Tilka Manjhi – The First Freedom Fighter of Jharkhand (1780–1785)

Full Name: Tilka Manjhi (also known as Jabra Pahariya)
Birth: 11 February 1750, Tilakpur Village, Sultanganj Police Station, Bhagalpur District
Caste: Santal (Santhal) tribe
Father’s Name: Sundara Murmu

Personality and Skills

• An expert in archery and hunting wild animals
• Visionary, sociable, hardworking, and patriotic
• A skilled warrior who made his mark through courage and leadership
• One of the first rebels against British exploitation

Struggle Against the British

• Tilka Manjhi awakened the Santals:
  • About the exploitative policies of the British
  • Warned them of the “divide and rule” policy
  • During Mughal rule, Santals had freedom, which was taken away by the British

Reasons for Rebellion

• Raised his voice against British tax policy — no tax was levied from the hill tribes, but it was collected from others
• Due to this discriminatory policy, all classes united under the leadership of Tilka Manjhi

Initial Struggle

• In 1771, Warren Hastings was appointed Military Governor of Bengal
• In 1773, Augustus Cleveland was made the superintendent of Rajmahal region
• By 1779, Cleveland had won the support of 47 Pahariya chiefs for the British
• Yet, public discontent kept growing, and Tilka Manjhi led the rebellion

Beginning of the Santhal Rebellion

• In 1781, the Santhal rebellion began under the leadership of Tilka Manjhi
• The movement was initiated from a place called Vancharijor near Bhagalpur
• Adopted guerrilla warfare tactics, causing great trouble for the British

Major Incident

• On 13 January 1784, Tilka Manjhi killed Augustus Cleveland by shooting him with an arrow
• This event became a symbol of tribal resistance

Arrest and Sacrifice

• The British launched a major offensive, but Tilka Manjhi kept fighting while hiding in the hills
• Eventually, Sardar Jaurah betrayed and captured him
• Tilka Manjhi was brutally executed by hanging
• He is considered the first martyr of the tribal freedom struggle