Santhal Hul and Tribal Resistance

The Santhal Hul of 1855–1856 was a massive armed tribal uprising against the British East India Company, money-lenders, and local landlords in the Rajmahal Hills region of the Bengal Presidency. Spearheaded by the Santhal community under the leadership of four brothers—Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand, and Bhairav Murmu—the rebellion mobilized over 60,000 tribal peasants across modern-day Jharkhand, Bihar, and West Bengal. Driven by severe land alienation, oppressive debt bondage, and the destruction of traditional tribal autonomy, the Hul exposed the structural flaws of colonial revenue systems. It forced the British administration to enact sweeping legislative reforms, establishing the Santhal Parganas as a protected non-regulation district.

Socio-Economic Background and Damin-i-Koh

Creation of Damin-i-Koh

In 1832, the British East India Company demarcated a vast tract of land at the base of the Rajmahal Hills, naming it Damin-i-Koh (meaning “skirt of the hills”). The colonial administration invited the Santhal population from the neighboring Chota Nagpur region to clear dense forests, settle as sedentary farmers, and generate regular land revenue for the state.

Agrarian Hierarchy and Exploitation

The traditional Santhal community relied on communal land ownership and customary village governance structures. The entry of colonial administration introduced an external class of exploiters, collectively termed Dikus.

• Revenue officers of the East India Company imposed heavy, escalating land taxes payable only in cash.
• Outside money-lenders (Mahajans and Sahukars) charged exorbitant interest rates, often ranging from 50 to 500 percent.
• Merchants used fraudulent weights and measures—such as Kenaram (heavy weights for purchasing produce from tribals) and Becharam (light weights for selling goods to tribals).
• Default on debts resulted in Kamiuti and Harwahi systems, reducing Santhal cultivators to hereditary bonded labor.
• Railway contractors building the Loop Line of the East India Railway forced Santhals into unpaid labor (Begar) and committed physical atrocities.

Course and Spread of the Revolt

The Bhagnadih Declaration

On June 30, 1855, over 10,000 Santhals assembled at the village of Bhagnadih near Sahibganj, answering a summons issued by the Murmu brothers.

• Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu proclaimed divine divine authorization, stating that the supreme deity Thakurji had commanded them to liberate their homeland.
• The assembly passed resolutions to refuse land tax payments, abolish interest charges, drive out Dikus, and establish an independent Santhal government (Santhal Raj).

Escalation to Armed Conflict

The rebellion erupted in July 1855 after Mahesh Lal Dutta, a corrupt police officer (Daroga) of Dighee, attempted to arrest the Santhal leaders on false charges of robbery.

• Santhal insurgents executed Mahesh Lal Dutta and several non-tribal money-lenders, signaling the start of open warfare.
• Using traditional weapons such as bows, poisoned arrows, battle-axes, and spears, Santhal bands attacked police stations, revenue offices, railway camps, and landlords’ estates.
• The uprising spread rapidly across Birbhum, Bankura, Murshidabad, Bhagalpur, and the Rajmahal Hills.
• Key leaders included the four Murmu brothers along with two sisters, Phulo and Jhano Murmu, who led female combat units during attacks on military encampments.

Colonial Suppression and State Repression

Deployment of Heavy Force

The East India Company declared Martial Law across the affected districts in November 1855, deploying major military units under Major General Lloyd and Brigadier General Bird.

• The British army used modern firearms and war elephants to destroy unfortified Santhal villages and field positions.
• In major battles at Pahi, Maheshpur, and Sangrampur, thousands of Santhal fighters stood their ground against cannon fire.
• Over 15,000 Santhal men, women, and children died during military operations.

Capture of Leaders

By early 1856, British forces systematically hunted down the rebel leadership.

• Chand and Bhairav Murmu died in an armed encounter near Bhagalpur.
• Sidhu Murmu was betrayed, captured, and executed by hanging in August 1855.
• Kanhu Murmu was captured near Jamtara and publicly hanged at his home village of Bhagnadih in February 1856, marking the end of the organized struggle.

Administrative Impact and Legislative Reforms

Key Facts for Quick Revision

• The word Hul in the Santhali language translates directly to “Liberation Movement” or “Revolution.”
• June 30 is officially observed every year in Jharkhand as Hul Diwas to commemorate the Bhagnadih assembly of 1855.
• The movement was led by four brothers—Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand, and Bhairav Murmu—alongside their sisters Phulo and Jhano Murmu.
• Damin-i-Koh was created by the British administration in 1832 around the Rajmahal Hills as a reserved area for Santhal settlement.
• Dikus was the collective term used by Santhals for non-tribal outsiders, including moneylenders, traders, and British officers.
• Kenaram and Becharam were false measures used by non-tribal traders to cheat tribal farmers during trade exchanges.
• Kamiuti was a form of hereditary bonded labor resulting from agricultural debt defaults.
• Mahesh Lal Dutta was the British police Daroga whose death at Dighee triggered the outbreak of violence in July 1855.
• Act XXXVII of 1855 created the non-regulation district of Santhal Parganas, placing it under the direct control of a Commissioner.
• The Manjhi system was the traditional village self-governance model recognized by the British under the post-Hul administrative reforms.