Santal
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
(From People of India/ National Series Volume VIII. Readers who wish to share additional information/ photographs may please send them as messages to the Facebook community, Indpaedia.com. All information used will be gratefully acknowledged in your name.)
Santal
Synonyms: Hor, Manjhi, Marishi [Bihar and/or Jharkhand] Majhi [Orissa] Hor, Majhi [West Bengal] Kharwar, Safa-Hor, Saontar [H.H. Risley] Subtribes: Bhagalpur and Santal Paragana, Deswali Santal, Kharwar or Safa-Hor in Bengal, Orissa [H.H. Risley] Titles: Buna, Mandal, Pradhan, Sardar, Manjhi [H.H. Risley] Surnames: Baske, Bedes, Besra, Ceral, Hansda, Kisku, Marandi, Membram, Murmu, Pauria, Soren, Tudu [Orissa] Baske, Besra, Chanre, Hansda, Hembrom, Kisku, Marandi, Murmu, Pauria, Soren, Tudu [West Bengal] Baske, Bedes, Besra, Ceral, Hansda, Hembrum, Kisku, Marandi, Murmu, Pavria, Soren, Tudu [Orissa] Baske (state rice), Bede, Bedea, Besra, Chanre, Hansdak, Hembram, Kisku, Kore, Marandi, Murmu, Pauria, Soren, Tudu [West Bengal] Exogamous units/clans (khunt/pari): Bedia, Besra, Bosku, Chorrey (lizard), Hansdak (wild goose), Hembram (betel nut or palm), Kisku, Marandi, Murmu (Nilgai), Pauria (pigeon), Soren, Tudu [Bihar and/or Jharkhand]
- Septs: Abar, Adeb, Aind, Angaria, Bansdeo, Baski, Bediya (sheep), Besera (hawk), Bhagalpur, Chonre, Hansda (wild
grass), Hembaram (betel), Hembrom, Kisku, Marndi (grass), Murmu (Nilgai), Orissa, Pauria, Santal Paragana, Saren, Tudu in Bengal [H.H. Risley]
- Subsepts: Baski: Nij and Sada; Besra: Bundra, Kahu (crow), Kara (buffalo), Nij, Sada, Sibala, Son and Sung; Hansda:
Barwa, Chilbindha (eagle slayer), Jihu (bird), Kerwar, Manjhi-Khil, Naiki-Khil, Nij, Rohlutur (ear pierced) and Sada; Hemrom: Dantela (those who rear pigs), Gua (areea nut), Jahur, Kumar, Laher, Naika-Khil, Nij, Roh-Lu (ear pierced), Uh; Kisku: Abar, Ah, Kachna (tortoise), Lat (bake meat in a leaves platter), Nag (cobra), Nij, Roh-Lutur, Sada, Somal (dear), Marndi: Burn-Birit (of hills), Kekra (crab), Laher, Manjhi-Khil, Niaki-Khil, Nij, Roht (panjaun tree) and Sada; Murmu: Bital, Boar (fish), Chopear, Ganr (fort), Handi (easthern vessel), Muro, Nij, Sada, Sangda, Sikiya (a dain) and Tikka; Saren; Barchi (spearmen), Hat, Jogi, Lat, Mai, Mundu/Bedar (dense jungle), Nij, Sankh (conch shell), Sidup/Siduk (straw bundle) and Tirku; Tudu: Agaria (Charcoal burners), Chigi/Chiki (impale), Dantela (bread pigs with very large tusks for sacrificial purposes), Lat (bake meat in a leaves platter), Manjhi-Khil, Nij-Lutur (ear pierced), Sada and Sung [H.H. Risley] Exogamous units/lineages (khunt): [West Bengal]
History
Hul revolution, 1855
Abhishek Angad, July 3, 2023: The Indian Express
The Santal rebellion or ‘Hul’ – literally, revolution – began in 1855, two years before the the uprising of 1857, which is often referred to as “the first war for Indian independence”.
The Santal rebellion or ‘Hul’ – literally, revolution – began in 1855, two years before the the uprising of 1857, often referred to as “the first war for Indian independence”.
It was an “organised war against colonialism” led by the Santals, standing against the myriad forms of oppression – economic and otherwise – they were subjected to by the British and their collaborators. Led by two brothers Sidhu and Kanhu, it saw the participation of as many as 32 caste and communities rallying behind them.
The rebellion took place in the lush Damin-i-Koh region – ‘Damin-i-Koh’ meaning the ‘skirts of the hills’ – and took the British by complete surprise. This region falls in present-day Jharkhand, more specifically, around the Rajmahal Hills of eastern Jharkhand’s Sahibganj district.
Every year, the state of Jharkhand celebrates June 30 as ‘Hul Diwas’, marking the beginning of the rebellion, even though some historical accounts date it to the first week of July instead.
The popular spelling of ‘Santhals’ today is the one used by the British, and experts say ‘Santal’ is a more accurate way of documenting how the community identified itself.
Who were the Santals?
The Santal people – or Santalis – were not the original inhabitants of modern day Santhal Pargana – which includes the six districts of Dumka, Pakur, Godda, Sahibganj, Deoghar and parts of Jamtara. They had migrated from the Birbhum and Manbhum regions (present-day Bengal), starting around the late 18th century.
The 1770 famine in Bengal caused the Santals to begin moving and soon, the British turned to them for help. With the enactment of the Permanent Settlement Act of 1790, the East India Company was desperate to bring an ever-increasing area in its control under settled agriculture. They, thus, chose the area of Damin-i-Koh, at the time heavily forested, to be settled by the Santals, in order to collect a steady stream of revenue.
However, once settled, the Santals bore the brunt of colonial oppression. IAS officer (Retired) Ranendra, an authoritative figure on the tribal history of Jharkhand and currently the Director of Ram Dayal Munda Tribal Research Institute, told The Indian Express that the Santal migration was “forced” by the British merely to collect more revenue. Predatory money-lenders and the police were a byproduct of this system.
Today, the Santal community is the third largest tribal community in India, spread across Jharkhand-Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal.
