BODY-MARKING & THE SANTAL HUL OF 1855

During the great Santal Hul of 1855, these body markings acquired a new meaning. When the Santals revolted against colonial rule under the leadership of Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand and Bhairo, ‘Khoda’ and ‘Shika’ became visible symbols of ethnic identity, unity and resistance. Along with the Santals, the Munda, Oraon, Ho and Birhor communities also had the tradition of wearing these tattoos and they too became victims of British state oppression. The British administration, on the contrary, tried to portray these marks as symbols of “uncivilisation” and “savagery.” E.G. Man’s Sonthalia and Sonthals (1861) is an example of that colonial viewpoint, where tattoos were depicted as symbols of criminal tendency according to European ideas. Read the full article at the link in comments