SSC
The Santhal community is an ethnic group mainly of which part of India?
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Answer: Option D — Eastern India
Detailed Solution
The Santhals (Santals) are one of the largest tribal communities in India. They live mainly in the eastern states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Bihar, with smaller populations in Assam and Tripura, as well as in Bangladesh and Nepal. The Santhal Parganas division of Jharkhand is named after them.
Key facts about the Santhals:
Their language, Santhali, belongs to the Austroasiatic (Munda) family. It was added to the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution by the 92nd Amendment Act, 2003.
Santhali has its own script called "Ol Chiki", created by Pandit Raghunath Murmu in 1925.
Their main festivals include Sohrai (harvest festival), Baha (spring flower festival), Karam and Makar (Sakrat).
Their traditional village council is headed by the "Manjhi".
Their dances and music use drums such as the tamak and the tumdak, and the flute.
History:
In 1855-56, the Santhals rose against the British, landlords (zamindars) and moneylenders in the "Santhal Hul" (Santhal Rebellion), led by the brothers Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu, along with Chand, Bhairav and their sisters Phulo and Jhano. The rebellion was crushed, but it led to the creation of the Santhal Parganas district in 1855. "Hul Diwas" is observed on 30 June.
Droupadi Murmu, who became the 15th President of India in 2022, belongs to the Santhal community. She is the first person from a tribal community to hold the office.
Why not the other options?
- ✗North-western India has tribes such as the Gaddi and Gujjar.
- ✗Southern India has tribes such as the Toda, Irula and Kani.
- ✗Western India has tribes such as the Bhil and Warli.
Quick tip
Remember: Santhals = Eastern India (Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha); Santhali in the Eighth Schedule (2003), script Ol Chiki (Raghunath Murmu); Santhal Hul 1855 (Sidhu-Kanhu); President Droupadi Murmu.
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Paintings, Crafts, Dress & Tribes — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Paintings, Crafts, Dress & Tribes, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India's traditional painting styles (such as Madhubani, Warli, Pattachitra, Kalamkari, Gond and Tanjore), handicrafts and textiles, traditional dresses, and the major tribes of each state and their customs. It also includes Geographical Indication (GI) tags given to crafts and products. Questions usually ask which state a painting or craft belongs to, which tribe lives in a region, or what a traditional dress is called. Warli belongs to Maharashtra, Madhubani to Bihar, Pattachitra to Odisha and West Bengal, and Gond art to Madhya Pradesh. Grouping tribes by state, and noting the largest tribe of key states (such as the Bhils and the Santhals), helps with elimination. Practise the paintings, crafts and tribes questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.