Santhals were freedom – loving people. They lived in the southern
part of the chhottanagpur plateau and tilled land for livelihood.
However, under the permanent settlement of 1793 the lands which the
santhals had been cultivating traditionally passed on to the Zamindars.
The santhals then shifted to villages in the hills of Raj Mahal but
these lands were also claimed by the cultivation of indigo by European
planters. This brought them in confrontation with the British.The
construction of railways taken up in the northern areas also disturbed
the tribal habitat. The railway officials humiliated their women besides
meeting out all kinds of atrocities on them.
The atrocities perpetrated on the tribals took the shape of an
unrest, which erupted in the from of an armed revolt in 1855 – 56. The
tribals of Bhagalpur, Manbhoom, Raj Mahal participated in the revolt.
Siddhu Khanhu, Chand and Bhareo, four sons of chulu santhal of bhagna
Dihi village of Raj Mahal district provided them the leadership. Nearly
10,000 men armed with bows & words & spears gathered in Bhagha
Dihi village and made a solemn declaration under the leadership of
Siddhu and Khanhu that there is no govt, thanedar & hakim over us.
The establishment of a santhal state was also announced. The infuriated
santhals made the houses of moneylenders, zamindars revenue officers
railway stations and indigo factories their main target of attack. Their
slogan was destruction of zamindars, moneylenders & government
officials.
To suppress the santhal rebellion the British army was put under the
command of Brigader General Lyoed. On 15 Aug, through a public
declaration the santhals were warned to surrender within 10 days or face
severe punishment. In November, the govt imposed the martial law.
Gradually the mutiny slackened. However, the fire lit by them could not
be extinguished by the British adm in India.
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