The Santhal rebellion of 1855-56 resulted in the creation of a separate geographical entity known as Santhal Parganas for the tribals. Who were the leaders associated with the rebellion ?

The Santhal rebellion (1855-56), also known as the Santhal Hul, was a major tribal uprising against the oppressive 'unholy trinity' of zamindars, moneylenders (dikus), and the British colonial state [1]. The movement was primarily led by four brothers from the Murmu clan—Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand, and Bhairav—though Sidhu and Kanhu are the most prominent figures associated with the leadership [1]. They claimed divine inspiration to rid their land of outsiders and establish Santhal rule [2][t2]. Following the brutal suppression of the revolt by British forces, the administration recognized the need for reform to prevent future unrest. Consequently, the Santhal Parganas was created as a separate geographical and administrative entity, carving out approximately 5,500 square miles from the Bhagalpur and Birbhum districts to protect tribal interests [3][t2].

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 6: People’s Resistance Against British Before 1857 > The Santhal Rebellion (1855-56) > p. 157
2. [2] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 9: COLONIALISM AND THE COUNTRYSIDE > 242 THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY – PART III > p. 242
3. [3] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 18: Early Resistance to British Rule > Santhal Hool (rebellion) (1855-56) > p. 292