In News:

On his 125th death anniversary (Balidan Diwas), the Prime Minister of India paid tribute to Bhagwan Birsa Munda, hailing his pioneering role in tribal empowerment and anti-colonial resistance.

Early Life and Identity

• Born: 15 November 1875, Ulihatu, Chotanagpur Plateau (now in Jharkhand).
• Tribe: Munda.
• Title: Revered as “Dharti Aaba” (Father of the Earth).
• Education: Attended Christian missionary schools in Chaibasa; later rejected colonial influence and converted to Vaishnavism, blending it with tribal spirituality.
• Founder of: The Birsait sect, advocating moral reform and cultural awakening among Adivasis.

Role in Freedom Struggle & Tribal Mobilisation

Resistance Against Exploitation:

• Zamindari System: Opposed British-imposed land systems that dismantled the Khuntkatti tribal land tenure, dispossessing tribals and reducing them to bonded labourers.
• Beth Begari: Led resistance against forced labour and revenue policies.
• Forest Rights: Fought against British encroachment and resource extraction in forests.

Cultural and Spiritual Renaissance:

• Condemned social evils like black magic and alcoholism.
• Mobilised tribals using tribal songs, attire, drums, and community gatherings.
• Advocated tribal self-rule and cultural pride against the oppression by Dikus (outsiders).

Ulgulan Movement (1895–1900): The Great Tumult

• Nature: A widespread anti-colonial rebellion across present-day Jharkhand, Odisha, and Bengal.
• Strategy: Guerrilla warfare, targeting British outposts, churches, and police stations.
• Slogan: “Abua Raj setar jana, Maharani Raj tundu jana” (Let the rule of our people begin, let the Queen’s rule end).
• Emphasized a vision of egalitarian tribal raj rooted in indigenous governance systems.

Arrest, Martyrdom, and Legacy

• Arrested: 1895; Died: 9 June 1900 in Ranchi Jail under mysterious circumstances.
• Though the rebellion was crushed, it led to the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, 1908, securing tribal land rights.

Recognition and Legacy

• Declared as “Bhagwan” (Lord) by tribal communities for his cultural leadership and resistance.
• Institutions named in his honour: Birsa Agricultural University, Birsa Institute of Technology, etc.
• November 15 (birth anniversary) declared Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas (Tribal Pride Day) in 2021 by the Government of India.
• Symbol of tribal assertion, indigenous identity, and early resistance to colonialism in India.