Why London started trembling with Jabra Tilka Manjhi… tied to horses and dragged him/her, hanged him/her on a banyan tree in front of the crowd

New Delhi: Famous Bengali writer Mahasweta Devi wrote a novel ‘Shalgirar Dake’ in Bengali language on the rebellion of the brave tribal Tilka Manjhi of Jharkhand. This novel was published in Hindi with the name ‘Shalgirah Ki Pukar Par’. It is written at some place in this novel that Jabra Pahadia had seen such atrocities of the British since childhood that when he/she grew up, he/she became a rebel. he/she took up the bow and arrow to free the tribal society from the chains of British rule. The most popular among the Paharia fighters of Chhota Nagpur, Jharkhand is the tribal rebel Jabra or Jaurah Paharia i.e. Tilka Manjhi. This same Tilka Manjhi hanged himself laughing. Later, thousands of tribal freedom fighters, while walking on the path of Jabra Pahadia and climbing the gallows, sang this song – Hansi-Haansi Chadbo Phansi… Know the indelible saga of Tilka Manjhi of Jharkhand, which still resonates in folk songs.

Like Roman, Jabra Paharia took on the British.

The world’s first primitive rebel is considered to be Rome’s ancestral tribal warrior Spartacus. In the history of India’s colonial wars, the credit for being the first tribal rebels goes to the fighters of the Pahadia tribal community who fought against the British rule in the hills of Rajmahal, Jharkhand. The most important among these were the Jabra hills.

Some described Mahasweta Devi as Santhal and some as Pahadia.

There is a difference of opinion regarding the community of Tilka Manjhi. But, in Mahasweta Devi’s novel, Mahasweta Devi has described Tilka Manjhi as a Santhal tribal of Murmu gotra. At the same time, Hindi novelist Rakesh Kumar Singh has shown Tilka Manjhi as Jabra Pahadia in his/her novel ‘Hul Pahadia’. Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University was established in Bhagalpur in the name of Tilka Manjhi.

When the mind was filled with hatred, Santhal Hool started.

Since childhood, Jabra suffered and witnessed the atrocities of the British on his/her family and tribals. The British rulers had authority over the cultivable land and wild trees of the poor tribe. The British used to commit atrocities on tribal people, children, women and old people. Sardars settled their lands on the hills and they also fought with the British government to protect their lands. The hills were inhabited by landlords and they kept the British people happy in return for money. It is from here that Santhal Hool started.

Jabra never surrendered before the British

Jabra Pahadia i.e. Tilka Manjhi was a brave tribal of the Pahadia community who challenged the British rule in India. he/she never surrendered before the British. The Jabra Pahadiyas of Singarsi Pahad, Pakur fought a long and never-ceasing war against British rule from 1771 to 1784.

Rebels like Ramna Pahari, Kariya Pujahar and Jabra etc.

Jabra Pahadia gave sleepless nights to the local moneylenders, feudal lords and the British. Among the Paharia fighters, Sardar Ramana Ahadi, Kariya Pujahar, resident of Amgachhi mountain, and Jabra Paharia, resident of Singarsi mountain, are the original rebels of India.

Jabra drove away the British from Ramgarh camp

In 1778, Jabra, together with the Pahadia chieftains, drove away the British who had captured the Ramgarh camp and liberated the camp. Using bows and arrows, they fired such a volley of arrows at the British armed with guns that the British had to run away.

When war was declared against the British

One day Tilka declared war against the British at a hilly place called Bancharijor. Tribal warriors under the leadership of Tilka were moving towards the forest areas of Bhagalpur and Sultanganj. They were fighting the British soldiers on the palace grounds. The British government became troubled by his/her all-round attack. The tribal community under the leadership of Tilka Manjhi attacked the British so much that the British Collector Cleveland was called to handle the situation.

Tilka defeated the British in guerrilla warfare.

While Cleveland camped in the Rajmahal Hills with his/her army and police, Tilaka fought a guerrilla war with the tribals. Tilka Manjhi, who roamed in the forests, rivers and hills, would suddenly attack the British army with his/her small army of indigenous weapons. Kept fighting continuously against the British in Bhagalpur, Santhal and Pargana.

British collector was pierced with arrows, died

Tilaka’s soldiers secretly started shooting arrows at the English army. Tilka climbed a palm tree. At the same time Cleveland arrived on horseback. At the same time, on January 13, 1784, Tilka killed Superintendent Cleveland with his/her arrows. News of Cleveland’s death reached London, shaking the English government. After this, Governor General Warren Hastings took charge.

Jabra was tied to horses and dragged to the crossroads

After the death of Cleveland, the English government sent Sir Ayrkut to regain the lost credibility of the British Raj. Ayrakut ambushed Jabara’s guerrilla force and launched a massive attack, killing many fighters and arresting Jabara. Jabra was tied to four horses and dragged to Bhagalpur. It is said in some folk songs that despite being dragged for miles, Jabra i.e. Tilka did not stop breathing.

When he/she was hanged on a banyan tree, the other fighters also hanged themselves.

Even the British were scared after seeing his/her blood soaked body. The British then publicly hanged him/her on a big banyan tree situated at the crossroads of Bhagalpur. On January 13, 1785, Jabra Paharia i.e. Tilka Manjhi was hanged laughingly in front of a crowd of hundreds. Later, thousands of tribal freedom fighters, while walking on the path of Jabra Pahadia and climbing the gallows, sang this song – Hansi-Hansi Chadbo Phaansi…!