The Santals are one of the largest groups of indigenous people (tribe) in the Indian sub-continent. They are found in the central and eastern states of India in Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Assam and beyond in Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. During the long history of ancient and modern India, they have been called by various names. The Aryans who followed and occupied their lands and civilization called them Ashurs and Naushad in Ramayan and Mahabharat although they were Kherwars. In response to Aryans, The Kherwar called themselves HOR, the human being and their religion HOR DHOROM. The name Santal, according to Skrefsrud (1868) was a corruption of Saontar which was adopted by Santals when they lived in the area around Saont now identified with Silda Pargana in Midnapore district of West Bengal. W.B Oldham was of the opinion that Santal is an abbreviation of Samantawala. Samanta was another name given to the country around Saont.
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