“Freedom Fighters of Jharkhand”

1. Tilka Manjhi (1750–1785)

• Place of Birth: Tilakpur, Bhagalpur (present-day Bihar)
• Tribe: Santhal
• Father’s Name: Sundara Murmu

Major Contributions:

• Considered the first tribal freedom fighter of India.
• Led the Santhal Rebellion in 1781.
• Killed British officer Augustus Cleveland with an arrow (13 January 1784).
• Adopted guerrilla warfare tactics to outsmart the British.

Sacrifice:

• Arrested due to betrayal by Paharia chieftain Jaurah.
• In May 1785, tied to four horses, dragged, and hanged from a banyan tree in Bhagalpur.

2. Budhu Bhagat (1792–1832)

• Place of Birth: Silagai village, Lohardaga (Jharkhand)
• Tribe: Oraon
• Father’s Name: Heru Bhagat

Major Contributions:

• Led a mass rebellion against the British and landlords in 1831–1832.
• Spread public awareness village to village.
• Expertly used guerrilla warfare.

Sacrifice:

• In 1832, the British surrounded Budhu Bhagat’s house.
• He and his two sons fought bravely but were martyred.

3. Pandey Ganpat Rai (1809–1858)

• Place of Birth: Chatra, Jharkhand
• Father’s Name: Raja Jugal Kishore Singh
• Position: Nagvanshi King and Diwan of Chatra

Major Contributions:

• Played an active role in the 1857 freedom struggle.
• United kings and the public against the British.
• Established alliances with Tatya Tope, Nana Sahib, and Kunwar Singh.

Sacrifice:

• Captured by the British.
• Hanged in an open field in Chatra on 21 April 1858.
• His last words were: “Victory to Mother India!”

4. Sidho-Kanho Murmu (1815–1855)

• Place of Birth: Bhognadih village, Sahibganj (Jharkhand)
• Tribe: Santhal
• Father’s Name: Marang Bhagat

Major Contributions:

• On 30 June 1855, led the “Santhal Rebellion” (Hul Movement) with over 10,000 Santhals.
• Gave the slogan against oppression: “Abua Raj Ete Janawar Nay” (We want our own rule, not that of beasts).
• The rebellion spread across Sahibganj, Dumka, Pakur, and Godda.

Sacrifice:

• Killed deceitfully by the British army in 1855.

5. Thakur Vishwanath Shahdeo (1817–1858)

• Place of Birth: Badlatoli, Ranchi (Jharkhand)
• Father’s Name: Thakur Chaitanya Shah
• Position: Nagvanshi King of Ranchi

Major Contributions:

• Active leader in the 1857 revolution.
• Organized freedom forces against the British.
• Allied with Pandey Ganpat Rai, Nandaraj, and Murlidhar.
• Uprooted British administration in Ranchi, Lohardaga, and Chatra.

Sacrifice:

• Hanged at Ranchi jail ground on 16 April 1858.

6. Sheikh Bhikhari

• Diwan and associate of Tikait Umrao Singh.
• Actively participated in the 1857 freedom struggle.
• Played a major strategic role against the British.
• After the revolution, his property was seized and his family forced to flee.

7. Birsa Munda (1875–1900)

• Birth: 15 November 1875, Ulihatu, Khunti
• Famous Name: Dharti Aaba

Education & Conversion:

• Early life full of struggle due to poverty.
• Converted to Christianity on 7 May 1886 (Chaibasa Lutheran Mission).
• Later disillusioned with missionary policies and returned to Hindu and tribal values.

Movement:

• Goal: Restoration of traditional tribal life and culture.
• Initiated rebellion against Christian missionaries and British.
• Arrested in 1895, sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment.
• After release, reorganized the movement.
• Arrested again in 1900; died in Ranchi jail on 9 June 1900.

8. Tikait Umrao Singh

• Birth: Khatanga, Ormanjhi (some sources mention Ganga Patar)
• Skilled horseman and swordsman.
• Led the rebellion in the 1857 uprising along with Sheikh Bhikhari.
• Blocked the Chutupalu valley route to stop the British.
• Hanged with Sheikh Bhikhari on 8 January 1858.
• Zamindari of 12 villages was confiscated.

9. Nilamber–Pitamber (Brave Brothers of Palamu)

• Belonged to the Chero-Kharwar community of Palamu.
• Rebelled against the British in 1857.
• Attacked Chainpur, Sahpur, and Lesliganj.
• Later took refuge in Manika forest and launched another rebellion.
• Colonel Dalton arrested them under pretense of a feast and executed them.
• Their property was confiscated.

10. Telanga Khadia (1806–1880)

• Birth: Sisai Murge village
• Father: Duiya Khadia (treasurer of the Chotanagpur king)

Struggle and Sacrifice:

• Illiterate but skilled organizer and warrior.
• Inspired by Kol Rebellion (1831–32), began guerrilla warfare against the British.
• Mobilized the entire Khadia region.
• British made several attempts to catch him but failed.
• Shot dead by a traitor in Sisai on 23 April 1880.

11. Singi Dai (Heroine of Rohtas Fort)

• Princess of the Oraon community.
• Formed a women’s army and repelled Mughal invasions three times.
• Fought alongside her companion Kailee Dai.
• Symbol of bravery: Oraon women tattoo three lines in her memory.

12. Gaya Munda (Ulgulan Warrior, Atkedih)

• Rebelled against the British with his entire family.
• On 5 January 1900, a constable arrived at Atkedih to arrest him during an Ulgulan meeting.
• His son Sambhar Munda shot an arrow at the constable.
• On 6 January 1900, Deputy Commissioner Streetfield surrounded their home.
• Women attacked the soldiers with sticks.
• Gaya Munda declared: “This is my home. The Deputy Commissioner has no right to enter. If he does, we will kill him!”
• The Deputy Commissioner set the house on fire, forcing the family out.

Punishment:

• Son hanged.
• Elder son Doka Munda sentenced to life imprisonment.
• Wife Maki Dai: 2 years in jail.
• Daughters-in-law and daughters: 3 months imprisonment.
• Son Jaymasih exiled.
• 348 Mundas were tried in court.

Bindrai Manki and Suiya Munda (Kol Rebellion, 1832)

• Led the rebellion in Singhbhum, Palamu, and Torpa regions.
• Major allies: Sagar Manki, Sugga Manki, Mohan Manki, etc.
• British forced the rebels to surrender.
• On 19 April 1832, Bindrai and Suiya Munda surrendered.
• British had to promise security and peace in return.

Poto Sardar (Kolhan Rebellion, 1837)

• ‘Ho’ tribal leader who fought for independence.
• Rebelled against British atrocities and the ‘Wilkinson Rule’.
• Planned the rebellion by sending arrows to village chiefs.
• 17 November 1837: Captain Armstrong’s army attacked.
• 8 December 1837: Poto Sardar arrested.
• 1 January 1838: Poto, Naro, and Badai were hanged.
• 2 January 1838: Modu and Pandua were also executed.

Rudan Munda and Konta Munda (Tamar Rebellion, 1819–1821)

• Led a rebellion in Tamar region against the British in 1819.
• Key leaders: Daulat Rai Munda, Shankar Manki, Chandan Singh, Bhadra Munda, etc.
• 31 August 1819: Attacked Pituchara.
• Reward announced for Rudan Munda; caught and died in jail.
• 1821: Konta Munda gathered warriors from Singhbhum.
• Raja Govind Shahi placed ₹200 bounty on his head.
• Died in jail after arrest; rebellion ended.

Fetel Singh Kharwar (Tribal Leader, Garhwa–Palamu)

• Birth: 7 May 1885, Bahahara village, Garhwa
• Father: Lagan Singh, village chief of Panchayat Chatta
• Uneducated but deeply aware of forest rights.
• Influenced by Gandhiji, fought for forest land rights.
• 1958: Protest escalated against forest department encroachment.
• 12 January 1958: Clash with police; supporter Kumbhakaran killed.
• Arrested, fell ill in jail, later released for good conduct.
• Died on 31 December 1975. His memorial is still in Bahahara village.