English: Distribution of Sari Dharam, 1961 census
According to the 1961 Census, Sari Dharam had 35,928 adherents in India, all belonging to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities of West Bengal. Among them, 81.1% were enumerated in Bankura district, specifically 0.01% in Onda, 7.0% in Khatra, 0.3% in Indpur, 38.0% in Ranibandh, 35.5% in Raipur, and 0.3% in Simlapal police circles. The remaining 18.9% were recorded in Purulia district, all under the jurisdiction of Manbazar police circle.

“Saridharma as a religion has been returned for the first time at the 1961 Census. It has been recorded as the religion of 35,928 persons in the State, all of whom are tribals, chiefly Santals, enumerated in the districts of Bankura and Purulia.  ...   'Sari' means truth. Saridharma may therefore mean either true religion or religion based on truth. The Special Officer for Tribal Welfare, Purulia, reports that the founder of Saridharma was one Sadhuram Murmu of village Khamarbandi, Pargana Silda in the Midnapore district who sub-divided the Santals in three groups, viz., (i) the Um-hor, i.e., the Christians, (ii) the Saka-hor, i.e., the followers of Lord Siva and lastly (iii) the Bonga-hor i.e., the followers of Saridharma.”

Data source:

• Tables on Scheduled Tribes, Part V-A (ii), Vol-XVI, West Bengal & Sikkim - Census 1961 pp. XLVII-XLVIII

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POV Note: This map of India uses 2024 international boundaries and 1961 internal boundaries for a retrospective view.¹

¹Boundary reference: Census Atlas 1961; Indian Administration Map 1951–2011.