Question

Which one of the following was the main cause of the Santhal Rebellion of 1855?

• A. Imposition of the Summary Settlement
• B. Cultural suppression by the British
• C. Imposition of Western education
• D. Heavy taxes and land annexation

Hint:

Santhal Rebellion = land alienation + heavy taxation. Link it with leaders Sidhu and Kanhu and tribal resistance to colonial economic oppression.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The Santhal Rebellion of 1855, also referred to as the Santhal Hool, was a significant tribal revolt in British India. Its primary impetus stemmed from unfair revenue policies, abusive moneylenders, zamindars, and British administrators who levied exorbitant taxes and seized tribal territories through intimidation and legal chicanery.
The Santhals, traditionally inhabitants of forests and cultivators, were forced into a system that eroded their ancestral rights and economic stability. Land dispossession, economic exploitation, and forced labor fueled widespread discontent, ultimately igniting the rebellion under the leadership of Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu.
While options (A), (B), and (C) represent contributing factors, they do not encapsulate the core reason for the uprising. Consequently, Option (D) stands as the most precise explanation.