The Impact of Santhal Hul (Santhal Rebellion)

Though the Santals were unsuccessful they did manage to draw the attention of the British government which till then was completely ignorant of the people's oppressive conditions and the corruption in the administration which was left in the hands of Darogas and others.

Judicial and administrative reforms were soon adopted and by Act XXXVII dated December 22, 1855, the territory in and around the Damin-I-Koh was formed into a separate non-regulation district called Santal Parganas. 

Direct communication between the people and the government was set up and an attempt was made to utilize the Santal village organization and tribal polity in administering the area.

The period following the rebellion, however, was not quite peaceful in spite of such legislation and reforms. Slowly the newly erected district began to slide back into the regulation system and the privileges of the Santals were being once more taken away from them.

With the opening of new means of communication, more Dikus from North Bihar and from Calcutta especially swarmed into the district. They were more than willing to lend money to the simple Santals in exchange for their land.

The government did not make any arrangements for cheap agricultural credit to the Santals, nor did it do anything to curtail the high rates of interest levied by the money - lenders. On the contrary, the Santals were made to pay ever-increasing rents and a lot of rent-free lands was usurped by the alien landlords.

A spirit of resentment once again swept throughout the whole district. Many Santals joined other tribals in the 1957-59 Sepoy Mutiny against the British government. Contrary to perverted reports given by British chroniclers, the mutiny in Chotanagpur and Santal Parganas was very popular and widespread.

This was mostly due to the fact that the estrangement between the tribals and the British government was more acutely felt in these areas. The tribals were once more ruthlessly suppressed.