Tilka Manjhi- Tribal Freedom Fighter

February 14, 2022

On Feb 11, 2022, India remembered the revolutionary freedom fighter and tribal leader Tilka Manjhi, marking his 272nd birth anniversary.

Who was Tilka Majhi?

Tilka Manjhi was an Indian freedom fighter and the first Adivasi leader from Paharia (Hill Peoples) Community. He revolted against the British in 1784, about 70 years before Mangal Pandey. He organized the Adivasis to form an armed group, in order to fight against resource grabbing and exploitation by British.

Famine in Santhal Region

There was severe famine in the Santhal region in 1770, due to which people were dying of hunger. To save people, Tilka Manjhi looted the treasury of Company and distributed it among them. Many other tribal also joined the rebellion, after getting inspired from this noble act of Tilka. With this loot, revolt of the Santhals (Santhal Hool) started. He continued to attack the British and their sycophantic allies. From 1771 to 1784, he never surrendered.

Attack on Augustus Cleveland

Tilka Manjhi attacked Augustus Cleveland, who was an East India Company administrator. Tilka fatally wounded him. Following this incident, the British surrounded the Tilapore forest from which Tilka operated. He was caught in 1784. He was tied to the tail of a horse and was dragged to the Collector’s residence at Bhagalpur in Bihar. His torn body was hung from a Banyan tree.

Statue of Tilka Manjhi

After Indian Independence, a statue to Tilka Manjhi was erected at the spot where he was hanged. It is the nearby residence of S.P. Bhagalpur and has been named after him. Bhagalpur University was also renamed as “Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University”.

Augustus Cleveland

Augustus Cleveland was an East India Company administrator in Bengal Province. He was a collector of the Revenues and Judge of Dewanny Adawlut in Bhagalpur. He died in mid-career at the age of 30.

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