Hul Diwas

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Context

• On Hul Diwas, PM modi, through a tweet, remembered Santhal rebellion and sacrifice made by adiwasis in their fight against British colonial authorities
• In state of Jharkhand, June 30 is celebrated as Hul Diwas.

Other Details

• Hul Diwas marks the beginning of the Santhal rebellion.
• Santhals are also referred as Santal by some experts.

Santhal Rebellion

• Hul literally means revolution.
• The Santal/Santhal rebellion, considered the first war for Indian independence by some historians, began in 1855.
• Led by Santal community it was an organised war against colonial economic oppression.

Leader and participation

• The rebellion was led by two brothers Sidhu and Kanhu,
• Inpired from the brother, around 32 caste and communities joined this revolt and surprised the british.

Regions

• Forested Damin-i-Koh region (skirts of hills)
• It lies in the present-day Jharkhand which is around the Rajmahal Hills of eastern Jharkhand’s Sahibganj district.

Background of Santhals

• In late 18th century, the Santal people –migrated to Santhal Pargana (currently in districts of Dumka, Pakur, Godda, Sahibganj, Deoghar and parts of Jamtara) from the West Bengal (Birbhum and Manbhum).
• The main reason for migration was the 1770 famine in Bengal.
• British settled them in Damin-i-Koh region for the purpose of collecting tax and generating revenue.
• They were further exploited by money-lenders and the police.
• Today, the Santal community is the third largest tribal community in India, spread across Jharkhand-Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal.

Reasons for Hul/ Santhal Rebellion

• The adverse social and economic conditions of Santals were the main cause of revolt as observed by Calcutta Review.
• Oppressive extortions, forced eviction from land, abuse and personal violence by Zamindars, the police, the revenue and court were the common occurrence.
• Some forms of exploitations were -
  • Loan rates as high as 500%.
  • False measures at the haut and the market.
  • Intentional trespassing and illegal capturing of their untethered cattle, tattoos, ponies, elephants.
  • Destruction or control of growing

Start of the revolt

• In tribal councils and meetings, discussion surrounding the adverse exploitation and rebellion were frequent by 1854.
• Finally 6,000 Santhals from 400 villages were gathered in an assembly held on June 30, 1855 and declared autonomy from the British.
• Two brothers Sidhu and Kanhu made leader to mobilize Santal people across the region.
• Participation of Santals in revolt was massive, approximately 60,000 Santhals, and many of them took up arms.
• Many non-Adivasi Hindu castes also participated.
• Moneylenders and zamindars were killed or forced to evict the region.
• Many police stations, railway stations and post offices were attacked and burnt.

Was it organized rebellion ?

• At first glance this revolt seems unorganised chaotic uprising However there are evidence that suggest it to be highly organised rebellion.
• Some evidences, given in a book by Ashwini Pankaj -
  • Formation of guerrillas and military teams to prepare for war.
  • Spy network creation.
  • Many secret bases were set up.
  • For smooth coordination, a network for logistics and message carriers was created.

Other facts about the Hul

• To control this uprising British resorted to various brutal tactics -
  • They invoked the Martial Law and killed thousands of
  • British also burned down villages.
  • They hanged people on various corners of the road.
• Around 32 communities (tribals and non-tribals both) participated in revolt.
• Phulo-Jhano sisters commanded an army of 1,000 women.
  • Main aim of this army was to provide food supply, gathering intelligence and to attack the East Indian camps during the night.
• During the rebellion army of EIC was defeated twice.
  • In Pirpainti
  • In Birbhum
• The rebellion was suppressed by 1856. However, according to Inder Kumar Choudhary, the Santals in Hazaribagh and Manbhum area participated in the mutiny of 1857 too.

British Narrative

• After the complaints and instances of exploitation, various british officers examined the situation however they considered mahajans the main cause behind revolt. They found -
  • No signs of over taxation(land rent) was found.
  • Justice for Santhals was inaccessible and far off.
  • Mahajans (money lending) were inflicting sufferings which needed to be addressed.

Prisoners’ account after the Hul

• The book HUL DOCUMENTS records mentioned about the dream of a deity -
  • Deity appeared in front of Kanoo Sonthal and a Parwana (an order) to the Bada Sahib in Calcutta was sent afterwards.
  • The deity also asked Seedo Sonthal to kill british officieres, Pontet and the Darogah, and Mahajuns.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-history/hul-diwas-remembering-the-santal-rebellion-against-the-british-8696023/