Birsa Munda was an Indian tribal freedom fighter, religious leader, and folk hero. he belonged to the Munda tribal. He started the tribal religious movement against British rule in the 19th century in the Bengal Presidency. The revolt mainly was in the Munda belt of Khunti, Tamar, Sarwada and Bandgaon. Birsa Munda is best known for revolting against the conversion activities and challenging the Christian missionaries along with the Munda and Oraon communities.
Birsa Munda's Early Life and Background
- Name : Birsa Munda
- Born : 15th Nov 1875, Ulihatu, Lohardaga district, Bengal Presidency
- Father Name : Sugan Munda
- Mother Name : Karmi Hatu
- Movement : Indian Independence Movement
- Died : 9th June 1900, Ranchi Jail, Lohardaga district, Bengal Presidency
Birsa Munda was born on 15 November 1875, in Ulihatu, Lohardaga district, Bengal Presidency. He had a younger brother, two elder brothers and two elder sisters. His family belonged to Munda tribal community. His family left Ulihatu and moved to Kurumbda in search of employment.
Birsa Munda spent his early childhood days with his parents at Chalkad. Like other Munda children, he used to play in the dust and mud and feed the sheep. When he grew up a bit, he became interested in playing the flute and became an expert in it.
Due to poverty, Birsa Munda was taken to his maternal uncle’s village where he lived for two years. His mother's sister was very attached to him, so after her marriage, he went with her in a new house.
Birsa Munda went to school at Salga run by Jaipal Nag. Birsa Munda was very good in studies. Jaipal Nag persuaded him to join German Mission School. Due to this he was converted to Christianity and was renamed as Birsa David. After few years he left that school.
As an activist
From 1886 to 1890, Birsa Munda stayed at Chaibasa. He was influenced by the national movement there. He developed a strong anti-Government stamp on his mind from there. In 1890, after leaving Chaibasa Birsa Munda and his family gave up their membership in the German mission and reverted to their traditional tribal religious system.
Later, Birsa Munda involved in the popular movement which was against the laws enforced upon the traditional rights of the Mundas in the protected forest in the Porhat area. During 1890's he started speaking to his people about the exploitation done by the British. The British harsh agrarian policies were killing the tribal people and disrupting their life.
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| Birsa Munda with his tribal people |
Birsa Munda emerged as a successful leader and revolted against the dual challenge of agrarian policy and conversion of tribal people to Christianity by the Christian missionaries. The tribal movements gained momentum under his leadership.
The Khunkhatti system of joint landholding was followed by the Mundas.The British replaced this egalitarian system with the Zamindari System due to which, outsiders entered the tribal landscape and started exploiting them. They became a labourer in their own place and started living in poverty. In 1894, Birsa Munda announced his declaration against the British and the Dikus (outsiders) and thus began the Munda Ulgulan.
New Religion
Many tribals had already converted to Christianity by the Christian missionary. Birsa Munda opposed and criticized the Church and its practices such as levying of taxes and religious conversions. He himself became a preacher and a representative of their traditional tribal religion, and soon, he built up a reputation of a healer, a miracle-worker, and a preacher.
Birsa Munda built up a reputation of a healer, a miracle-worker, and a preacher. Many Mundas, Kharias and Oraons accepted him as their leader. Many other Hindus and Muslims also flocked to see the new leader of the masses. He started to advised the people and became a saint for their people.
The Tribal Movement
The slogan "Abuja Raj Knows It, Maharani Raj Tundu" which means ("Let the kingdom of the queen be ended and our kingdom be established") of Birsa Munda threatened the British. Birsa Munda renounced Christianity and asked his tribal people to worship one God. He declared himself a messenger of God who came to recover the lost kingdom to his people. He ordered farmers not to pay taxes.
On 24 August 1895, Birsa Munda sentenced to two-year imprisonment due to a rumor that those who didn't follow Birsa would be massacred. After his release from jail, he went to Chutia with his followers to collect the record and to re-establish racial links with the temple.
Birsa Munda went underground for two years because the Christian missionaries wanted to arrest him but he attends the secret meetings. In 1899, nearly 7000 men and women were assembled on Christmas to start the Ulgulaan revolution which soon spread to Khunti, Tamar, Basia, and Ranchi.
Birsa Munda's followers killed two police constables at Etkedih on 5 Jan 1900, after two days they attacked the Khunti police station, killing a constable and razing the houses of local shopkeepers. The local Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner rushed with 150 men to suppress the growing rebellion. The troops attacked and defeated Munda's guerillas at Dumbari Hill, but Birsa Munda escaped to the Singhbum hills.
On 3 February 1900, Birsa Munda was arrested at Jamkopai forest in Chakradharpur. His 63 followers were also convicted for different criminal cases according to Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi.
On 9 June 1900, Birsa Munda died during his prison trials.
Honour
There are several bodies, structures and organizations named after him to pay homage, some of these are :
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| Birsa Munda Statue |
- The Mundas called him Dharati Aaba, the father of earth.
- Birsa Munda Airport Ranchi
- Birsa Institute of Technology Sindri
- Birsa Munda Vanvasi Chattravas, Kanpur
- Sidho Kanho Birsha University, Purulia and Birsa Agricultural University
- The Statue of Ulgulan is a proposed 150-foot-tall statue of Birsa Munda to be built in Jharkhand with stones collected from households in the region.
