The birth anniversary of the renowned tribal leader Birsa Munda, which falls on the 15th of November, was commemorated by the Prime Minister. Notably, this date also marks the official formation of the State of Jharkhand in the year 2000, which was carved out from Bihar.
Profile of Birsa Munda
Born on 15th November 1875, Birsa Munda hailed from the Munda tribe located in the Chotanagpur Plateau area. Also referred to as Dharti Aaba or Father of the Earth, Munda gained recognition for rallying the tribal community against British colonization. His efforts compelled colonial officials to implement laws safeguarding the land rights of the tribal people.
The Birsait Sect
In response to the Christian conversion attempts aimed at the tribal community by missionaries and the perceived injustices of the British colonial rule, Munda initiated the ‘Birsait’ faith. This new sect quickly gained followers from the Munda and Oraon communities. It not only challenged British conversion activities but also promoted positive societal changes such encouraging its followers to give up drinking alcohol, maintain cleanliness in their villages, and stop practicing witchcraft.
Munda Rebellion: A Significant Tribal Movement
In the late 19th century, Birsa Munda led a significant tribal movement known as the Munda Rebellion. The rebellion, taking place primarily south of Ranchi, identified several causes as contributing to the misery of the Munda people. These included disruptive land policies by the British, exploitative practices of Hindu landlords and moneylenders, and criticism of their traditional culture by missionaries.
The Munda Rebellion, also referred to as the ‘Ulgulan’ or the ‘Great Tumult’, was seen as a fight to establish Munda Raj and expel the British from their lands.
Birsa Munda’s followers targeted symbols of diku (outsiders) and European power, launching attacks on churches and police stations while also raiding the property of moneylenders and landlords. On March 3, 1900, Munda was arrested by the British police in Chakradharpur, Jharkhand. His subsequent death in jail due to cholera marked the end of the rebellion.
Implications of the Munda Rebellion
This rebellion compelled the colonial government to enact laws restricting the takeover of tribal lands by dikus, resulting in the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, 1908. It highlighted the ability of the tribal communities to resist injustice and express their discontent against colonial rule.
Jharkhand Foundation Day: Commemorating Birsa Munda
The term “Jharkhand” translates to “The Land of Forests.” On November 15, 2000, as a tribute to Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the Bihar Reorganization Act came into effect, establishing the State of Jharkhand.
Jharkhand shares its borders with several states, including Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Odisha to the south, and West Bengal in the east. The majority of the state is situated on the Chotanagpur Plateau, the source of several significant rivers such as Koel, Damodar, Brahmani, Kharkai, and Subarnarekha. This region also supports an array of wildlife such as tigers and Asian elephants in forest preserves like Betla National Park.
A resource-rich state, Jharkhand has around 40% of India’s mineral resources and 29% of the coal reserves. It is also home to 32 tribal groups, including Munda, Kol, Santhal, Oraon, Khond, Asur, Gond and more.
