TRIBAL MOVEMENTS AMONG THE HOS
The Ho
Rebellion in Singhbhum (1820-21)
In Singhbhum, the Hos
carried out their tactics of irregular warfare and rose in rebellion several
times to protect their freedom and check the exploiation by the British and the
local zamindars. As these were splendid fighting people popularly known as
Lar.ka Kols, the local rajas made full use of them as tools in the game of
power-politics in their quarrels with each other. By the end of May 1821, the
Hos surrendered themselves to the British under the threat of total
annihilation.
The Great
Kol Insurrection (1831-32)
The horrors of the 1820
uprising were still fresh in the memory of the authorities when towards the end
of the year 1831, another outbreak vastly more formidable in its magnitude
shook the entire length and breadth of the county. Tribals’ deep discontent
manifested itself once again in the Kol Insurrection (1831-32). The thikadars
or the lease holders had obtained from the young Maharaja temporary leases of
villages as payment for their goods sold to him. They took away the land of the
tribals and levied rents and other services from them. They demanded beth
begari or forced labour from the tribals. All the risings mentioned above were
against the dikus who were the new class of middlemen, zamindars, monelenders,
government officials and the British colonists at large.
Ganga
Narain Revolt in Manbhum and Singhbhum (1832-33)
While the government had
scarcely recovered from the Kol insurrection, the Bhumij Kols of Manbhum (Bar.abhum,
Patkum, etc.) Singhbhum (Dhalbhum) also broke out in open arms under the
leadership of Gnaga Narain Singh, a scion of Bar.abhum raj family. Bindrai
Manki, leader of the Kol Rebellion, also became a leader of this revolt. This
revolt was against the British administration and for deliverance from
rapacious landlords. The British suppressed this rebellion by sending a strong
military force. Ganga Narain fled to Singhbhum where he sought the help of the
Hos who were against the Thakur of Kharsawan, an ally of the British, against
whom Ganga Narain waged war and fell fighting in February 1833.
The
Haribaba Movement in Singhbhum (1930-31)
Led by Duka Ho, called
Haribaba, this movement swept through northern parts of Singhbhum and the whole
of the Ranchi district. It directed its attack against the bongas (spirits).
Everything suspected of bongas was discarded. Duka’s followers cut down the
trees of the sarnas (sacred groves), abodes of the spirits. The Haribabaites
worshipped Hanuman and wore the sacred thread. They insisted on cleanliness.
They did not eat meat and stopped drinking liquor. They believed that a saviour
would come and save them from oppression. The movement was influenced by the
Birsa movement. Haribaba was alleged to be seeking to unite the tribals with
the aim of restoring to them their pristine rule over lands and forests. He was
also considered a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi. The movement subsided with the
arrest of Haribaba.
Kripa
Sindhu and his Religious Movement among the Hos (1937)
Kripa Sindhu, a Ho master from the Dewabir village of the Sinua block in
Singhbhum, started a new religious movement. It aimed at removing the social
evils in the Ho society. For this purpose, the old method of worshipping and
festivals have been done away with. The followers of Kripa Sindhu have their
own Ho script.
Revitalisation
Movement among the Hos (1950-70)
Lakho Bodra, from the Paseya village in Singhbhum, undertook serious
attempts during 1950-70 to improve the cultural level of the Hos. His efforts
were concerned with cultural matters in general and also with religious and
political questions. He tried to revitalise the Ho culture by discarding some
social vices like pride price, beliefs in witchcraft, sacrifice of animals,
etc. and at the same time to draw the people under a cultural tradition in the
line of the Hindus. He has written several books on the language, religion and
customs of the Hos. He has used a special script devloped by himself.
