Tribal Uprisings & Resistance

The term "Ulgulan" or "the Great Tumult" refers to a significant tribal uprising in the history of India. The rebellion (ulgulan) of the Munda tribesmen, led by Birsa Munda, occurred during 1899-1900. For over thirty years the Munda sardars had been struggling against the destruction of their system of common land holdings by the intrusion of jagirdar, thikadar (revenue farmers) and merchant moneylenders. Birsa Munda led the Munda tribe in a rebellion against the British colonial rule and the feudal system imposed by them.

- Santhals were the agricultural people settled in Rajmahal Hills of Jharkhand.
- They are native to the Indian states of predominantly Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha. Creation of Santhal Paraganas: A separate administrative unit called the Santhal Paraganas was established in 1855. This aimed to isolate the Santhal community from the rest of the population and potentially prevent further uprisings. Restriction on Land Transfer: The Santhal Parganas Tenancy Act was passed in 1876. This act made it illegal for a Santhal to sell or transfer land to a non-Santhal. This aimed to protect the Santhal community's economic interests and prevent further exploitation by outsiders called 'Dikus'.