PM Pays Rich Tribute To Birsa Munda On 150th Birth Anniversary
By Nandini Rao
Commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of the tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda, PM Narendra Modi participated in the Tribal Pride Day celebrations in Jamui, Bihar on 15 November 2024. A beacon of resistance and resilience, Bhagwan Birsa Munda stands tall in the annals of Indian history. He was a towering figure in the freedom struggle and an fearless leader for tribal empowerment.
It was in 2021 when the government of India declared November 15 - the birthday of the revered tribal freedom fighter Dharti Aaba Bhagwan Birsa Munda - as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas or Tribal Pride Day.
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| PM Narendra Modi paying tribute to the tribal leader in Jamui |
Born in the late 19th century, Birsa Munda emerged as a formidable leader of the Munda tribe in the region now called Jharkhand. His life was a clarion call against the oppressive British colonial rule and the exploitative practices that plagued his community. With a vision far ahead of his time, Birsa championed the cause of tribal rights, advocating for the protection of their land, culture, and identity.
Birsa's leadership was not just about rebellion; it was about awakening a sense of pride and self-worth among his people. He inspired them to reclaim their heritage and resist the forces that sought to undermine their existence. His movement, often referred to as the Ulgulan or The Great Rebellion, was a powerful assertion of indigenous rights and a precursor to the broader struggle for independence in India.
One might say that Birsa Munda's life was a symphony of courage and conviction, each note resonating with the cries of his people and the echoes of their aspirations. His legacy is not confined to the pages of history but lives on in the hearts of millions who draw inspiration from his unwavering resolve.
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| Birsa Munda was a towering figure in India's freedom struggle |
The Voice of the Adivasis
Born on 15 November 1875 to Sugana Munda and Karmi Hatu in the small village of Ulihatu, now in Jharkhand, Birsa emerged as a leader who dared to challenge colonial oppression and the exploitation of his people. Known as the Dharti Aaba or the 'Father of the Earth,' he remains a symbol of tribal identity and resistance against British imperialism.
Birsa belonged to the Munda tribe, an Adivasi community with a rich cultural heritage deeply intertwined with nature. His formative years were marked by economic hardships that plagued the tribal communities under British rule. The colonial policies disrupted their agrarian way of life, alienating them from their ancestral lands. The introduction of the zamindari system and forced labour (beth begari) further exacerbated their plight.
While Birsa received formal education in missionary schools, it was his exposure to traditional tribal customs and folk wisdom that shaped his worldview. A turning point in his life was his association with Vaishnavism, which inspired him to advocate for social reforms among the Mundas, such as abandoning superstitions and uniting against oppression.
Birsa initially embraced Christianity and took the name Birsa David/Daud to gain access to education at a missionary school. He spent a significant portion of his childhood in Chaibasa, where the rising currents of the national movement left a lasting impact on him. However, his father later removed him from the missionary institution, which marked the beginning of Birsa's growing disillusionment with both the colonial government and the Christian missionaries.
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| Birsa Munda |
In the 1890s, Birsa began to rally his people, speaking out against the exploitation they endured under British rule. He condemned the British agrarian policies, which he saw as strangling the tribal communities and disrupting their traditional, nature-centered way of life. Equally troubling to him was the cultural subjugation imposed by the Christian missionaries, who sought to undermine the identity and traditions of the tribal people.
The Mundas had long practiced the Khunkhatti system, a communal approach to land ownership that ensured a fair distribution of resources. However, the British dismantled this system and replaced it with the oppressive Zamindari system. This change paved the way for outsiders to invade tribal lands, turning the indigenous people into virtual serfs on their own land. As exploitation deepened, the once self-sufficient communities were plunged into poverty, caught in a cycle of forced labour and disenfranchisement that suffocated their livelihoods.
The Ulgulan Movement
By the late 19th century, Birsa Munda had emerged as a charismatic leader, rallying his people to reclaim their dignity and rights. The Ulgulan, which he led in 1899-1900, was not merely a revolt against the British but a clarion call for the restoration of tribal sovereignty.
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| The letter released by the National Archives of India (Source: NAI) |
The British, alarmed by the growing influence of Birsa, unleashed brutal measures to suppress the rebellion. Despite his capture in February 1900 from Jamkopai forest in Chakradharpur and subsequent death in jail on 9 June 1900, reportedly due to cholera, Birsa’s legacy endured. He was only 25, yet his vision and sacrifice ignited a sense of unity and pride among the tribal communities of India.
On the 150th anniversary, the National Archives of India (NAI) released a demi-official letter, dated 3 January 1900, from C.W. Bolton, C.S.I., Chief Secretary to the Government of Bengal, to J.P. Hewett, Esq., C.S.I., C.I.E., Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department. The letter discusses the unrest caused by the Mundas in the Ranchi District, particularly in the south and southeast of Thana Kunti. It states: "...These disturbances are due to the reappearance of a young man, named Birsa Munda, who has for years carried on a religious agitation, proclaiming himself a prophet."
Today, Birsa Munda is celebrated as a national hero and a champion of Adivasi rights. His name is immortalised in institutions, museums, and public spaces across India. In 2000, the state of Jharkhand was created, coinciding with Birsa’s birth anniversary, as a tribute to his contribution to the tribal cause.
Birsa Munda’s life underscores the resilience of India’s indigenous communities and their enduring struggle for justice. His fight for the rights of the marginalised remains a powerful reminder of the importance of safeguarding tribal cultures, traditions, and lands.
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