BIRSA MUNDA

BIRSA MUNDA 

Born on November 15, 1875, Birsa spent much of his childhood moving from one village to another with his parents. He belonged to the Munda tribe in the Chhotanagpur Plateau area.   His teacher was Jaipal Naga when his early education was at Salga.   He was guided to convert to Christianity to enable him to join in German Mission School.  He however opted out of this school a few years later.  He saw his tribal community people were being converted, not only for further education but also for pecuniary benefits.  The fervour with which the forced conversions were being done and also the tacit support to the same by the British Rulers and the agrarian policies of them, made him go against the British Rulers.   He started a new faith known as 'Birsait' which advocated that there is only one God.  This movement gained support from the tribals of Munda and Oraon community and they joined the new sect.  That posed a challenge to the forced conversions of the missionaries and this movement turned as a revolt on churches on the Christmas eve of 1899.  This faith nicknamed 'Darti Abba' or Father of the Earth, encouraged to get back their tribal roots and follow their traditions.   Between 1896 and 1890, Birsa Munda spend most of his times in Chaibasa  which was very close to the Sardar's agitation.  

The British brought in the Zanindari system and replaced the Khunkhatti system of joint landholding followed by the Tribals.  Soon the landowners among the tribals lost everything and reduced to forced landlabourers leading to more deprivations.   Birsa Munda not only formed a new faith, to resist the attempts of the British Rulers, he had a guerilla army too.  In fact, the end of Birsa Munda, when he was only 25 years, in the year 1900 came when he was arrested when he was with that army.  He was arrested in March 1900 and he died in June 1990 in Jail.  

The Chotanagpur Tenancy Act prohibiting Tribal Lands to be transferred to others was introduced a decade after his death.  His legacy still lives on, especially in Bihar and a century after his death, Jharkand State was formed.  It is because of Birsa Manda and other activists like him, the tribals in India had a voice to present their case for betterment of their livelihood. 

The Ranchi Airpot is named after him and called as Birsa Munda Airport.    Birsa Munda Tribal University is an university at Rajpipla, Narmada in the Indian state of Gujarat, established on 4 Oct 2014, after its formal inauguration by the then Minister of State for Tribal Welfare, Shabdasharan Tadvi.   Birsa Munda Park is in Dhanbad and it has walkway, leisure area, play area, toy train, various rides for children, canteen and plants of different species spread over 21 acres of land. It was opened in the month of November 2009.

Birsa Munda statue is in Bokaro Steel City.

Tribals have been serving the nation by adhering to the life that is one with the nature around.  Without disturbing much of their environment, development also should be done.  It is very easier said than done.