Question

Who amongst the following was the leader of the Santhal rebellion ?

• A. Sidhu Manjhi
• B. Birsa Munda
• C. Alluri Sitarama Raju
• D. Jatra Bhagat

Hint:

Always pair tribal revolts with their respective leaders and timelines: - Santhal Rebellion (1855) $\rightarrow$ Sidhu and Kanhu Manjhi - Munda Rebellion (1899) $\rightarrow$ Birsa Munda - Rampa Rebellion (1922) $\rightarrow$ Alluri Sitarama Raju

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Concept: Tribal uprisings formed a critical subset of anti-colonial resistance prior to 1857. These revolts erupted because British revenue policies, forest laws, and money-lenders (dikus) disrupted indigenous tribal lifestyles and socio-economic systems.

Step 1: Examining the origins of the Santhal Rebellion.
The Santhal Rebellion (also known as the Santhal Hool) broke out in 1855–1856 in the Rajmahal hills region (present-day Jharkhand and West Bengal). It was mobilized against the oppressive tax collection systems of the British East India Company and the zamindari network.

Step 2: Identifying the correct tribal leader.
The insurrection was led chiefly by four Murmu brothers: Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand, and Bhairav. Among them, Sidhu Manjhi (Sidhu Murmu) was the primary leader who claimed divine guidance to rid the region of oppressors.

Step 3: Alyzing altertive options for clarity.

• Birsa Munda led the Munda Ulgulan (rebellion) in the Ranchi region during the late 1890s.
• Alluri Sitarama Raju led the Rampa Rebellion in the Eastern Ghats (Andhra Pradesh) in the 1920s.
• Jatra Bhagat was the founder of the Ta Bhagat movement among the Oraon tribe around 1914. Thus, Option (A) is uniquely correct.