Santhal rebellion

The Santal rebellion, called hool, was the largest rebellion of an indigenous Indian tribe ( tribals, Adivasis ) against the ruthless collection of the British colonial government excessively high fixed land and head taxes.

Cause

The Santal traditionally settle in the Daman -i - koh -mentioned region between Bhagalpur and Rajmahal in Bihar. With the increased establishment of direct colonial administration were corrupt cops, courts, traders and zamindars in the region. The aliens were described by the Santal as dikus. Interest rates of 50 to 500 % were common in the markets of deceitful weights were used, police and the courts protected the fraudsters and landowners Lasse. In many cases committed by the animals of the rich pasture sacrilege.

Course

The tribal superiors, called Majhi or parganite, began meeting at the end of 1854 to discuss how they could sell the exploitative strangers. It came to the first raids on zamindars and moneylenders.

On 30 June 1855 in Bhaganidhini a gathering of about 6,000 tribal members, representing 400 villages decided to expel the foreign invaders by force and domination " true righteousness " ( Satyug ) bring about. The two most important leaders, the brothers Sido Kanhu and claimed to have received instructions from God Thakur.

The tribesmen were mobilized by parades in villages. From the 60,000 people groups were formed 1,500-2,000 persons who were mobilized by the beating of drums in individual cases. They were supported also by the armies of other groups. Attacked were all symbols of foreign rule and their representatives, as police officers. They had little firearms, showed in the fight but to be extremely brave.

When the government had recognized the strength of the rebellion, they mobilized a force of 10 regiments under a Major General, declared martial law and offered Rs 10,000 reward for the leader. Sido was betrayed, captured and killed in August 1855. Kanhu was captured by accident, in February 1856. There were about 15,000 tribesmen killed and razed to the 100 villages to the ground.