Rumour and its Historical Significance : A Critique of the Role of Rumours in Santal Hul of 1855-1856

Rumours are unfounded and their origin can never be traced but they always act as a crucial catalyst andorganizational tool in historical events.They instigate social unrest and revolution in shaping public opinion.They create a kind of brotherhood among different sections of society for common cause. They alsoinfluence historical narratives and provide a major trigger for revolution. Historically rumours played acrucial role in the Santal Hul of 1855-1856 as various kinds of rumours served to mobilize the Santalsand also fostered in them a sense of collective purpose. The rumours provided a religious sanction for theSantal Hul of 1855-1856 against their oppressors and foreign rule. Rumours spread in the Santal communitycreated public sensation that led to unity of Santals and others before the Hul. Admittedly Hull waspropelled by the belief that Heroes had received a divine message from the supreme God Thakur whoinstructed them to led the Santals against their all oppressors and establish their Swaraj. In short rumoursgave birth to a mass revolution better known as the Santal Hul of 1855-1856 in Indian History.