Birsa Munda

Birsa Munda is one of the freedom fighters from Tribal Adivasi Community of India. He is a National Hero worshipped by tribal community. A few years ago I did not know even the name of this Hero. It is possible that many of us don’t know about the fact that he was a freedom fighter and his statue stands gloriously besides those of Mahatma Gandhi and other freedom fighters in the campus of parliament, House of the People in New Delhi.
Birsa Munda was not just a freedom fighter but also a social reformer. He campaigned against the social evils superstitions and black magic. This visionary leader of people was believed to be healer, preacher, teacher and a prophet in Madhya Pradesh, a state of India. Like Gulam Maharaj and Ramdas Maharaj of Maharashtra he also tried to teach and preach his community. His followers called him Birsa Bhagwan i.e. Birsa, the God.
The name Birsa evokes a passion of pride in the Adivasis i.e. Tribal Community. We always salute this National Hero but we don’t know that the whole Nation pays homage to this radical personality. Birsa Munda was the freedom fighter who led an armed struggle against the British to establish the Tribal Raj like Khajya Naik and Rumalya Naik.
Birsa was a legendary figure in the history of our struggle for freedom. He was the pioneer of the thought of the Tribal right and also inspired his community to fight against the British rule. He not only fought against the British but also against the oppressive Zamindari system in India. He used the myths symbols of his society and culture and became a rallying point for people to rise against foreign rule, oppression and injustice. His movement was also infused with the spirit of religious reform, social justice and cultural regeneration. He fought against the British rule, suffered imprisonment and subsequently became a martyr. Birsa Munda struggle was suppressed by the British authorities. But it did not go in vain. His fight for the right of the people for the forest resources, land and preservation of their distinct identity was subsequently recognized when the then British government, through a series of measures, guaranteed tribals' rights to reclaim their land and empowered officials to forcefully evict the occupation of tribal land by others. The Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act of 1908 which partially protected the rights of tribals is considered as an important outcome of Birsa Munda's fight.
The popularity, intensity and relevance of the movement launched by the Birsa Munda was so widespread that all the mainstream political groups supported it and eulogized its contributions to arouse the common people stand against the mighty British empire. Acknowledging his crucial role in awakening the masses of Chhotanagpur against the British rule, the Indian National Congress and the Forward Block observed Birsa Day in 1940 with great enthusiasm. Birsa Munda stood out as an early protagonist of tribal rights, a pioneer in mobilizing women for the cause of freedom and as an irrepressible fighter for justice and human dignity. Birsa brought together his community and their traditional culture to improve their living conditions and integrating them emotionally into the mainstream of national life. I salute him for his great deeds for India and Tribal community. Long live Birsa! Long live India.