HUL DIWAS

1. Context 

• On June 30 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted about Hul Diwas, commemorating the sacrifice of Adivasis during the Santal rebellion.
• The Hul, also known as the Santal Revolution, was an organized war against British colonialism, led by the Santal people, who stood up against various forms of oppression.
• This rebellion began in 1855, two years before the 1857 uprising, often referred to as "the first war for Indian independence."

2. The Santals Origin and Settlement

• The Santal people, originally from modern-day Birbhum and Manbhum regions in Bengal, migrated to the present-day Santhal Pargana in Jharkhand during the late 18th century.
• The British forced their settlement in the densely forested area of Damin-i-Koh to increase revenue collection under the Permanent Settlement Act of 1790.
• However, once settled, the Santals faced severe oppression from colonial authorities, including predatory moneylenders and abusive police.

Image source: Wire

3. Reasons for the Hul Rebellion

• The social conditions leading to the rebellion were marked by extortion, oppressive extraction, forcible dispossession of property, and abuse by zamindars, police, and revenue officials.
• Usurious interest rates on loans and false measurements at markets added to the burden of the Santals.
• The Hul was sparked by talk of rebellion in tribal councils and meetings, culminating in a massive assembly of over 6,000 Santals representing 400 villages on June 30, 1855.

4. The Organized Nature of the Hul

• Contrary to the belief that the Hul was an unorganized chaotic uprising, historical evidence suggests it was a well-planned and highly organized political war against British rule.
• The Santals formed guerrillas, and military teams, appointed detectives, set up secret bases and established a network of message carriers for coordination.
• Moreover, the rebellion saw the participation of 32 communities, both tribals and non-tribals, challenging the notion of it being solely a "Santal rebellion."

5. Lesser-Known Aspects of the Hul

• The Hul saw the active involvement of women, with Phulo-Jhano leading an army of 1,000 women who provided food supplies, gathered information and attacked East Indian camps at night.
• The British army faced defeat twice during the rebellion in Pirpainti and Birbhum, exposing the notion of their invincibility.

6. British Narratives and Aftermath

• British accounts attributed the causes of the rebellion to excessive taxation, oppression by moneylenders, and corruption.
• After the Hul's suppression, tribal communities continued to resist British rule, as evidenced by the Santals' participation in the 1857 mutiny.

7. Conclusion

• Hul Diwas, celebrated on June 30 in Jharkhand, marks the beginning of the Santal rebellion against British colonial rule.
• The Hul was a highly organized and deliberate political war that saw the participation of various communities, challenging the British narrative of the rebellion.
• The Santals' struggle for autonomy and justice remains an essential part of India's history, reminding us of their resilience and determination to fight against oppression.