Page 8 - NIS English 1-15 Feb, 2026

PERSONALITY | Tilka Majhi

Hero of the

Santhal Rebellion

Tilka Majhi, a Santhal tribal leader, launched a rebellion
against the British using only bows and arrows, nearly 80
years before the 1857 uprising. He organised the tribal
people into an army and led the famous Santhal Rebellion
in 1784. He raided the treasury of the British East India
Company with his community, for which he
was hanged to death. He not only displayed
indomitable courage against the British but also
inspired the entire nation to fight for independence.

Born: February 11, 1750 | Martyrdom Day: January 13, 1785

ndia’s past, present, and future are incomplete the British but also launched a campaign against
without the tribal community. Every step of the local moneylenders and landlords. In 1778, along
Icountry’s freedom struggle, every page of its with the Paharia chiefs, he freed the Ramgarh camp
history, is filled with tribal valour. One such hero from British control. In 1784, he killed Cleveland, the
was Tilka Majhi, who fought against the atrocities magistrate of Rajmahal. Following this, the British
of the British East India Company and sounded the pursued him relentlessly and eventually arrested
bugle of rebellion against foreign rule. This was him. After his arrest, the British dragged him to
at a time when there was no talk of any rebellion Bhagalpur, tied to a horse. On January 13, 1785, he
against the British. Even before the 1857 revolt, was hanged from a large banyan tree in the town
the ‘Damin Satyagraha’ was fought under his lead- square of Bhagalpur. This is why Tilka Majhi is also
ership in Santhal in 1784. This was a time when the called the first freedom fighter of India. Tilka Majhi
British were expanding their territory in every pos- Bhagalpur University in Bhagalpur is named after
sible way, gradually trying to shackle Maa Bharti in him. Additionally, the renowned Bengali writer
chains. Mahasweta Devi wrote a novel in Bengali about his
Born on February 11, 1750, in a Santhal family in life and rebellion, titled ‘Shalgirer Dake’, which has
Sultanganj, Bhagalpur, Bihar, Tilka Majhi, through been translated and published in Hindi as ‘Shalgirah
his bravery, not only troubled the British but also Ki Pukar Par’. On October 29, 2023, Prime Minister
never allowed the British rulers to sleep peacefully. Narendra Modi remembered Tilka Majhi in his
Majhi’s real name is said to be Jabra Paharia. It is said Mann Ki Baat programme. He said that India has a
that the name ‘Tilka’ was given to him by the British. rich history of tribal warriors. On this very land of
Once, a British officer saw the fierce, red eyes of India, the great Tilka Majhi sounded the clarion call
Majhi. In the Paharia language, ‘Tilka’ means an against injustice. Also, on February 24, 2025, at the
angry person with red eyes. This became his iden- inauguration of development projects in Bhagalpur,
tity in the documents, and the name ‘Tilka’ became Bihar, he said that this land has faith, heritage, and
immortal in history. Tilka Majhi, who waged a long the potential for a Viksit Bharat. This is the land of
struggle against British rule, never surrendered to martyr Tilka Majhi, and it is also the Silk City. He has
the British. He neither bowed down nor was afraid. also paid a respectful tribute to Tilka Majhi on other
He not only sounded the call for rebellion against occasions.n

6 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || February 1-15, 2026