The Santhal, a Great Adivasi People of Eastern India

Across the forested plateaus of Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha live the Santhal, one of the largest tribal communities of India and among the most ancient peoples of the subcontinent. Speakers of the Santali language, cultivators bound to field and forest, and famous throughout India for their music and dance, they are a community of great vitality, proud of a heritage that includes one of the most celebrated revolts in Indian history.

From the sacred groves of their Sarna religion to the harvest celebrations of Sohrai, from the graceful lines of their village dances to the Ol Chiki script created for their tongue, the Santhal carry a rich and distinctive Adivasi culture. This article traces their origins, language, homeland, society, religion, and traditions, and the story of a great indigenous people who rose against colonial oppression in the Santhal Hul.