Why did Santhals revolt against zamindars, moneylenders and the colonial state during 18th century ? Explain.
Santhals revolted against zamindars, moneylenders and the colonial state during 18th century because:
(i) Santhals were restricted from moving down to the lower hills and valleys, they were confined to the dry interior and to the more barren and rockey upper hills. This severely affected their lives, impoverishing them in the long term.
(ii) The santhals, however, soon found that the land they had brought under cultivation was slipping away from their hands.
(iii) The states wss levying heavy taxes on the land that the Santhals had cleared.
(iv) Money lenders were charging them high rates of interest and taking over the land when debts remained unpaid and zamindars were asserting control over the Damin area.
