BIRSA MUNDA

Posted by: Anjali Tirkey

Posted on: 2007-04-10

Did we know that a statue of BIRSA MUNDA stands in the precincts of Parliament along with the other national leaders and heroes of our country?

Birsa Munda one of the most famous, hero-worshipped leaders of tribal community was not just a freedom fighter who led an armed struggle against the British to establish a Tribal Raj and became a martyr but he was also a reformer who campaigned against the prevailing social evils of alcoholism, superstitions and black magic. This visionary was also believed to be a healer, preacher and a prophet. No doubt his followers gave him the name of BIRSA BHAGWAN.

The very name of Birsa Munda evokes a passion and pride in the Adivasis. And while we have always saluted this hero of ours, many of us may not know that even the nation pays homage to him and acknowledges his relevance cialis reviews and contribution in the struggle for independence and nation building.

On the 28th of August 1998, Birsa’s statue was unveiled at Parliament. Below is the reproduction of the President’s address on the occasion.

Address by the President of India, Shri K R Narayanan

I am happy to associate myself with the unveiling of the statue of Shri Birsa Munda, a legendary figure in the history of our struggle for freedom. He is well-known as an early advocate and exponent of tribal right and as an indomitable fighter against foreign rule and oppression. One of the lesser known aspects of our fight against British rule is that tribal uprising constituted an important part of the defiance of the colonial regime. Birsa Munda is an outstanding representative of one such movement in the last 19th century in the Chhotanagpur region, who initiated a unique phase of our freedom struggle which decisively influenced its course and subsequently made us deeply conscious of tribal issues vis-à-vis nation building. Birsa Munda rose from the lowest rank of peasants to mobilize people against the appropriation of tribal land and disintegration of their way of life, economy, and culture by the colonial system. He fought against the predatory tendencies in the name of modernization and the oppressive Zamindari system, invoking the spirit of a tribal order characterized by simplicity, absence of tyranny, and living in harmony with nature.

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. Through his struggle, he became a cult figure, a part of the folklore and was even deified by the people as “Dharti Abba” or “Birsa Bhagwan”. The Bihar Regiment of the Indian Army invokes his name in one of their battle cries.

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 arduous fight of Birsa Munda against British rule and its ramifications found articulation in the large context of our struggle for independence when Surendranath Bannerjee took up the issue in the Legislative Council and many other leading newspapers of the period editorially supported its cause. The impact of this movement was significant enough that even the British Government that suppressed it, recognized its gravity. This was reflected in the secret report of the then Lt. Governor who wrote, “the disturbance may have quietened but Shimla requires to be constantly reminded that it is sitting on a powder magazine.”

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 buy drugs Block observed Birsa Day in 1940 with great enthusiasm. Paying tribute to Birsa Munda, the Indian National Congress named the main gate of Ramgarh Session in 1940 as Birsa Gate and published stories of his eventful life which was circulated among the delegates.

The awakening triggered by Birsa Munda found its manifestations in the formation of the Kisan Sabha by many tribal groups, which later joined this struggle for freedom. Many followers of Birsa Munda who took pride in calling themselves “Birsaites” joined the nationalist movement for the independence and were greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi. Historians have asserted that the campaigns of Indian National Congress in Chhotanagar would not have been successful without Birsa Munda’s agitation.

As we survey the remarkable life and deeds of Birsa Munda, we are struck by the spontaneity of people’s action. One important feature was that Birsa Munda’s movement attracted a large number of women who suffered imprisonment, faced police bullets and embraced death. The then British Government was perplexed by the willing and large-scale participation of women in the agitation launched by Birsa.

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. His movement launched in late 19th century has significance for our own times. Today, our tribals, in all parts of our country, are fighting for their inalienable rights to land, forest resources and cultural identity. In all such fights, we find an echo of Birsa Munda’s striving. Today, our tribal brothers and sisters are heroically standing against the forces of so-called modernization which run antithetical to their life-style, and understanding of nature and culture. They resist the alarming deterioration of environment as they are the protectors and preservers of “Jal, Jungle and Jantu” and draw our attention to the need for reexamining our concepts of development and progress. They underline the need for truly sustainable development projects.

Since the days of our struggle for independence, we have taken steps to guarantee the rights of our tribal brothers and sisters. Our constitution, the fundamental law of the land, stipulates the provisions for their uplift. The unveiling of the statue of Birsa Munda is national recognition of the role of tribals in the freedom struggle and of the importance of preserving their identity and their traditional culture while improving their living conditions and integrating them emotionally into the mainstream of national life.

Jai Hind.

The journal of Parliamentary Information,
Vol. XLIV, no.4,
December 1998, (pp. 400-2).