Birsa Munda: A Visionary Freedom Fighter and Pioneer of Tribal Rights

Birsa Munda was a youthful freedom fighter, tribal leader, and cultural reformer who opposed British colonial control in India. Birsa Munda's rebellion against the British, which used the phrase "Abua Desh Me Abua Raj" (Our Rule in Our Country), is recognized as one of India's most significant pre-independence tribal movements. He encouraged indigenous people by teaching them about their rich culture and rights. He established a new religion known as "Birsait" to reform and strengthens the tribal culture. Birsa Munda made significant contributions to Indian history, as detailed below: 

Childhood and Early Life

Birsa Munda was born November 15, 1875, in Ulihatu, Ranchi. He was born to Sugana Munda and Karmi Hatu of Jharkhand's Munda tribal group. Birsa spent the majority of his youth travelling from one location to another with his family. Due to poverty, he was sent to his maternal uncle's hamlet, Ayubhatu, where he spent two years. Birsa Munda acquired his early schooling at a school in Salga administered by Jaipal Nag. He was a bright student who was encouraged by Jaipal Nag to attend a German missionary school. As a result, he converted to Christianity and enrolled in school under the name Birsa David. However, he dropped out of school some years later, realizing that the British were using education as a guide to further their agenda of religious conversion.

Foundation of Birsait Faith

After dropping out of school, Birsa Munda founded the 'Birsait' faith. This faith was built on the significance of prayer, abstaining from drinking, having confidence in God, and following a code of conduct. Members of the Munda community quickly began adopting the faith, posing a threat to British efforts. The Birsaits publicly said that the British were the true adversaries, not Christian Mundas.

Background of Ulgulan Revolt:

During the nineteenth century, the British colonial administration accelerated the transition of the tribal farming economy to a feudal state. Because the tribals were unable to create a surplus using their primitive ways, the chiefs of Chhotanagpur allowed non-tribal peasants to live on and cultivate the land, resulting in the alienation of the tribals' lands. The new class of "Thikadars" (or contractors), who arrived as merchants and moneylenders, were keen to make the most of their assets. By 1874, the authority of the traditional Munda or Oraon leaders had been nearly completely replaced by that of farmers brought by landowners. In other places, they had totally lost their ownership rights and were demoted to the position of farmer. 

The incidence of "forced labour" or "beth begari" has also grown considerably. Another alteration linked with the British administration was the establishment of Anglican and Catholic missions. To address the dual issues of agricultural collapse and culture change, these tribals, led by Birsa Munda, responded to a series of revolts and uprisings.

The Call for Ulgulan: The Great Tumult

Birsa Munda began the Great Tumult, also known as Ulgulan, in opposition to local authorities' exploitation and persecution of tribals. The revolt occurred in the Chotanagpur area (near Ranchi, Jharkhand) in the late nineteenth century. The rebellion was mostly focused on the Munda belt of Khunti, Tamar, Sarwada, and Bandgaon. The movement, known as 'Ulgulan' or the 'Great Tumult', attempted to create the Munda Raj by driving away the British.

The Munda Raj's primary goal was to prevent the enactment of unfair colonial policies, notably those aimed at robbing tribal tribes of their ancestral lands, and to seek independence and autonomy for Mundas. Beyond its political and administrative functions, the Munda Raj was instrumental in revitalizing and conserving Munda culture. Traditional habits, dialects, and rituals were revived in an effort to strengthen the Mundas' feeling of identity and pride.

Martyrdom:

Birsa Munda's protest drew the attention of colonial officials, prompting his imprisonment in 1900. Tragically, he died due to illness while in detention, giving the ultimate sacrifice for a cause he deeply believed in. His death dealt a crushing blow to the revolt, and the British utilized their military might to put down the uprising with continuous counterattacks. Many insurgents were captured, imprisoned, or executed, and the uprising was effectively put down by the mid-1900s. Despite being defeated, the insurrection demonstrated the tribals' ability to combat injustice and oppose oppression.

Result of Birsa Munda's Revolt: The Chotanagpur Tenancy Act

As a result of the revolt, the British passed the Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act of 1908. The CNT Act not only required the development and maintenance of land records, but it also established a new tenure category known as "Mundari Khuntkattidar" (the original settler of the land among Mundas) and limited the transfer of tribal land to non-tribals. The CNT Act also included provisions for registering customary community rights, such as those relating to water, forest, and land (Jal, Jungle, and Zameen), all of which protected tribal tribes' land rights.

His Legacy in Modern Times

Birsa Munda died young, at the age of 25, in a British prison, yet his spirit lives on, inspiring future generations. The Indian government has taken many initiatives to recognize Birsa Munda's contributions to Indian history. His birth anniversary is known as "Birsa Munda Jayanti" in Jharkhand and other areas of India and is celebrated as "Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas" every year. The Indian government has additionally issued a postage stamp in his honour.

In 2016, the government-sanctioned ten tribal freedom warrior museums around the nation in response to the Hon'ble Prime Minister's address on Independence Day 2016. Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi is named after him, and his monument resides inside the Parliament House of India. In 2023, the Government of Odisha publicly recognized Bhagwan Birsa Munda's significant efforts by naming the high-tech Hockey Stadium in Rourkela as the Birsa Munda Stadium, where the Hockey World Cup was hosted.

Wrapping Up:

Birsa Munda's struggle is an important element of India's sociocultural and historical narrative. His leadership and ability to mobilize people earned him the title of "Dharti Aba" or "Father of Earth". His efforts will always be remembered for emphasizing the need to recognise and preserve indigenous populations' rights, as well as for highlighting the contributions of tribals to India's liberation movement.