Santal Hul 1855: The Indigenous Uprising That Challenged British Colonial Rule

By SM Mehedi Hasan

There are certain dates in history that represent far more than a mere entry on the calendar. They embody resistance, dignity, and the aspirations of oppressed people seeking justice and freedom. One such day is 30 June. On this day in 1855, one of the largest Indigenous uprisings in the Indian subcontinent began against British colonial rule, oppressive landlords, and exploitative moneylenders. History remembers this movement as the Santal Hul, or the Santal Rebellion.

In the Santali language, the word Hul means rebellion, awakening, or a call for liberation. Yet the uprising was much more than an armed revolt. It was a collective outcry by a marginalized people demanding land rights, economic justice, and a life of dignity. Nearly 170 years later, the Santal Hul continues to remind us that when injustice and exploitation cross all limits, even the most marginalized communities can ignite the flames of resistance.

The Roots of Exploitation

The Santals are among the oldest Indigenous communities of Bengal. Over time, they settled across present-day Jharkhand, West Bengal and Bihar in India, as well as in several northern districts of Bangladesh, including Rajshahi, Naogaon, Dinajpur, Chapainawabganj and Gaibandha.

Through hard work, the Santals cleared forests, reclaimed barren land, established new settlements and transformed uncultivated regions into productive agricultural areas. They cultivated rice, maize, pulses, sesame and other crops, making significant contributions to the local economy.

Ironically, the very lands they had made fertile gradually came under the control of landlords and moneylenders.

After the establishment of British colonial administration, their condition worsened. Excessive taxation, debt traps, fraudulent land deeds, land grabbing and police harassment turned the lives of the Santals into a nightmare. Even minor debts often led to the confiscation of land and livestock, while entire families faced displacement and destitution.

What we now describe as a “debt trap” was already a harsh reality for the Santals in the nineteenth century.

The Historic Gathering at Bhognadih

On 30 June 1855, thousands of Santals assembled at Bhognadih village in present-day Jharkhand. The gathering was attended by representatives from hundreds of villages and was led by four brothers: Sidhu Murmu, Kanhu Murmu, Chand Murmu and Bhairab Murmu.

The assembly declared that the Santals would no longer pay unjust taxes, would refuse to repay exploitative debts to moneylenders, and would organize themselves against oppression. They pledged to defend their land and rights, even if it meant taking up arms.

The central message of the uprising was simple yet profound:

“We want land. We want freedom. We want a life free from exploitation.”

History marks this declaration as the beginning of the Santal Hul.

A Flame of Resistance

Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu became the principal leaders of the rebellion, assisted by Chand and Bhairab Murmu. Historical accounts also mention their sisters, Phulo Murmu and Jhano Murmu, who played significant roles in mobilizing and inspiring the rebels.

Within a few weeks, nearly 30,000 Santals had joined the movement. Many poor Bengali and Bihari peasants, artisans and other marginalized groups also participated. Consequently, the rebellion evolved into a broader mass uprising of the oppressed rather than remaining an ethnic movement confined to one community.

The uprising spread rapidly across Murshidabad, Birbhum, Bhagalpur and neighboring regions. Police stations were attacked, moneylenders’ establishments were targeted, and resistance emerged against exploitative landlords.

Bows and Arrows Against Cannons

The conflict was deeply unequal.

The Santals fought with bows and arrows, axes, spears and traditional weapons. The British forces, in contrast, possessed firearms, artillery, cavalry units and modern military training.

Yet the Santals refused to retreat. They understood that the struggle was not merely for land but for their very existence.

The British administration eventually deployed additional troops to suppress the rebellion. Thousands of Santals were killed during the prolonged conflict. According to various historical accounts, approximately 10,000 Santal fighters lost their lives.

Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand and Bhairab all became martyrs. Although the rebellion was eventually suppressed by early 1856, the British administration realized that this was not an ordinary revolt. It represented a profound social explosion born of prolonged exploitation and injustice.

Why the Santal Hul Matters

The Santal Hul occupies a significant place in the history of resistance movements in South Asia. Many historians consider it one of the first major anti-colonial mass uprisings and among the earliest organized armed struggles against British rule in the Indian subcontinent.

Historically, it occurred two years before the Revolt of 1857. According to many scholars, the courage and resistance displayed by the Santals provided psychological and political inspiration for later anti-colonial movements.

More importantly, the rebellion centered on demands for economic justice, land rights and human dignity. These demands remain equally relevant in today’s world.

The Continuing Relevance of History

The reasons that drove the Santals to revolt nearly 170 years ago still exist in different forms across the world today.

Land dispossession, debt bondage, economic inequality, marginalization of Indigenous communities and unjust distribution of resources continue to generate social conflicts and unrest.

Experts often warn that prolonged economic deprivation and exclusion can eventually lead to social instability and political upheaval. The Santal Hul stands as a powerful historical reminder of that reality.

The Legacy Lives On

Every year, Santal Hul Day is observed in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan. In Bangladesh, Indigenous communities and various social and cultural organizations commemorate the occasion through rallies, discussions, cultural programs and floral tributes.

The memories of Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand and Bhairab continue to live through songs, folklore and collective memory. Their struggle belongs not only to history books but also to the living cultural consciousness of the people.

Lessons from the Santal Hul

The Santal Hul teaches us a fundamental lesson: no system built on injustice, inequality and exploitation can endure indefinitely. When the voices of marginalized communities are ignored for too long, resistance inevitably emerges.

The rebellion of Sidhu and Kanhu was not merely a display of military courage; it was an expression of human dignity and self-respect. They may not have won the war in conventional terms, but history has not regarded them as defeated. Their struggle taught future generations that rights are never granted as charity. They must be secured through organized resistance and collective action.

Nearly 170 years later, 30 June remains more than a date of remembrance. It stands as a timeless call for justice, human dignity and a society free from oppression.

Author: SM Mehedi Hasan
Freelance Writer and Journalist
Joint General Secretary, Jalalabad Journalists Association, Dhaka
E-mail: sm.mehedi.hasan1977@gmail.com