When Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar in 2000, the new state took with it the forests of Chotanagpur and the hills of the Santhal Parganas. But their history remains part of Bihar's history too — for more than a century, these regions were part of the province, and their tribal revolts are regularly asked in BPSC papers.
Why the tribes revolted
| Cause | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Land alienation | Colonial land laws and revenue settlements brought outsiders — zamindars, traders, moneylenders — who took over tribal land |
| Dikus | Tribal communities called outsiders dikus; they became symbols of exploitation |
| Moneylenders | High interest rates led to debt bondage |
| Forest laws | Restrictions on shifting cultivation, grazing and collecting forest produce |
| Forced labour | Beth-begari (forced labour) for landlords and officials |
| Police and courts | Distant, costly and unsympathetic to tribal customs |
| Missionaries and cultural change | Pressures on traditional religion and institutions |
The major revolts
Tilka Manjhi (1780s)
- A leader of the Paharia community (tradition also calls him a Santhal) in the Bhagalpur–Rajmahal region.
- He led resistance against the Company in the 1780s and is said to have attacked the Collector of Bhagalpur, Augustus Cleveland.
- He was captured and executed (traditionally dated 1785).
- He is often called the first adivasi rebel against British rule; Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University is named after him.
The Kol rebellion (1831–32)
- In Chotanagpur, the Mundas, Oraons and Hos (collectively called Kols by the British) rose against outsiders who had taken over their land.
- Leaders included Buddho Bhagat.
- The revolt was suppressed by the military; the British later created a special administrative arrangement for the region (the South-West Frontier Agency, 1834).
The Santhal Hul (1855–56)
- Where: the Damin-i-koh region (the Rajmahal hills), where Santhals had settled and cleared land.
- Leaders: the brothers Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu, with Chand and Bhairav, and their sisters Phulo and Jhano.
- Beginning: On 30 June 1855, thousands of Santhals gathered at Bhognadih and declared the end of exploitation by zamindars, moneylenders and officials.
- Course: They attacked moneylenders, police posts and railway workers; the British declared martial law.
- Suppression: By early 1856, the revolt was crushed; many thousands of Santhals were killed; Sidhu and Kanhu were executed.
- Result: The British created the separate Santhal Parganas district (1855), with special administrative protections.
30 June is observed as Hul Diwas.
Birsa Munda and the Ulgulan (1899–1900)
- Birsa Munda (1875–1900), a young Munda leader from Chotanagpur, preached a new faith (Birsait), urging Mundas to give up superstition, alcohol and sacrifices, and to reclaim their land.
- He called for the restoration of the khuntkatti system (collective land ownership by the original clearers of the forest).
- His movement, the Ulgulan ("great tumult"), attacked police stations, churches and landlords' property in 1899–1900.
- He was captured and died in Ranchi jail on 9 June 1900, at about 25.
- His birth anniversary, 15 November, is observed nationally as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (since 2021) and is also Jharkhand's foundation day.
Result: the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, 1908, which restricted the transfer of tribal land to non-tribals.
The Tana Bhagat movement (1914 onwards)
- Began among the Oraons of Chotanagpur under Jatra Oraon (Jatra Bhagat) in 1914.
- A religious and social reform movement: abstinence from alcohol and meat, rejection of spirits and sacrifices, and opposition to forced labour and rent.
- The Tana Bhagats later joined the Gandhian national movement, adopting khadi and non-violence; they are known for their devotion to Gandhi.
Colonial responses
| Response | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Military suppression | Every major revolt was crushed with force |
| Special administration | South-West Frontier Agency (1834); Santhal Parganas (1855) |
| Protective laws | Chotanagpur Tenancy Act (1908); later, the Santhal Parganas Tenancy Act |
| Non-regulation areas | Some laws were not applied automatically |
These arrangements influenced the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.
Legacy
- These revolts are central to Jharkhand's identity and remembered in Bihar as part of a shared history.
- They inspired later tribal movements, including the movement for a separate Jharkhand state.
- Protective tenancy laws remain important today.
Practice
Prelims-style:
- Who is often called the first adivasi rebel against British rule?
- When and where did the Santhal Hul begin?
- What system did Birsa Munda seek to restore?
- Which Act followed Birsa Munda's Ulgulan?
- Who led the Tana Bhagat movement?
Mains-style:
- "Tribal revolts were struggles to defend land, forests and identity." Discuss with reference to the Santhal Hul and the Ulgulan.
- Examine the colonial state's response to tribal revolts and its legacy in constitutional safeguards.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Bihar Public Service Commission website .
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