Jharkhand CM, LoP pay tribute to Sidhu-Kanhu on Hul Diwas

Ranchi (IANS): Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi paid floral tributes to legendary tribal revolutionaries Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu at Sidhu-Kanhu Park in Ranchi on Tuesday to commemorate the 171st anniversary of the historic Santhal Hul rebellion.

People also gathered at Bhognadih village in Sahibganj district—the historic epicentre of the 1855 uprising—to honour the tribal heroes who laid down their lives fighting British colonial rule.

“The Revolutionary Fire Never Dies” – CM Hemant Soren

Speaking after the memorial service, Chief Minister Hemant Soren emphasized that Hul Diwas signifies far more than a historical memory. He described it as a living symbol of resistance against systemic injustice and exploitation.

Soren highlighted that the leaders organized a fierce revolt at a time when marginalized communities possessed no formal resources to fight an empire.

“Sidhu-Kanhu, Chand-Bairab, and brave tribal women like Phulo-Jhano sounded the bugle of revolt against British rule without worrying about the consequences,” Soren stated. “The revolutionary fire never dies, nor can anyone extinguish it. Its spark always remains alive.”

The Chief Minister later drew a parallel on social media between the legacy of the Santhal martyrs and the eternal flames burning at Delhi’s Rajghat and India Gate, noting that Jharkhand’s history of indigenous leadership remains written in golden letters.

A Mass Uprising for Land and Self-Respect

Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi echoed these sentiments during his visit to the memorial park. He recalled how the 1855 movement in the Santhal Pargana region grew into an unprecedented mass rebellion against the oppressive zamindari system and British revenue policies.

Marandi pointed out that the alliance under Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand, Bairab, Phulo, and Jhano Murmu united the entire Santhal community to protect their “Jal, Jangal, Jameen” (Water, Forest, Land) and indigenous identity.

According to Marandi, the Hul movement did not merely challenge British authority; it triggered a lasting societal awakening for freedom, self-respect, and fundamental tribal rights that continues to inspire modern society.