Hul Diwas commemorates the beginning of one of the first peasant uprisings against British colonial rule that took place 169 years ago on June 30.
Santhal Hul of 1855:
Sidho, Kanho, Chand, and Bhairav Murmu, four brothers, along with sisters Phulo and Jhano, launched the Santhal Hul uprising against imperialism in 1855.
The Santhals also fought to protect the economic, cultural, and religious facets of their lives from the upper castes, zamindars, darogas, and moneylenders, collectively referred to as "diku."
Genesis of the uprising
'Santhal Pargana' or 'Damin-i-Koh' was the name given to some territories in 1832; they include parts of modern-day Sahibganj, Godda, Dumka, Deoghar, Pakur, and Jamtara regions of Jharkhand.
The Santhals who were displaced from the Bengal Presidency's Birbhum, Murshidabad, Bhagalpur, Barabhum, Manbhum, Palamau, and Chhotanagpur were given the region.
In Damin-i-Koh, the Santhals were promised farmland and settlement; however, what actually transpired was the oppressive practice of land-grabbing and begari (bound labour), which includes kamioti and harwahi.
In harwahi, the borrower was required to perform personal duties and till the lender's land as needed, whereas
In kamioti, the borrower was required to work for the lender until the loan was repaid. The Santhal found it almost impossible to pay back the debt within their lifetime due to the stringent conditions of the bond.
Guerrilla tactics and subjugation:
About 60,000 Santhals were commanded by the Murmu brothers in guerilla warfare against the East India Company.
Six months of strong resistance later, the uprising was put down in January 1856 with heavy casualties and much destruction.
Nearly 10,000 villages were destroyed and nearly 15,000 Santhals lost their lives.
The Hul is still a representation of the tenacity of tribal people and a symbol of early struggle against British colonial power.
Santhal Tribe
Originally nomadic, they settled in the Chota Nagpur plateau and later migrated to Santhal Parganas in Bihar and Odisha.
The third largest scheduled tribe in India after the Gonds and Bhils is known for their calm and peaceful nature.
They are primarily located in Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal, and are involved in activities such as cultivation, industrial labor, mining, and quarrying.
The tribe follows an autonomous tribal religion, worshipping nature at sacred groves. Their language is Santhali, and they have their own script, 'OL Chiki', which is recognized as one of the scheduled languages in the Eighth Schedule.
Their art forms, such as the Phuta Katcha pattern saree and dress, are popular. They celebrate various festivals and rituals related to agriculture and worship.
Santhal houses, known as 'Olah', are easily recognizable by their large, neat, and attractive appearance, with exteriors adorned with multicolored paintings.
The SPT and CNT Acts
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.
Throughout colonial India, there were many different types of tribal uprisings that reflected long-standing resentment of British colonial policies and their effects on tribal groups. These movements, which were divided into mainland and frontier tribal uprisings, affected local dynamics and posed a threat to British rule from the late 18th century until the eve of Indian independence.
