http://www.krishokfederation.org/foodsovereignty/indigenous-organisations-came-together-in-dinajpur-to-fighting-for-their-future-jointly-observed-the-santal-peasant-revolt-day
Bangladesh
Krishok Federation (BKF), Bangladesh Kishani Sabha (BKS) and Bangladesh
Adivashi Samity (BAS) took the initiative and 11 other indigenous organisations
from greater Dinajpur region came together to fighting for their fundamental
rights. Constitutional recognition of the indigenous communities, forming an
independent land commission to ensure the land rights of the indigenous
citizens and taking the proper initiative to stop land grabbing of the Adivashis
are the key demands. Bangladesh Adivashi Mukti Morcha, Dinajpur Oraon Youth
Club, Dinajpur Adivashi Samaj Unnyon Somity, Northern Adivashi Cultural
Coalition, Northern Adivashi Student Coalition (NASU), Adivashi Student
Parishad, Bangladesh Minority Watch Dinajpur Chapter, Oraon Shisu-Kishor
Theatre, Santal Student Union (SASU), Adivashi Chatro Sangathone Habiprobi and
Dinajpur Adivashi Foram now active with the BKF, BKS and BAS campaigns for
indigenous and peasants rights.
On
the 7th of July 2018, BKF, BKS, BAS and other eleven organisations jointly observed
historical Santal peasant revolt day in Dinajpur. It was 1855; Santal uprising
was against ruthless exploitation of the British colonial rule. On 30th June
1855, a large number of Santals assembled in a field in Bhagnadihi village of
Santal Paragana (present Jharkhand, India). They declared themselves as free
and took oath under the leadership of Sido Murmu and Kanhu Murmu to fight to
the last against the British rulers as well as their agents.
Militant
mood of the Santals frightened the authority. A Police agent confronted them on
the 7th July and tried to place the Murmu brothers under arrest. The angry
crowd reacted violently and killed the Police agent and his companions. The
event sparked off a series of confrontations with the Company's Army and
subsequently reached the scale of a full-fledged war.
At the outset, Santal rebels, led by Sido and Kanhu, made tremendous gains and
captured control over a large tract of the country extending from Rajmahal
hills in Bhagalpur district to Sainthia in Birbhum district. However, the
rebels could not hold on to their gains due to the superior fire power of the
East India Company which was soon aimed heavily at them. Out of 50,000 Santal
rebels, 15,000 -20,000 were killed by the British Indian Army. The Company was
finally able to suppress the rebellion in 1856, though some outbreaks continued
till 1857.
The
Santal revolt had a long-lasting impact. Santal Parganas Tenancy Act was the
outcome of this struggle, which dished out some sort of protection to the
indigenous people from the ruthless colonial exploitation. A Santal territory
(Jharkhand) was born. The regular police was abolished and the duty of keeping
peace and order and arresting criminals was vested in the hands of parganait
and village headman.
Even
today Santal revolt is inspiring the indigenous communities and all other
agricultural communities to build strong campaigns to get all the rights. In
Dinajpur 11 more organisations raises their hands to support and join with the
BKF, BKS, BAS campaigns on the basis of the Santal revolt day inspiration as
well.
BAS
president Sree Bisawnath Singh presided over the meeting in the Dinajpur press
club. In the meeting BAS adviser Arif Khan Yousuf Zai was present as a chief
guest, whereas Rangpur divisional Hindu Federation leader Kamol Kantha
Karmakar, Minority Watch Dinajpur chapter leader Shyamal Banarjhi, Mikhail Tudu,
Rima Rebeka Murmu, Gaibandha District BRAC manager Bidhan Baskey, news editor
of Daily Janamath Latifur Rahman, Minoti Oraon and Dr Aziz were present as special
guests. In the meeting, speakers were vowed to keep the coalition strength and
intensify the campaign to preserve the indigenous rights as well as peasant
rights. After the meeting, a big procession rounds the different streets of Dinajpur city.
