Jamshedpur leaders pay tribute to Sidho Kanho, assure tribal progress

Jamshedpur, June 30: Leaders of several political parties paid tribute to Sidho Kanho, the brothers who spearheaded the daring Santhali population of Eastern India during British rule. The day that is celebrated as Hul Diwas witnessed several events to mark the day.

Leaders from various parties, including former MLA Dulal Buiyan, paid floral tributes to the fighters during a function organised at Bhuiyandih. They interacted with local people and assured them of progress.

Senior leaders of the Jharkhand Party (Horo) participated in the functions organised in Baghbera and Karandih. Leaders asked the tribal people to unite and fight for their rights.

“The real fight for the freedom struggle was fought by Sidhu-Kanu. Their contribution to the nation is unique. It is time for us to take lessons from their struggle and fight to protect our rights, “said Joba Manjhi, while addressing a gathering.

It has been more than a century since India witnessed a dramatic chapter in its historic struggle to pull India out of the British Raj – the Hool Kranti Diwas, spearheaded by the daring Santhali population of Eastern India. “Hool ” in Santhali refers to a struggle for deliverance. Today, Santhali culture is seeing a gradual erosion.

Meanwhile, rich tributes were paid to the two brave souls at Sidhu Kanhu Shiksha Niketan, Dimna, and Kharsawan More, Chakradharpur.

At Sidhu Kanhu Shiksha Niketan, students were quizzed on different aspects of the mutiny, Jharkhand State, common abbreviations used and current affairs. Students of Chakradharpur actively took part in a cycle rally that was organised by the company to recognise potential talent in the field of sports.

The events included 2 km, 3 km, 4 km, and 5 km races for children aged 14 and up, as well as children aged 16 and up. Separate races were organised for male and female participants.

Around 300 children from seven schools and one college participated in the events. Seven participants from each of the six categories have been selected who will be later called for further training to harness and nurture their talent and enable them to participate in district and state level sports meets.

“Hool” in Santhali refers to the struggle for deliverance. Santal Hul, as it is known, was one of the fiercest battles in the history of Indian freedom struggles, causing the greatest number of deaths in any battle during that time. According to Hunter, who wrote it in the annals of Rural Bengal, the number of casualties from Santal Hul was 20,000. The Santal Hul of 1855–57 was masterminded by four brothers: Sidhu, Kahnu, Chand, and Bhairav; a heroic episode in India’s prolonged struggle for freedom.

Hul Diwas marks the contribution of the tribal martyrs Sido, Kanhu, Chand, and Bhairav. The place is treated as the epicentre of the Santhal Hul (rebellion) against the British Raj in 1855, two years before the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, now considered to be India’s first freedom movement.