Birth Anniversary of Birsa munda

• November 15 marked the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, who was a freedom fighter and a tribal leader.
• He is remembered for his activism in the late 19th century against British India among other things all under the age of 25.

About Birsa Munda

Early life

• Born in Ulihatu village of present day Jharkhand, Birsa spent his childhood in abject poverty in a tribal Munda family.
• This was the time when exploitative British Raj started penetrating into the deep jungles of Central and Eastern India, disrupting the tribals, living in harmony with nature and natural resources.
• The Britishers introduced a feudal jamindari in Chhota Nagpur region, destroying tribal ‘Khuntkatti’ agrarian system.
• The Raj brought in the outsiders - moneylenders and contractors, as well as feudal landlords, which aided the British in exploitation of tribals.
• The unrelenting missionary activities continued to operate with the active support of the Raj, insulting and interfering in the religeo-cultural ethos of forest dwelling Adiwasis.

Later life

• Young Birsa grew up understanding how these colonial forces and the dikus ( outsiders -enemies of the Adiwasis) worked against the interests of the local people.
• This acted as a fuel to firm up his resolve to fight against this unholy nexus.
• During 1880s , young Birsa closely witnessed the SardariLarai movement in the region, which was demanding restoration of tribal rights, through non-violent methods of sending petitions to British Raj.
• However, the oppressive colonial regime paid no heed to these demands.
• The Jamindari system soon reduced the tribals from the status of the landowners to that of land labourer.
• The feudal set up intensified the forcedlabour (Vethbigari) in the forested tribal areas.
• The exploitation of poor, innocent tribals now reached a breaking point.
• It all culminated into Birsa taking up the cause of Adivasis.
• He showed a new light in matters of religious domain to the fellow tribals.
• He stood firm against missionaries who were belittling the tribal life and culture.
• At the same time, Birsa worked for refining and reforming the religious practices, discouraged many superstitious rites, brought in new tenets, new prayers, reformed many habits , and worked for restoring and reviving the tribal pride.
• Birsa impressed upon the adiwasis about “Sirmarefirun raja jai” or ‘victory to the ancestral king’ thus invoking sovereignty of the tribals’ ancestral autonomous control over the land.
• Birsa became a mass leader, and began to be considered as a Bhagwan and Dharati Aba For his followers.

Movement of Birsa Munda

• He made the tribals aware of the exploitative and atrocious nature of all vested interests.
• He knew who the real enemy were; i.e. along with the exploitative dikus, it was the oppressive British Rule.
• Birsa Munda had clearly identified that British Colonial Rule was the root cause of all the problems and oppressions.
• The Mundas , Oraons , other adivasis and non-adivasis responded to his call and joined ‘Ulgulan’ or revolt against the colonial masters and the exploitative dikus under the leadership of Birsa, for their social, economical, political and cultural emancipation.
• Birsa asked the people not to pay any rent, attacked the outposts of feudal, missionary and colonial British Raj authorities.
• With the traditional bows and arrows, the tribals of Central and eastern India waged an effective armed resistance against the British regime.
• In doing so, however, Birsa was careful that only the real exploiters were attacked, and the common people were not troubled.
• Birsa became an image of vitality and divinity.
• Soon he was captured by British police and lodged in jail, where he died in captivity on 9 June 1900.

Significance of his movement and life works

• Birsa Munda’s spirited struggle did not go in vain.
• The revolt compelled the British Raj to take cognisance of plight and exploitation of tribals and brought in ‘Chhota Nagpur Tenancy Act of 1908’ for protection of Adiwasis.
• This important act restricted the transfer of tribal land to non-tribals, giving huge relief for the tribals, and became a landmark legislation for protection of tribal rights.
• The British regime also took steps to abolish Veth Bigari or forced labour.
• Bhagwan Birsa Munda continues to inspire millions of Indians, even 121 years after his death .
• He is an icon of valour, courage and leadership.
• He was a leader who took great pride in his rich culture and great traditions, but at the same time , did not shy away from reforming his own faith wherever necessary.