Consider the following statements about the Santhal Hool of 1855-56:
- The Santhals were in a desperate situation as tribal lands were leased out
- The Santhal rebels were treated very leniently by British officials
- Santhal inhabited areas were eventually constituted into separate administrative units called Santhal parganas
- The Santhal rebellion was the only major rebellion in mid 19th century India
Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?
1 only
2 and 3
1, 3 and 4
1 and 3 only
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2016
Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 1 is correct; the Santhals were increasingly exploited by moneylenders, landlords, and government officials, losing their land. Statement 3 is correct; following the rebellion, certain areas were demarcated and constituted into Santhal Parganas through the Santhal Parganas Tenancy Act of 1876, aiming to protect their land rights. Statement 2 is incorrect; the Santhal rebels were suppressed with extreme brutality by the British. Statement 4 is incorrect; there were numerous other major rebellions in mid-19th century India, such as the Indigo Rebellion (1859-60), Munda Rebellion (starting 1899), etc., not to mention the widespread Sepoy Mutiny of 1857-58.
The Santhal Hool (rebellion) was a significant tribal uprising against exploitation and land alienation by outsiders and the colonial state.