Tanvir Ahammed :
One of the most culturally diverse communities in Bangladesh, the Santals, marked the 170th anniversary of the historic Santal Rebellion amidst continued deprivation of basic rights and necessities. Despite the passage of time, the community continues to grapple with land dispossession, economic exploitation, political suppression, and social discrimination-issues that have plagued them since the rebellion first erupted in 1855 in Murshidabad (West Bengal) and Bhagalpur (now in Bihar).
The Santal Rebellion was a powerful resistance movement against colonial rule and the oppressive zamindari system, led by the Santal community. It united thousands in defiance of local landlords, exploitative moneylenders, and British colonial policies, particularly concerning land revenue and agriculture.
The introduction of the Permanent Settlement Act by Lord Cornwallis in 1793 severely disrupted the Santals’ traditional system of shifting cultivation. Although the rebellion remains a proud symbol of indigenous resistance and an inspiration to freedom-loving people, members of the Santal community today still feel marginalized. One long-standing demand is the return of 1,842.30 acres of land in the Bagda Farm area to its rightful Santal owners.
In 1855, under the leadership of Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand, and Bhairab Murmu, the Santals launched what was not just a struggle-but a battle to uphold the dignity and rights of their nation. The uprising was born of a deep desire to claim justice, dignity, and autonomy.
Damin-i-Koh, their traditional homeland, had been lost to outside forces through land grabs and financial exploitation. Trapped in cycles of debt, the Santals were left with no choice but to revolt. Key drivers of the rebellion includes land and resource loss , economic exploitation, political oppression, social discrimination, desire for freedom.
Despite the passage of 170 years, the wounds of history remain fresh for the Santal community. Their rebellion may be in the past, but the struggle for rights, justice, and recognition continues in the present.
