The correct option is Moneylenders and traders
Explanation
The Santhal Rebellion (1855-56), also known as the Santh, was a massive tribal uprising in the Damin-i-Koh region (modern-day Jharkhand and parts of West Bengal). It was directed against the oppressive economic system imposed by the British administration and its intermediaries.Analysis of the Term "Dikus"
- Definition: In the context of the Santhal Rebellion, the term "Dikus" referred to outsiders, specifically non-tribal people who entered the Santhal territory.
- Composition: This group primarily included moneylenders (mahajans), traders, and zamindars (landlords).
- Role in the Rebellion:
- The British administration encouraged the Santhals to settle in the Rajmahal Hills to practice settled agriculture.
- However, the introduction of the Permanent Settlement and the market economy brought moneylenders and traders into the region.
- These "Dikus" exploited the Santhals by charging exorbitant interest rates (sometimes ranging from 50% to 500%) and seizing their lands when debts could not be repaid.
- The Santhals viewed the Dikus as the primary cause of their misery and enslavement. The rebellion, led by Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu, aimed to expel these outsiders and end the British rule that protected them.
Why other options are incorrect:
- British military officers: While the Santhals fought against the British military, the specific term "Diku" was a socio-economic label for the exploitative outsiders (moneylenders/traders), not specifically military personnel.
- Paharia tribal chiefs: The Paharias were the original inhabitants of the Rajmahal Hills whom the Santhals displaced, but "Diku" specifically referred to the non-tribal economic exploiters.
- Christian missionaries: While missionaries were present, the term "Diku" was not primarily directed at them in the context of the economic exploitation that triggered the 1855 rebellion.