellion (1855-56) - Tribal Revolts - Modern India History Notes

The Santhal rebellion (also known as the Sonthal rebellion or the Santhal Hool) was a revolt by the Santhal in present-day Jharkhand, India, against the British East India Company and the zamindari system. It began on June 30, 1855, and the East India Company declared martial law on November 10, 1855, which lasted until January 3, 1856, when martial law was lifted and the insurrection was put down by the Presidency soldiers. The four Murmu Brothers - Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand, and Bhairav - spearheaded the revolt. This article will explain to you about the Santhal Rebellion (1855-56) which will be helpful in Modern Indian History preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Santhal Rebellion - Background

• In the tribal heartland of what was then known as the Bengal Presidency, the Santhal uprising began as a reaction against the British East India Company's revenue system, usury practices, and the zamindari system in India.
• It was a revolution against colonial tyranny, which was enforced by local zamindars, police, and the British East India Company's judicial system through a twisted revenue system.
• The Santhals were forest dwellers who relied on them for survival. The British East India Company established the Damin-i-koh area in modern-day Jharkhand in 1832 and welcomed Santhals to reside there.
• Santhals from Cuttack, Dhalbhum, Manbhum, Hazaribagh, Midnapore, and other areas came to settle due to promises of land and economic benefits.
• The economy was soon controlled by mahajans and zamindars, who were employed by the British East India Company as tax-collecting middlemen.
• Many Santals have fallen prey to unethical money lending. They were given loans at astronomical interest rates.
• Their farms were forcibly confiscated and they were forced into bonded labor when they were unable to repay the loan.
• Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu, two brothers who commanded the Santals throughout the insurrection, were the catalysts for the rebellion.

Santhal Rebellion

• Santhals from Cuttack, Dhalbhum, Manbhum, Hazaribagh, and Midnapore migrated into the Rajmahal area in the late 1770s and early 1780s.
• They demonstrated a readiness to abandon their wandering lifestyle in favor of a more established one.
• They were prepared to remove woods, till land, and plant crops. This suited British interests since the Company needed more land revenue and more products to sell.
• As a result, the British convinced the Santhals to reside in the Rajmahal foothills.
• However, there was a long-running conflict between the Santhals and the Paharias.
• In 1832-33, the British formed the Damin i-koh, which was a compromise between the two parties.
• The Santhals were given a piece of land in the foothills to live on and practice agriculture with the plough; they were to become established peasants in this region.
• The Pahariyas were compelled to flee to the upper reaches of the hills.
• Over time, the Santhals discovered that they were losing control of the land they had worked so hard to cultivate.
• The agriculturists were devastated by the Permanent Settlement Act in 1793.
• The Company administration imposed high taxes on their land, and money had to be borrowed to pay off obligations.
• The moneylenders, on the other hand, demanded exorbitant interest rates and eventually claimed control of the land if debts were not paid.
• The Damin tracts were gradually taken up by zamindars.
• The Santhals were compelled to revolt against the zamindars and moneylenders by the 1850s.
• The uprising quickly morphed into a movement against the British colonial government. The insurrection was dubbed "hul" by the Santhals, which means "liberation movement."
• The Santhals declared an end to Company control and declared the territory between Bhagalpur and Rajmahal independent under the leadership of two brothers, Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu.
• The Murmu brothers are claimed to have dispatched ambassadors to Santhal regions to collect support using sal branches as a method of covert communication.
• Sidhu and Kanhu's sisters, Phulo and Jhano Murmu, took part in the revolt and are claimed to have penetrated the opposing camp under cover and slain numerous soldiers before dying.
• By 1856, the British had put down the revolt with a harsh force, burning towns down or wrecking them with elephants, and murdering hundreds of Santhals. Sidhu and Kanhu were both assassinated.
• The Santhal Pargana was formed from the districts of Bhagalpur and Birbhum after the Santhal Revolt of 1855-56. The pargana was supposed to have its own set of laws.
• Guerrilla warfare was used by the Santhals. This was a first in Bihar's history.
• The Santhals raised their own army made up of peasants to fight their oppressors.
• The railway and postal lines were demolished by the Santhal army.
• The Santhal insurrection was indeed effective for a time, but it was crushed when it came up against the government's full authority.

Conclusion

The Santhals were a tribe of tribal people that lived in the Rajmahal hills' forest. The East India Company divided the Damin-i-Koh from the Jharkhand area in 1832 and handed it to the Santhals to settle with the promise of non-interference in their country. The Santhal insurrection was overshadowed by the 1857 revolution, yet it marked a turning point in the development of contemporary Santhali identity. It was instrumental in the formation of the state of Jharkhand in the year 2000.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Who were the primary leaders of the Santhal Rebellion?

A. Birsa Munda and Jatra Bhagat
B. Sidhu Murmu and Kanhu Murmu
C. Tantia Tope and Rani Lakshmibai
D. Mangal Pandey and Nana Saheb

2. What was the main cause of the Santhal Rebellion?

A. Religious persecution
B. High taxation and land alienation
C. Caste-based discrimination
D. Revolt against industrialization

3. Where did the Santhal Rebellion primarily take place?

A. Bengal and Bihar
B. Punjab
C. Maharashtra
D. Tamil Nadu

4. What was the outcome of the Santhal Rebellion?

A. The British were overthrown
B. The Santhals established an independent kingdom
C. The rebellion was suppressed by the British
D. The Santhals migrated to another region

5. Which administrative reform followed the Santhal Rebellion?

A. Creation of the Santhal Parganas
B. Formation of the Indian National Congress
C. Abolition of the Zamindari system
D. Introduction of the Ryotwari system

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

1. Analyze the causes and consequences of the Santhal Rebellion of 1855-56. How did it impact British policies towards tribal communities?

Answer: The Santhal Rebellion was primarily driven by the economic exploitation and land alienation of the Santhal community. The introduction of the Zamindari system dispossessed them of their lands, while high taxes and oppressive moneylenders trapped them in debt. This led to widespread discontent, culminating in the rebellion led by Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu.
The rebellion had far-reaching consequences, as it exposed the exploitation faced by tribal communities under British rule. Although the rebellion was brutally suppressed, it prompted the British to introduce reforms such as the creation of Santhal Parganas to address tribal grievances. The Santhal Rebellion also set a precedent for later tribal movements, emphasizing the importance of protecting indigenous rights and lands.

2. Discuss the leadership of Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu in the Santhal Rebellion. What role did their leadership play in uniting the Santhal community?

Answer: Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu were instrumental in the leadership of the Santhal Rebellion. Their ability to mobilize the Santhal community against the British and local exploiters was critical to the rebellion’s initial success. They united thousands of Santhals by emphasizing their shared grievances, such as land alienation and economic exploitation.
Under their leadership, the Santhals organized a coordinated uprising, targeting Zamindars, moneylenders, and British officials. The leadership of Sidhu and Kanhu instilled a sense of unity and purpose among the Santhals, giving the rebellion its momentum. Although the revolt was eventually crushed, their leadership left a lasting legacy in the history of India’s tribal resistance movements.

3. Evaluate the significance of the Santhal Rebellion in the context of tribal resistance to British rule. How did the rebellion contribute to the broader anti-colonial struggle?

Answer: The Santhal Rebellion holds significant importance in the history of tribal resistance to British rule. It was one of the earliest large-scale uprisings organized by an indigenous community against colonial exploitation. The rebellion highlighted the socio-economic struggles of the tribal communities, particularly their resistance to land alienation, high taxes, and debt traps imposed by the British and local landlords.
Though the rebellion was suppressed, it contributed to the broader anti-colonial struggle by raising awareness of the plight of tribal communities under British rule. It set a precedent for later tribal revolts, such as the Munda Rebellion and the Bhil Uprising, and played a crucial role in shaping the narrative of resistance and self-determination among India’s indigenous populations.

Previous Year Questions on Santhal Rebellion

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2019

Question: The Santhal Rebellion of 1855-56 was led by:
A. Birsa Munda
B. Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu
C. Tantia Tope
D. Alluri Sitarama Raju

Answer: B

Explanation: The Santhal Rebellion was led by Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu, who mobilized the Santhal community to resist British oppression and exploitation.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2017 (GS Paper 1)

Question: Discuss the significance of tribal revolts such as the Santhal Rebellion in the broader context of resistance to British colonial rule in India.

Answer: Tribal revolts like the Santhal Rebellion of 1855-56 were significant in the broader context of resistance to British colonial rule, as they represented the earliest forms of organized resistance by indigenous communities against colonial exploitation. These revolts were driven by the economic hardships, land alienation, and oppressive practices imposed by the British and their local collaborators.
The Santhal Rebellion, in particular, highlighted the challenges faced by tribal communities and their fight to protect their lands and livelihoods. Although the rebellion was crushed, it set a precedent for later tribal uprisings and underscored the importance of addressing the grievances of indigenous populations in the anti-colonial struggle.