Consider the following statements about the Santhal Hool of 1855 - 56: 1. The Santhals were in a desperate situation as tribal lands were leased out  2. The Santhal rebels were treated very leniently by British officials 3. Santhal inhabited areas were eventually constituted separate administrative units called Santhal parganas 4. The Santhal rebellion was the only major rebellion in mid 19th century India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements about the Santhal Hool of 1855 - 56: 1. The Santhals were in a desperate situation as tribal lands were leased out  2. The Santhal rebels were treated very leniently by British officials 3. Santhal inhabited areas were eventually constituted separate administrative units called Santhal parganas 4. The Santhal rebellion was the only major rebellion in mid 19th century India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Correct Answer 1 and 3 only

The correct answer is 1 and 3 only.

Key Points

• Santhals are a tribal group and they were the agricultural people settled in Rajmahal Hills of Bihar.
• British turned to them for the expansion of the revenue through agriculture. Santhals agreed to clear forests to practice settled agriculture. in 1832, a large number of areas were demarcated as Damin-i-Koh or Santal Pargana.
• The Santhal Revolt took place in 1855-56.
• This was the first peasant revolt that occurred in India. the revolt can be attributed to the introduction of the Permanent Land Settlement of 1793.
• Hul Divas is observed annually on June 30 in memory of tribals Sidho and Kanhu Murmu, who led the Santhal Hul (rebellion) on June 30, 1855, at Bhognadih in Sahebganj district.
• The Santhals under Sido and Kanhu rose up against their oppressors, declared the end of the Company’s rule, and asserted themselves independent in 1854.
• It was only in 1856 after extensive military operations that the situation was brought under control.
• Sido died in 1855, while Kanhu was arrested in 1866.