The President of India, on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (15th November 2022), paid tribute to freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda and celebrated his birth anniversary. This annual event acknowledges the tribals’ significance in preserving cultural heritage and promoting Indian values of national pride, bravery, and hospitality. Throughout British colonial rule, several tribal movements were held in different regions of India. Prominent tribal communities participating in these movements included Tamars, Santhals, Khasis, Bhils, Mizos, and Kols.
Janjatiya Gaurav Divas: A Celebration of Tribal Contributions
Every year, Janjatiya Gaurav Divas is celebrated to recognize the efforts of tribal communities in preserving their cultural heritage and upholding Indian values of national pride, valor, and kindness. Tribals established numerous tribal movements across diverse regions of India to resist the oppressive British colonial rule. These tribal groups include Tamars, Santhals, Khasis, Bhils, Mizos, Kols, among others.
Birsa Munda: An Iconic Tribal Freedom Fighter
Birsa Munda, a member of the Munda Tribe from the Chhota Nagpur Plateau, played a significant role in the Indian freedom movement. Born on 15th November 1875, he was not just an influential freedom fighter, but also a religious leader and folk hero. Birsa started a tribal religious millenarian movement against British rule during the late 19th century, primarily active across the tribal belt of modern-day Jharkhand and Bihar.
Munda strongly opposed the harsh colonial authority that had ignored the tribal rights petition through the Sardari Larai movement. He became a driving force for Adivasis when the indigenous inhabitants were reduced from landowners to laborers under the oppressive zamindari system.
Birsait: A New Religion Formed by Birsa Munda
Birsa Munda established Birsait, a religion that emphasized belief in a singular God and encouraged followers to revert to their original religious beliefs. Known as ‘Dharti Abba’, meaning ‘Father of the Earth,’ he was revered as a religious healer, miracle worker, and preacher. His unique approach to spirituality garnered a following, especially among Oraon and Munda tribes.
The Ulgulan Revolt: Fighting Against British Colonialism
Birsa Munda led the Ulgulan or the Munda rebellion against the British colonial rule and its feudal state system. He awakened the masses, instilling a sense of revolt against landlords and the British. His fight against the exploitation and discrimination of tribals resulted in the implementation of the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act in 1908. This law restricted the transfer of land from tribal communities to non-tribals.
Other Iconic Tribal Freedom Fighters: From Veer Narayan Singh to Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu
Several other tribal leaders also stood steadfast in their struggle against British rule. These include Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh, hailed as the Pride of Sonakhan in Chhattisgarh, for his efforts in distributing looted grain to the famine-stricken poor in 1856. Another notable figure is Alluri Seetha Ram Raju, a revolutionary who led the Rampa Rebellion against British colonizers, inspiring tribal people from Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts to revolt.
Naga spiritual and political leader Rani Gaidinliu led a revolt against British rule and joined her cousin Haipou Jadonang’s Heraka religious movement at the young age of 13. She saw the Naga people’s quest for freedom as part of India’s broader freedom struggle and disseminated Gandhi ji’s principles within the Manipur region.
Two Santhal brothers, Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu, proclaimed a rebellion against the British in 1855, rallying 10,000 Santhals and vowing to expel the British from their homeland. Their sisters, Phulo and Jhano, also actively participated in the rebellion.
Understanding Tribal Movements: Insights from UPSC Civil Services Examination
In the UPSC Civil Services Examination of previous years has been an emphasis on understanding tribal movements’ historical significance. For instance, a question in the 2020 examination asked to identify the event referred to as “Ulgulan” or the Great Tumult. The correct answer was Birsa Munda’s Revolt of 1899-1900, demonstrating the importance of understanding these significant events in India’s history.
