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.