TAG: GS-1: HISTORY
CONTEXT: The Prime Minister of India will release a commemorative postage stamp and coin on the 150th birth anniversary of tribal leader Birsa Munda. He will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of tribal welfare projects worth more than Rs 6,640 crore in Jamui, Bihar.
EXPLANATION:
More About the Birsa Munda (1875–1900:
- Birsa Munda was born on November 15, 1875, in Ulihatu village of present-day Chhattisgarh. He belonged to a humble family of farmers from the Munda tribe.
- He spearheaded an Indian tribal mass movement in the Bihar and Jharkhand belts in the early 19th century under British colonization.
- The Munda tribe is one of the indigenous Adivasi communities of the region. His father, Sugana Munda, and mother, Karmi Hatu, were farmers who worked hard to sustain their family amidst the challenges of colonial rule and social discrimination.
- Since childhood, he has taken much interest in the rich cultural heritage and spiritual practices of the Mundas.
- Birsa Munda was not well educated, but his exposure to the Christian missionary school may have influenced his later religious beliefs and leadership style for some time. To get admission to a Christian missionary school, he converted himself to Christianity.
- Much of his childhood was spent in Chalibasa, where the national movement’s activities influenced him. His father withdrew him from the Christianity missionary school, and he developed strong anti-British sentiments. Under colonial rule in India
- The Mundas, like many indigenous communities, faced exploitation, displacement, and cultural assimilation due to the encroachment by aoutsiders on their land and resources. Birsa Munda was deeply disturbed by the injustices faced by his tribe. From a young age, Birsa Munda exhibited qualities of leadership, charisma, and empathy towards the plight of his people.
- He was a folk hero and a tribal freedom fighter who played a pivotal role in the Indian independence movement, particularly in the tribal regions of British India.
- He belonged to the Munda tribe in the Chhotanagpur Plateau area.
- Munda rallied the tribals to fight against the forceful land grabbing carried out by the British government, which would turn the tribals into bonded labourers and force them to abject poverty.
- He influenced his people to realize the importance of owning their land and asserting their rights over it.
- Birsa encouraged the tribe to stick to their traditions and get back to their tribal roots.
- One of Birsa’s notable contributions was the formation of the Munda Rebellion, also known as the Ulgulan, or the Tamar Revolt, in the late 19th century.
- The rebellion was a response to the oppressive policies of the British administration, including the introduction of the Forest Laws, which restricted tribal access to their traditional lands, and the imposition of exorbitant taxes.
- Birsa united various tribal communities under the banner of the Munda Raj and led a series of guerrilla warfare campaigns against the British forces.
- Birsa Munda’s leadership during the Munda Rebellion earned him the title of “Bhagwan” or “Birsa Bhagwan” among his followers.
- He often took inspiration from Munda traditions, Christianity, and Hinduism to guide his followers in rituals and prayers.
- His struggle against exploitation and discrimination against tribals led to a big hit against the British government in the form of the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, which was passed in 1908.
- The act restricted the passing of land from the tribal people to non-tribals.
- Birsa also played a crucial religious role among the Munda people.
- He founded the faith of Birsait, a blend of animism and indigenous beliefs, emphasising worshipping a single god.
- He became their leader and was given the nickname ‘Dharti Aba,’ or the father of the earth.
- He died on June 9, 1900, at age 25.
- In recognition of his impact on the national movement, the state of Jharkhand was created on his birth anniversary in 2000.
- November 15, the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, was declared ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Divas by the Central Government in 2021.
Source:
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