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 known as the Santhal Hool, was a major tribal uprising in British India. It was primarily driven by the exploitative revenue policies, oppressive moneylenders, zamindars, and British officials who imposed heavy taxes and acquired tribal lands through coercion and legal manipulation.
The Santhals, originally forest-dwellers and agriculturists, were pushed into a system that undermined their traditional rights and economic well-being. The loss of land, economic exploitation, and forced labor led to mass discontent, culminating in the rebellion led by Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu.
Options (A), (B), and (C) are contributing contexts but do not represent the central cause. Therefore, Option (D) is the most accurate.