Under the slogan ‘Where there is deprivation of rights, there is Hul,’ the 170th anniversary of the historic Santal 'Hul(rebellion)'day was observed at Kakonhat under Godagari upazila in Rajshahi.
On this occasion, various programmes were organised by CCBVO and Bread for the World (with support from the German Embassy), in collaboration with the Rokkhagola Coordination Committee and village organisations on Monday morning.
The day's events began with a colourful rally from the CCBVO branch office which paraded through Kakonbazar before concluding with the laying of wreaths at the Kakonhat Municipality Shaheed Minar.
The discussion meeting was presided over by Sudhir Soren, President of the Rokkhagola Coordination Committee. The key speaker was Arif Ether, Coordinator of CCBVO. Other speakers included Rokkhagola Committee leaders Sumita Hansda, Malin Mardi, Bappi Mardi, Mukul Soren, and Ranjit Roy.
Speakers emphasised that Santal Hul Day is a proud part of their history, but even after 170 years, they remain deprived of their rights.
They stated that they still have not received fair land ownership and have not been officially recognised as indigenous people of the plains by the state.
They further elaborated that the Santal rebellion, which began on June 30, 1855, was the first organised and armed mass uprising in the subcontinent.
Thousands of Santals, led by Sidhu, Kanu, Chand, and Bhairab, stood against British rulers and their local collaborators. Their sacrifice provided new impetus to the Indian subcontinent's independence movement.
The event commemorated the heroic tales of the brave Santal children – Sidhu-Kanu, Chand-Bhairab, Fulomoni, and Jhalomoni. At this time, demands were made to include the true history of the Santal rebellion in textbooks to inform the new generation.
The day's programmes also included a pledge of protest and rights. For the Santal community, Hul Day is not just history; it is also the strength and inspiration for their ongoing struggle.
Hul day is observed annually on June 30 in memory of tribals Sidho, Kanhu Murmu and others who led the Santal rebellion on June 30, 1855.
