Birsa Munda

Birth anniversary of Birsa Munda was recently celebrated across the country.

About Birsa Munda:

• Birsa Munda was a young freedom fighter and a tribal leader during the late 19^th century, who had protested against British rule in India.
• He was born on 15 November 1875.
• He belonged to the Munda tribe in the Chhotanagpur Plateau area of Jharkhand.
• He was called ‘Dharti Abba’ (father of the earth) due to his greatness and achievements to free the tribals.
• He was also known as Birsa Bhagwan, amongst his followers.
• To recognise his impact on the national movement, the state of Jharkhand was created on his birth anniversary in 2000.
• Government of India has declared 15^th November as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas in his memory in 2021.

Creation of Birsait:

• He had received his early education under the guidance of his teacher Jaipal Nag, who recommended him to convert to Christianity in order to join the German Mission school.
  • He later left the school.
• He had gained awareness about the efforts of the missionaries to convert tribals to Christianity.
• In response, he had started the faith of ‘Birsait,’ which was joined by the members of the Munda and Oraon community.
• A strict code of conduct was laid down where theft, lying, murder and begging was prohibited.  

Seeds of rebel against Britishers:

• Between 1886 to 1890, Birsa Munda had spent more time in Chaibasa which was central to the Sardars agitation.
• Their activities had a strong impact on the mind of the young Birsa, who soon became a part of the anti-missionary and anti-government program. 

Ulgulan movement (1899):

• He rebelled against the Chhotnagpur Tenancy Act, 1908, the legislation that aimed to alienate tribal land, by using weapons and guerrilla warfare techniques.
• He mobilised the tribals who were suppressed for long by the Dikus (nontribals) and the intermediaries like Thikadars, money lenders and Zamindars who tried to exploit the tribals constantly.
• His famous quote was “Maharani raj tundu jana oro abua raj ete Jana“, meaning the tribals shall end the rule of the queen and re-establish their own kingdom.
• In 1900, he was arrested by the British police while he was sleeping with his tribal guerilla army at Jamkopai forest in Jharkhand.
• He died in Ranchi jail on June 9, 1900 at an age of 25. 

Ref: Source