Sidhu Murmu and Kanhu Murmu were the leader of the Santhal rebellion (1855–1856), the native rebellion in present-day Jharkhand in eastern India against both the British colonial authority and the corrupt upper caste zamindari system.
On 30 June 1855, two Santhal rebel leaders, brothers Sidhu Murmu and Kanhu Murmu along with Chand and Bairab, mobilized about 10,000 Santhals and declared a rebellion against British colonists. The Santhals initially gained some success but soon the British found out a new way to tackle these rebels. Instead, they forced them to come out of the forest. In a conclusive battle which followed, the British, equipped with modern firearms and war elephants, stationed themselves at the foot of the hill. When the battle began, the British officer ordered his troops to fire without loading bullets. The Santals, who did not suspect this trap set by the British war strategy, charged with full potential. This step proved to be disastrous for them. As soon as they neared the foot of the hill, the British army attacked with full power and this time they were using bullets. Thereafter, attacking every village of the Santhals, they made sure that the last drop of revolutionary spirit was annihilated. Although the revolution was brutally suppressed, it marked a great change in the colonial rule and policy. The day is still celebrated among the Santhal community with great respect and spirit for the thousands of the Santhal martyrs who sacrificed their lives along with their two celebrated leaders to win independence from the rule of the Jamindars and the British operatives.
Sido Kanhu Murmu University is named upon them.
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