People's Democracy

150TH ANNIVERSARY OF SANTHAL REVOLT 

CPI(M) Honours Legendary Leaders’ Families

IN a simple function on June 27, on 150th anniversary of the Santhal Hul (revolt), the Jharkhand state committee of the CPI(M) honoured at Bhognadih village (Sahebganj district) the heads of eight families that have descended from legendary Hul leaders Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand and Bhairav.

The occasion was utilised to urge the people to continue their struggle against landlords, landgrabbers and moneylenders.

The descendants of Hul leaders honoured on the day were Bhado Murmu, Lila Murmu, Chota Bhado Murmu, Rupchand Murmu, Bhagnath Murmu, Betadhan Murmu, Chunda Murmu and Mandal Murmu; they were honoured with shawls and brass utensils as per the tradition. Upen Kisku (ST-SC-OBC welfare minister of the Left Front government of West Bengal); Abul Hasnat Khan (former member of parliament in the bordering Murshidabad district of West Bengal); the CPI(M)’s Jharkhand state secretariat members Jyotin Soren, Prakash Biplab and Shiv Prasad Tewary, all district secretaries of the party in Santhal Pargana and other leaders, a large numbers of party functionaries and villagers were present on this occasion.

Except Bhado Murmu, who is a peon in a Sahebganj college, all other descendant families of the martyrs are living in poverty and earn their living as agricultural workers. Only Bhado Mumu (40 years) has got higher secondary education; none others had the opportunity to have primary education due to poverty and in the absence of a school. Villagers have to carry drinking water from one and a half kilometres away as the government has failed to provide even drinking water in th village Bhognadih, the birthplace of two brothers Sidhu and Kanhu. Despite the Indira Awas Yojana, they all are living in kuccha houses.

The successive governments at the centre and in the state (first Bihar and then Jharkhand) have ignored these martyrs’ families and the villagers of Bhognadih. This is so despite the fact that the village is considered a place of pilgrimage. Many come here to pay respect to the legendary Santhal revolt leaders who fought against the zamindars and moneylenders on the one hand and against the British rule and its army on the other. More than 20,000 Adivasis became martyrs in this armed struggle, including the two brothers. It is a patent fact that all the bourgeois landlord parties have been trying to cover up the message of these martyrs.

On June 27 afternoon, despite rain, more than 1,500 villagers assembled in a mass meeting at Bhognadih and paid floral tributes to the martyrs. The meeting was followed by Adivasi cultural programmes that ran late into night. These cultural teams specifically created songs on various aspects of the life of Hul leaders, depicting their struggle against the zamindars, moneylenders and the British.

Restoration of Adivasis lands and eradication of moneylending still remain central issues for the Adivasis in Jharkhand. However, the Arujn Munda government is proposing to amend the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act to make transferable the Adivasi landa that are non-transferable now.

Last year the Congress and the JMM exchanged fire between themselves at Bhognadih, with each wanting to organise a ‘Shahid Mela’ on the same day, at the same place. That is the reason villagers of Bhognadih do not want party flags in their village any more, even though they welcome all to come. While organising the programme, the CPI(M) respected their wishes.

During the programme organised by the CPI(M) at Bhognadih, Jharkhand administrative officials remained absent and failed to follow the minimum protocol required during the visit of Left Front minister Upen Kisku. This despite the written communication from West Bengal to the Jharkhand government.

Next day, on June 28 morning, a jatha started from Bhognadih with party flags and banners. It consisted of two buses and a pilot jeep, was led by Jharkhand state secretariat member Jyotin Soren and state committee member Krishna Kant Mandal, and included party functionaries from Jharkhand and West Bengal as well as cultural teams. On their way they were received at Hiranpur, where a meeting was held. Hundreds of people assembled and paid floral tributes to Sidhu and Kanhu at the park named after them when the jatha reached Pakur.

On June 29, the jathea entered Dumka district where it was received at Katikund and later at Nakti; meetings and cultural programmes were held at both the places. On June 30, it was received at S P College, Dumka, from where a procession proceeded to the Sidhu Kanhu Chowk.

On June 30, party units throughout the state observed the 150th anniversary of the Santhal Hul by hoisting party flags and organising mass meetings. They thus urged the people to draw inspiration from the Santhal Hul and continue their struggle against the landlords, landgrabbers and moneylenders as well as against the neo-colonial drive of the imperialist powers. (INN)