Jharkhand’s Bhognadih Set to Honor Tribal Heroes of 1855 Santhal Rebellion on Hul Diwas Anniversary

Sahibganj: The historic village of Bhognadih in Jharkhand’s Sahibganj district is preparing to honour the tribal martyrs of the legendary Santhal Hul on Tuesday. Marked annually on June 30 as Hul Diwas, the event commemorates India’s earliest organized freedom uprising against British colonial rule, moneylenders, and feudal exploitation, which began in 1855—two years before the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.

On June 30, 1855, legendary tribal leaders Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand, Bairab, Phulo, and Jhano Murmu mobilized nearly 20,000 tribal residents at Pachkatia, sounding the bugle of revolt and demanding that the British leave the region. Armed with traditional weapons like bows, arrows, and axes, the rebels mounted a formidable challenge against the East India Company, inflicting heavy casualties on colonial troops at Pirpainti and Birbhum.

Historians estimate that over 50,000 people from 52 villages joined the rebellion, which featured highly organized military units, intelligence networks, and communication systems. More than 10,000 tribals sacrificed their lives during the year-long struggle before the British suppressed it. Leaders Chand and Bairab died in battle, while Sidhu was hanged from the iconic banyan tree at Pachkatia that still stands today. Kanhu was subsequently executed in Bhognadih.

The international significance of the Santhal Hul was notable enough to be documented by political philosopher Karl Marx in his Notes on Indian History. To mark the 171st anniversary, the Jharkhand state government is organizing a major commemorative program at Bhognadih to celebrate tribal pride, identity, and the enduring legacy of these freedom fighters.