• From the early 19th century, political movements began in Chotanagpur and Santhal Pargana for a distinct identity
• Multiple peasant revolts and tribal uprisings emerged during this period
• Notable uprisings include the Chero Rebellion (1800–1817), Tamar Rebellion (1782), Kol Rebellion (1831–32), Bhumij Rebellion (1832–34), Ho Rebellion (1820–21), Santhal Hul (1855–57), Sardari Movement (1859–81), and Birsa Munda’s Ulgulan (1895–1902)
• All these movements aimed at protecting tribal identity and resisting exploitation and oppression
• Over time, the movement became more organized and structured

Christian Association

• Movement for separate identity started gaining roots with the spread of education among tribals
• In 1898, a few Lutheran graduates established the “Christian Association” to educate the tribal community
• With the inclusion of the Catholic community, it was renamed as “Christian College Union”
• In 1906, the “Roman Catholic Cooperative Society” was founded to empower backward tribal people

Dhaka Students’ Union (1910)

• The formal struggle for a separate state began in the early 20th century
• Political awareness started at St. Columbus College, Chaibasa
• J. Bartholomaen, along with Christian missionaries, established the Dhaka Students’ Union in 1910 to help poor tribal students
• Initially, the organization had limited and unclear activities and functioned as a religious, cultural, and student body
• In 1912, a branch was opened in Ranchi under Peter Howard
• The organization helped tribals access better education and employment
• In the same year, tribal students (Christian and non-Christian) started the “Chhotanagpur Charitable Association” to raise funds for students

Chhotanagpur Unnati Samaj (1915)

• Formed in 1915 by Christian tribals with the help of the Anglican Bishop of Ranchi
• Led by Theble Oraon, Bandi Oraon, Paul Dayal, and Joel Lakra
• In 1916, the organization raised issues related to protecting tribal culture
• Its goal was to uplift tribal society through social and political awareness
• In 1927, the British government formed the Simon Commission to review the 1919 Act
• In 1928, members of the Samaj, led by Bishop Von Hock and Joel Lakra, met the Simon Commission
• The Samaj partially succeeded in initiating a political movement against British rule
• It demanded special facilities and a separate administrative unit for tribals

Kisan Sabha (1931)

• Some leaders of the Unnati Samaj were unhappy with its urban middle-class bias
• They wanted representation of all classes of society
• In 1931, Paul Dayal and Theble Oraon formed the “Kisan Sabha”
• The Sabha had revolutionary ideas and believed in active (but non-violent) agitation
• Its ideology resembled that of the radical wing of the Indian National Congress
• In the 1937 elections, candidates of both Unnati Samaj and Kisan Sabha lost

Chhotanagpur Catholic Sabha (1936)

• Founded by Ignace Beck and Boniface Lakra with support from the Archbishop of Chhotanagpur
• Aimed at raising social and religious awareness, though it had significant political activity
• In the 1937 elections, the Sabha contested and won two seats
• Ignace Beck’s victory provided him legislative experience
• He believed a separate organization was needed to represent tribal interests, which national parties ignored

Adivasi Mahasabha (1938)

• Formed in 1938–1939 through the efforts of Ignace Beck
• Leaders of Chhotanagpur Unnati Samaj and other small organizations merged their entities to create this umbrella body
• The 1937 elections, under the 1935 Government of India Act, saw Congress gaining a majority and Muslim League winning 20 seats
• This development forced tribal leaders to reconsider their political roles in changing circumstances
• Both Christian and non-Christian tribals united under Adivasi Mahasabha, which became a major political platform
• Jaipal Singh joined the Mahasabha in March–April 1939 and later became its president
• His leadership style was assertive, making other tribal leaders appear moderate
• Jaipal Singh declared that Jharkhand belonged to tribals and had no place for non-tribal exploiters
• He was honored with the title “Marang Gomke” (Supreme Leader)
• The Adivasi Mahasabha moved beyond just self-governance and began actively seeking separation from Bihar
• The movement attracted not just urban but also rural tribals, who hoped for cultural revival and self-rule
• During World War II, Jaipal Singh supported the British and assisted in recruiting tribals into the army
• In the 1946 elections, Congress won, while Adivasi Mahasabha lost due to increasing interference from non-tribals in land, trade, and education
• The Mahasabha opposed the communal politics of the Muslim League, leading to the League distancing itself from the group
• The Mahasabha demanded proportional representation in Congress, which was denied
• It also demanded reservation for tribals in education and employment
• Initially limited to tribals, the Mahasabha later saw demands for inclusion of non-tribals
• Eventually, non-tribals formed the majority in the organization

Adim Jati Seva Mandal

• A government-supported voluntary organization with active involvement from Dr. Rajendra Prasad
• Aimed at countering the influence of Christian-supported Adivasi Mahasabha
• Provided free education and medical services to reduce Mahasabha’s impact

United Jharkhand Party / United Jharkhand Bloc (1948)

• Founded in 1948 by Justin Richard to establish a separate tribal state
• Later, the Adivasi Mahasabha merged into this party
• Richard also invited Jaipal Singh to join
• However, after the Kharsawan firing incident in January 1948, Richard lost faith in Jaipal Singh and the two parted ways

Formation of the Jharkhand Party (1950)

• Formed during the Adivasi Mahasabha session in Jamshedpur (1950).
• Result of the merger between:
  • United Jharkhand Party
  • Adivasi Mahasabha
• Main objective: To include non-tribals in the movement.
• Jaipal Singh’s influence had declined in the previous party structure.

Early Electoral Success and Statehood Demand

• In the first Legislative Assembly elections of unified Bihar, the party won 32 seats.
• A separate Jharkhand state became the party’s core demand.
• In 1953, it submitted a statehood proposal to the Fazal Ali Commission.
  • Commission members K.M. Panikkar and H.N. Kunzru toured Chotanagpur (Jan 10–27).
  • Protests and demonstrations by the party marked their visit.
• Proposed Jharkhand included:
  • 7 districts of Bihar
  • 3 from West Bengal
  • 4 from Odisha
  • 2 from Madhya Pradesh
• However, the party failed to justify the need for statehood before the commission.

Decline of the Jharkhand Party (Late 1950s–1960s)

Reasons for Decline:

• Leadership from urban backgrounds with no rural development strategy.
• Failure to achieve separate statehood.
• Government programs favored educated Christian elites, neglecting tribal masses.
• Disregard for tribal interests by party leaders.
• Rise of other political parties like:
  • Congress
  • Jan Sangh
  • Swatantra Party
  • Communist Party

Merger with Congress (1963)

• Initiated by Bihar CM Vinodanand Jha.
• Official merger date: 20 June 1963.
• Key Merger Conditions:
  • Creation of a Development Board for Chotanagpur & Santhal Pargana.
  • Establishment of a Congress sub-committee for regional development.
  • Agreement on complete political merger.
• Jaipal Singh became a minister but lost tribal support.
• Allegations surfaced that he accepted money for the merger, leading to further factionalism.

Rise of Factions Post-Merger

Key Factions:

• Sahdev Group
• Horo Group
• Paul Dayal Group

Election Commission Conflict:

• These factions failed to reclaim the original party symbol.

New Splinter Groups (1963–1968):

• Birsa Seva Dal
• Krantikari Morcha
• Chotanagpur Parishad
• Among them, Birsa Seva Dal was the most prominent.

All India Jharkhand Party (1967)

• Founded on 28 December 1967.
• Declared the 1963 merger with Congress unconstitutional and invalid.
• Split again in 1969–70:
  • Bagun Sumbrai retained the original party name.
  • N.E. Horo formed a new faction under the same name.

Birsa Seva Dal (1967)

• Founded by Lalit Kujur.
• Emerged as a non-Christian tribal movement due to internal religious rifts.
• 1968: Non-Christian tribals protested to exclude Christians from being classified as “tribal”.

Ideological Phases:

1. 1967–69: Dominated by extremist and militant ideology.
   • Tribals used traditional weapons during protests.
2. Post-1970: Rise of leftist ideology.

Hul Jharkhand Party (1968)

• Founded by Justin Richard in Santhal Pargana.
• Composed mainly of former Jharkhand Party members.
• Won 7 seats in 1969 elections.
• Split in 1970, with Shibu Murmu forming:
  • Bihar Progressive Hul Jharkhand Party

The Era of Fragmented Politics (1969–1980)

• Multiple splinter groups active in different regions.
• None strong enough to single-handedly lead the statehood movement.
• Political instability persisted in the Jharkhand region.

Notable Events:

• 1969: Coalition government in Bihar; efforts made for Jharkhand’s identity but failed.
• 1972: Congress won a landslide due to Bangladesh war victory.
• Regional demands were sidelined amidst rising nationalism.

N.E. Horo and the 1977 Elections

• Supported Congress, but lost due to Emergency backlash.
• His party managed to send two representatives to the assembly.
• Later supported the Janata Party, but with limited success.

Sonot Santhal Samaj (1969)

• Inspired and guided by Shibu Soren.
• Founded by educated Santhals.
• Aimed at:
  • Reviving tribal traditions and language.
  • Eliminating social evils like alcoholism and dowry.
  • Reclaiming illegally taken land.
  • Promoting education through night schools.

Formation of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) – 1973

• In the early 1970s, amidst the failure of existing political movements, a new party emerged—Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)
• Key founders:
  • Shibu Soren – Leader of Sonot Santhal Samaj, symbol of tribal culture and identity
  • Binod Bihari Mahato – Leader of Shivaji Samaj
• Initial campaigns by Shibu Soren:
  • Fight against exploitative moneylending
  • Advocacy of prohibition (alcohol ban)
  • Promotion of collective farming
  • Focus on tribal education
• Official formation:
  • Date: 4th February 1973
  • President: Binod Bihari Mahato
  • General Secretary: Shibu Soren
• Early support from Marxist Coordination Committee (MCC) and its leader A.K. Roy
• The collaboration led to a new era of labor and peasant movements
• Popular slogans:
  • “Jharkhand Lalkhand”
  • Emphasis on removing outsiders (“Dikus”)

Impact of Emergency (1975–1977)

• During the Emergency imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, both Shibu Soren and Binod Bihari Mahato were arrested
• This resulted in the temporary dormancy of the Jharkhand movement as key leaders were jailed
• In 1976–77, several parties including Jharkhand Party, JMM, and CPI (ML) came together
• New aggressive slogan: “Give Blood, We’ll Give Freedom”

Post-Emergency Political Climate

• Following the Emergency, anti-Congress sentiment dominated elections; Congress suffered heavy losses
• All major Jharkhand-based political parties united in support of statehood
• Home Minister Charan Singh and Janata Party’s manifesto supported state reorganization and decentralization
• A major debate began on Jharkhand’s geographic definition:
  • One faction supported Chotanagpur–Santhal Pargana region
  • N.E. Horo argued for a Greater Jharkhand, including parts of West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh
• Janata Dal supported the division of Bihar to create Jharkhand

Formation of New Political Groups (1973–1984)

• All India Jharkhand Party founded by Bagun Sumbrai in 1973
• In 1974 elections, Shashi Bhushan Marandi won a seat
• N.E. Horo formed another group under the “Jharkhand Party,” with Christodas Lagun winning
• The Emergency led to a rare political unification of tribal groups
• A massive rally in Patna (21 March 1978) was led by Shibu Soren and A.K. Roy

Setbacks and Internal Conflicts (1980–1984)

• In the 1980 general elections:
  • Shibu Soren became a Member of Parliament
  • JMM won 13 seats in the Bihar Assembly
• However, internal ambitions caused friction with MCC
• JMM eventually split:
  • One faction led by Shibu Soren
  • The other by Marandi
  • Binod Bihari Mahato sided with A.K. Roy
• Jharkhand Party lost prominence, with only N.E. Horo winning in 1984
• Major leaders like Soren, Roy, and Mahato lost elections, partly due to the Indira Gandhi assassination sympathy wave

Formation of Jharkhand Coordination Committee (JCC) – 1987

• Formed by merging JMM (Soren), JMM (Marandi), and smaller groups
• Objective: Unified effort for Jharkhand statehood
• June 1987, Ramgarh Conference:
  • 21 organizations formed a 25-member ad hoc committee
  • Dr. B.P. Keshri appointed convener
• December 1987: Committee submitted a memorandum to President Giani Zail Singh, demanding Jharkhand with 21 districts from 4 states
• BJP supported the movement for the first time
  • Kailashpati Mishra proposed a State Reorganization Commission
• JCC soon dissolved due to power struggle:
  • JMM demanded greater control, which was rejected
  • JMM withdrew from JCC

Emergence of AJSU (All Jharkhand Students Union) – 1986

• Founded: 22 June 1986 by Suryya Singh Besra, former JMM leader
• Aim: Involve students and youth in the statehood movement
• First rally held in Jamshedpur, attended by Ramdayal Munda
• Strategy: Expand movement by including intellectuals and academicians

Rise of Militant Tone – 1986 to 1987

• 19–21 October 1986:
  • A Students-Intellectuals Conference held at Sitaramdera, Jamshedpur
  • Leaders delivered fiery speeches advocating violent resistance
  • Suryya Singh Besra popularized the slogan: “Blood for Blood”
  • JMM leader Suraj Mandal declared: “Gandhian methods won’t get us Jharkhand…”
• 26 January 1987:
  • JMM and AJSU jointly called a bandh (strike) on Republic Day
  • Prior events included economic blockades, road blockades, and armed protests

Journey to Statehood: The Final Phase of the Jharkhand Movement (1986–2000)

Political Climate and Early Resistance (1986–1989)

• Between 1986 and 1997, both the Central and Bihar governments were led by the Congress Party, which opposed the creation of a separate Jharkhand state
• Despite opposition, growing momentum in the movement forced the central government to take notice
• On 26 November 1986, Union Home Minister Buta Singh announced a meeting with pro-Jharkhand MPs and MLAs, but it was later postponed
• In 1987, the Prime Minister’s Office made its first concrete move by forming a five-member team led by the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs
• The team was to visit tribal-majority areas in Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh, reflecting a shift in the central government’s approach
• Meanwhile, prominent Congress leaders in Bihar opposed statehood; CM Bindeshwari Dubey dismissed the demand as politically motivated, while MP Bhagwat Jha Azad declared that Bihar’s division would never be allowed
• Political instability gripped Bihar from 1987 to 1989, with three Chief Ministers in quick succession: Bhagwat Jha Azad, Satyendra Narayan Sinha, and Jagannath Mishra
• The Congress failed to address Jharkhand demands, prompting opposition parties to unite behind the movement

Expert Committee on Jharkhand (1989–1990)

• As the movement escalated with economic blockades and protests, the Centre responded by forming a 24-member expert committee on 23 August 1989
• Headed by S. Lally, Joint Secretary of the Home Ministry, the committee included 16 movement leaders, 4 officials, and 4 subject experts
• The committee toured 21 districts across four states and submitted its report to Parliament on 30 March 1990
• No further action was taken on the report

Political Shifts and New Parties (1990–1995)

• In 1990, Lalu Prasad Yadav became Bihar’s Chief Minister with external support from JMM
• Due to initial instability, his government failed to prioritize the Jharkhand issue
• In 1991, Dr. Ram Dayal Munda formed the Jharkhand People’s Party, which was plagued by internal divisions
• Other emerging parties included Jharkhand Kranti Dal and Jharkhand Vichar Manch

Formation of Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council (1992–1995)

• In 1992, Union Home Minister Shankarrao Chavan held talks with the Chief Ministers of Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh — all from non-Congress parties
• Bihar CM Lalu Prasad, backed by JMM, avoided taking a firm stance, stating it was a central issue
• A tripartite dialogue in 1994 between the Centre, Bihar government, and movement leaders led to the idea of a regional autonomous council
• On 20 December 1994, Bihar’s Planning Minister Tulsi Singh presented the Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council (JAAC) Bill in the state assembly, which passed without amendments
• After Lalu’s 1995 electoral victory, the JAAC was officially formed on 9 August 1995, with Shibu Soren as Chairman and Suraj Mandal as Vice Chairman
• However, the council never conducted elections; even the scheduled elections on 1 December 1997 were indefinitely postponed

The Vananchal Proposal and Renewed Opposition (1998–1999)

• In 1998, the BJP-led NDA government came to power at the Centre
• Based on the 1997 resolution passed by the Bihar Assembly, the NDA drafted the Vananchal State Reorganization Bill and sent it to Bihar
• Rabri Devi’s government opposed the bill; the Assembly extended JAAC’s term for the seventh time in the same year
• In August 1998, Lalu Prasad stated that Bihar’s division would happen only over his dead body
• On 21 September 1998, the Bihar Assembly rejected the statehood bill by a vote of 181 against and 107 in favor

Internal Rift in JMM and Electoral Developments (1999–2000)

• In 1999, a power struggle broke out between Shibu Soren and Suraj Mandal within JMM
• Ahead of the 2000 elections, Soren expelled Mandal from the party
• In the Assembly elections, JMM secured 12 out of 81 seats, while the BJP won 32 seats
• Following NDA’s return to power at the Centre in 1999, a revised bill for statehood was again sent to Bihar

Congress Support and the Final Approval (2000)

• Due to poor performance in the election, Lalu Prasad had to seek Congress support to form the government
• Congress agreed to support his government on the condition of endorsing Jharkhand statehood and power sharing
• Lalu Prasad reversed his long-standing position and approved the separation of 18 districts from Bihar
• On 25 April 2000, the Bihar Assembly passed the statehood bill forwarded by the Centre

Birth of Jharkhand (15 November 2000)

• In the early hours of 15 November 2000, a long-cherished dream came true
• Jharkhand officially became the 28th state of India, carved out of southern Bihar
• The formation date honored the birth anniversary of tribal icon Bhagwan Birsa Munda, symbolizing the culmination of a century-long struggle