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RAS question

The Santhal Rebellion (Hool) of 1855-56 was led by:

Correct answer: (B) Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu.

The Santhal Rebellion, or Hool, of 1855-56 was led by Sidhu Murmu and Kanhu Murmu.

  1. (A)

    Birsa Munda

  2. (B)

    Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu

  3. (C)

    Alluri Sitarama Raju

  4. (D)

    Tilka Manjhi

Explanation

Sidhu Murmu and Kanhu Murmu are the leaders linked to the Santhal Hool of 1855-56. The rebellion took place in present-day Jharkhand and was directed against the exploitative power of money-lenders, known as dikus, zamindars and British authority. That context matters because the question is not asking for any tribal or anti-colonial leader, but for the specific leadership of the Santhal uprising. Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav identifies the Santhal Hool as an armed uprising against exploitation and places Sidhu and Kanhu at the centre of its mobilisation. The suppression was severe, with around 10,000 Santhals killed.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (A) Birsa Munda belongs to the Munda Ulgulan, so choosing him mixes up two separate tribal movements.
  • (C) Alluri Sitarama Raju is associated with the Rampa Rebellion, not the Santhal Hool of 1855-56.
  • (D) Tilka Manjhi represents an earlier phase of resistance and is not the named leader of the 1855-56 Santhal Rebellion.

Concept

This tests tribal resistance in modern Indian history, especially the pairing of a movement with its leaders. RAS often asks this because Santhal, Munda, Rampa and earlier tribal revolts are easy to confuse in one-line MCQs.

Source

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