⦿ Period 1855- 1856
⦿ The Santhals were inhabitants of the districts of Birbhum, Bankura, Murshidabad, Pakr, Dumka, Bhagalpur and Purnea.
⦿ The area of maximum concentration of Santhals was called Daman-i-koh or Santhal Pargana.
⦿ When the Santhals cleared the forest and started cultivation in this area the neighbouring Rajas of Maheshpur and Pakur leased out the Santhal villages to Zarnindars and money-lenders.
⦿ The oppression by money-lenders, merchants, Zamindars and government officials forced the Santhals to take up arms in order to protect themselves.
⦿ Initial protests of the Santhals were in the form of robbery and looting of Zamindars and money-lenders houses.
⦿ Violent suppression of these activities and harassment of Santhals at the hands of police and local officials made them more violent.
⦿ The rebel Santhals found their leaders in two brothkrs, Sidhu and Kanu.
⦿ Several thousand Santhals armed with their traditional weapons of bows, arrows, axes assembled and took the decision to give an ultimatum to the Zamindars and the government officials to stop oppression immediately.
⦿ Santhal flared up in open armed insurrection against the local government officials, Zamindars and money-lenders.
⦿ Large numbers of low caste non-Santhals also came out in support of the Santhals.
⦿ The government and Zamindars started counter-attacking the insurgents.
⦿ The heroic struggle of the Santhals ultimately failed because of British superiority of arms.