Hul! Hul!: The Suppression of the Santal Rebellion in Bengal, 1855

The Santal Hul of 1855 was a significant uprising against the East India Company, but it has been forgotten due to the Indian mutiny-rebellion of 1857. Peter Stanley's book provides the first comprehensive interpretation of the Hul, investigating why it occurred, how it was fought, and why it ended. Despite the Bengal Army's counterinsurgency operations, the Hul ended amid starvation and disease, demonstrating that it was more than just an execution.

Format: Hardback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 24 February 2022
Publisher: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd

The Santal Hul (rebellion) of 1855, a significant uprising against the East India Company, has largely faded from historical consciousness. Despite involving 10% of the Bengal Army's infantry and resulting in the deaths of at least 10,000 Santals, this rebellion has been overshadowed by the more famous Indian mutiny-rebellion of 1857. While the memory of the Hul lingered among Santals, British officers provided limited information about it, and most of the sepoys involved perished in 1857. According to one British officer, the Hul was characterized as "not war... but execution," leading to its dismissal by military historians. In his groundbreaking work, Peter Stanley has delved into the origins, course, and consequences of the Hul, relying on the extensive reports of Bengal officers who suppressed it. Stanley's comprehensive interpretation reveals that the Hul was not merely an execution but a full-fledged war, marked by innovative counterinsurgency operations by the Bengal Army and the Santals' improvisational warfare. Despite the Bengal Army's efforts and the Santals' resilience, the Hul ultimately ended due to starvation and disease. However, Stanley's analysis goes beyond its bloody outbreak and protracted suppression, highlighting the far-reaching effects of the Hul on the region and its significance as a historical event. The rebellion not only challenged the authority of the East India Company but also had long-lasting impacts on the Santal community and the broader Indian society. By examining the Hul through a comprehensive lens, Stanley sheds light on a lesser-known chapter of Indian history, contributing to our understanding of the complexities and dynamics of colonialism and resistance in the 19th century.

Weight: 652g
Dimension: 149 x 225 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781787385429