Political History of Santal Parganas : From 1765 to 1872
Contents: Foreword. Preface. 1. A brief survey of the history of the Santal Parganas down to 1765. 2. The period of early contact of the English East India Company with the Santal Parganas. 3. The establishment of Damin-I-Koh. 4. The Santal Hul of 1855. 5. The period of renewed unrest in Santal Parganas during 1858-1870. 6. Conclusion. Appendices. Select glossary. Select bibliography. Index.
“This is the first full-length systematic study of the political history of Santal Parganas from 1765 to 1872. Based mainly on the Archival research and Govt. letters, it shows how Santal Parganas played a very significant role in the political history of British Raj in India and how the Santals took part in the struggle for India’s emancipation from British and ‘diku’ oppression. The author is of firm opinion that the Santal Rebellion of 1855 was a prelude and precursor to India’s First War of Independence.
After describing briefly the history of Santal Parganas till 1765, the author studies the period of early contact of the English East India Company, contact with the Paharias of Rajmahal area, policy of pacification and schemes for their benefits, establishment, aims, objectives and effects of Damin-I-koh, the genesis, nature and effects of Santal ‘Hul’ or rebellion of 1855, the period of renewed unrest in Santal Parganas and the enactment of Regulation III of 1872 “for the peace and good Government of the Santal Parganas”, the Magna Carta of Santal Rights.
Author fully agrees with Prof. Jagadish Narayan Sarkar that no history is eternal and sacrosant. With changing times, discovery of fresh materials and advance of knowledge, history needs to be written and re-written in successive generations even if it is based on an exhaustive use of source-materials and marked by critical spirit and objectivity. It is only rarely that a book on history fulfils these qualities. But then new points of view, new angles of approach naturally crop up, which may render a book liable to revision or entail writing history anew in a sober and dispassionate spirit.” (jacket)
