The Year was 1855. The height of British conquest in India. The tribal areas of Chotanagpur and Rajmahal Hill range in Jharkhand in eastern India came under British administration. The British needed cash to fill their coffers. They introduced land survey and there followed land taxation. When the poor tribals were unable to pay taxes, the British encouraged money lenders to enter the area and lend money to the tribals. Soon the tribals became victims of exploitation. Money lenders grabbed the land of the tribals when the latter were unable to pay the loans taken at exorbitant interest. Jagirdari (land for benefices) and jamindari (landlordism) flourished with the help of the British.
Life for the tribals was suffocating. The court system was too complicated for the tribals. They got no justice. Many uprisings took place in these areas against the British, against exploiters, against corrupt officials and for restoring tribal identity. One such uprising was the Santal uprising of 1855. The Murmu family of Bhognadih village in today’s Sahibganj district led the uprising under the leadership of Sido-Kanhu brothers. Their two sisters, Phulo and Jhano, were said to have joined them. Those two alone were reported to have rushed into an enemy camp of British employed soldiers and killed 21 of them.
Their statues are erected at the Arrupe Tribal Cultural Centre, at Bhognadih near Barhait in Sahibganj district in the State of Jharkhand, India.