BIRSA MUNDA

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The President of India visited Ulihatu village in Jharkhand – the birthplace of Birsa Munda to pay her respects to Birsa Munda.
The President will address a Janjatiya Samagam at Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh, being organised by the State Government of Madhya Pradesh, on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (15th November).

Birsa Munda

He was an Indian tribal freedom fighter, reformer and religious leader. He was nicknamed ‘Dharti Abba’ or Father of the Earth, by his followers.

His contributions

Religion
- He renounced Christianity and protested against the conversion of Tribals by Christian missionaries.
- He created a new religion called “Birsait”, which worshipped only one god. Birsait soon became the popular religion among the Mundas and Oraons.
- He preached a strong anti-British sentiment through his religion.
Reformer
- He stressed the need for the tribals to study their religion and not forget their cultural roots.
- He convinced people to give up superstition, alcohol, theft, lying, murder and begging under his new religion.

Munda Rebellion

Background
- Munda tribals practised the Khuntkatti system (joint holding by tribal lineages). However, the British colonial system intensified the transformation of the tribal agrarian system into a feudal state by introducing the Zamindari-tenancy system.
- Outsiders (Dikus) were invited by the British to settle on and cultivate the tribal land.
- Thus, the various tribes, who were the original owners of the land, were left bereft of land and any means of livelihood.
'Ulgulan' or the 'Great Tumult' (1899-1900)
- Birsa Munda infused in tribals the values to love, respect, support and safeguard their land from outsiders.
  - He used traditional symbols and language to rouse people, urging them to destroy “Ravana” (dikus and the Europeans) and establish a kingdom under his leadership.
  - He mobilised thousands of tribal folk to form guerrilla armies to attack the British Raj.
  - He declared that the reign of Queen Victoria was over and the Munda Raj had begun.
  - He gave orders to the raiyats (tenant farmers) to pay no rent.
- The people attacked police stations and churches and raided the property of moneylenders and zamindars. They raised the white flag as a symbol of Birsa Raj.
- The attacks were launched not only on the moneylender-landlord-Mahajan-contractor combine but directly against the British.
- The massacre at Dumbri Hill made it a “hill of the dead” when hundreds of tribals lost their lives for the cause of freedom against the modern ammunition of the British.
- The Great Tumult against Britishers sought to establish Munda Raj and independence.
- The slogan of the movement was “Abua Raj ete Jana, Maharani Raj Tundu Jana” which means “Let the kingdom of queen be ended and our kingdom established”.
Outcome
- The Britishers were forced to abolish the feudal system that plagued the Adivasi lands in Jharkhand and Bihar.
- Birsa compelled the Britishers to introduce new legislation - the Chota Nagpur Tenancy Act, 1908. This Act prohibited the transfer of tribal land to non-tribal parties.
- The government recognized Khuntkatti's rights and banned Beth Begari (forced labour).