Ranchi, June 30: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday paid tribute to the leaders of the 1855 Santhal rebellion, Sidho-Kanhu and Chand-Bhairav, on the occasion of Hul Diwas, commemorating the tribal uprising against British colonial rule.
In a message posted on social media, Soren expressed reverence for the martyrs, calling the Santhal rebellion a cornerstone of India’s early freedom struggle and an enduring symbol of resistance. Due to the ill health of revered tribal leader Dishom Guruji, Soren said he was unable to be physically present at Bhognadih—the birthplace of the Hul movement—but affirmed the significance of the day in the state’s cultural and political identity.
“Hul is our strength. Hul is our identity,” Soren said. “Hul Diwas is not just an annual ritual, but a day of resolve for us.”
He added that a renewed wave of “Hul Ulgulan” (revolution) would emerge in the days ahead, aimed at protecting and promoting tribal religious identity, culture, language, and civilisation.
“On this Hul Diwas, we bow in deepest respect to the immortal martyrs,” he said. The Santhal rebellion, led by Sidho-Kanhu and their compatriots in 1855, was a major tribal uprising against the East India Company and is considered a landmark event in India’s anti-colonial history.
