About Hul Diwas:
- It is observed every year on 30th June to commemorate the Santhal Rebellion of 1855.
- In the Santhali language, the term “Hul” means revolution, uprising, or resistance.
- It is a day of cultural pride, remembrance, and resistance for the tribal communities of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and Bihar.
Key Facts about Santhal Uprising:
- Santhal Rebellion was one of the first tribal uprisings against British colonial rule and the feudal-zamindari system.
- The movement was initiated by the Santhal tribe, primarily led by Sidho Murmu and Kanhu Murmu, with the support of thousands of tribal men and women.
- The rebellion began on 30th June 1855 in Bhognadih village, located in present-day Sahibganj district of Jharkhand.
- It quickly spread across parts of present-day Jharkhand, Bihar, and West Bengal. The rebellion lasted until January 3, 1856.
- Leaders:
- Sidho Murmu and Kanhu Murmu
- Reasons for Santhal Uprising:
- Land alienation: Santhals were displaced from their ancestral lands by outsiders.
- Economic exploitation: Local moneylenders, zamindars, and British agents imposed harsh taxes and usurious loans.
- Loss of tribal autonomy and interference in their traditional governance and justice systems.
- British apathy to tribal grievances and increasing oppression.
- Impact: The Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act of 1876 (SPT Act) enacted by the British, which prohibits the transfer of Adivasi lands (urban or rural land) to non-Adivasis, was the result of the Hul.
