Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, paid homage to the tribal freedom fighters of the Santali Hul Rebellion on the occasion of Hul Diwas, honouring their sacrifice in the struggle against colonial injustice.

In his post, the Prime Minister described Hul Diwas as a 'powerful symbol of the extraordinary spirit of our tribal community, who gave their lives for the motherland.' He extended his 'respectful tribute' to warriors including Sido-Kanhu, Chand-Bhairav, and Phulo-Jhano, who 'firmly resisted the injustice of foreign rule.'

Context

Hul Diwas is observed every year on 30 June to commemorate the Santali Hul Uprising of 1855, one of the largest peasant revolts in colonial India. The rebellion was led by brothers Sido and Kanhu Murmu along with their brothers Chand and Bhairav and sisters Phulo and Jhano, who mobilised tens of thousands of Santali tribals against the oppression of the British East India Company and local money-lenders in the Santhal Parganas region, now part of Jharkhand.

The uprising, which began on 30 June 1855 in Bhognadih village, is regarded as a precursor to the broader revolt of 1857. The word 'Hul' means 'revolution' in the Santali language, and the day holds deep cultural and historical significance for tribal communities across eastern India.

Policy Backdrop

The Modi government has consistently sought to foreground tribal contributions to India's freedom struggle as part of a broader cultural reclamation effort. The government designated 15 November — the birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda — as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas (Tribal Pride Day), a national observance first celebrated in 2021.

Schemes such as the PM Janman Yojana, launched in November 2023, specifically target Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), aiming to extend basic infrastructure and welfare to the most marginalised indigenous communities. The government has also expanded the Eklavya Model Residential Schools network to improve educational access in tribal regions.

Stakeholders and Impact

Hul Diwas is a state holiday in Jharkhand and is observed with particular fervour in West Bengal's Santhal-majority districts. Tribal communities across Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Bihar hold rallies, cultural programmes, and memorial gatherings on this day.

The Prime Minister's acknowledgement of Phulo and Jhano — the women warriors of the uprising — is notable, as their contributions have historically received less visibility than those of their male counterparts. The explicit mention signals continued political attention to tribal women's heritage.

What's Next

With Jharkhand being a key electoral battleground and tribal voters constituting a significant share of the electorate in several states, the BJP's cultural outreach around tribal history and identity is expected to continue intensifying. The government's framing of figures like Sido-Kanhu and Birsa Munda as national heroes — rather than regional icons — reflects an effort to weave tribal resistance into the mainstream narrative of India's independence movement.