Why In The News?

• In Jharkhand, June 30 is observed as Hul Diwas, marking the anniversary of the 1855 Santhal rebellion/ Santhal Hul, one of the earliest peasant uprisings against the British.

Santhal Hul:

=> Santhal Hul of 1855 was a revolt against imperialism led by four brothers, Sidho, Kanho, Chand, and Bhairav Murmu, along with sisters Phulo and Jhano.

=> The Santhals also fought against the upper castes, zamindars, darogas, and moneylenders, described by the umbrella term ‘diku’, in an attempt to safeguard the economic, cultural, and religious aspects of their lives.

Genesis of the uprising:

=> In 1832, certain areas were delimited as ‘Santhal Pargana’ or ‘Damin-i-Koh’, in present-day Jharkhand.

=> The area was allocated to the Santhals from areas of the Bengal Presidency.

=> However they followed the repressive practice of land-grabbing and begari (bonded labor) of two types: kamioti and harwahi.

=> The Murmu brothers led around 60,000 Santhals against the East India Company and engaged in guerrilla warfare.

=> The British hanged Sidhu in 1855, followed by Kanhu in 1856.

The SPT and CNT Acts:-

• The Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act of 1876 (SPT Act) enacted by the British, prohibited the transfer of Adivasi lands (urban or rural land) to non-Adivasis. The land can only be inherited as per the Act, thus retaining the rights of Santhals to self-govern their land.

• The Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, (CNT Act) enacted by the British in 1908 as a result of the Birsa Movement, allows land transfers within the same caste and certain geographical areas with the approval of the District Collector.