Birsa Munda's worth can be gauged by the fact that
he is the only tribal leader whose image hangs in Parliament's Central Hall.
Birsa, the young rebel, was a strong leader who transformed his fellow tribal
members and fought the Britishers' double colonialism of land and culture.
The great leader, Birsa, was born on November 15, 1875, in
Ulihatu, Bengal Presidency, which is now part of Jharkhand's Khunti district. Birsa
Munda, who not only obtained his primary education in missionary schools but
was also converted to Christianity under the names David Birsa and Birsa Daud,
had a lasting impact on his brief life. Birsa Munda, on the other hand, quickly
recognised the British invaders' clandestine exploitation of the tribals under
the guise of missionary instruction.
Birsa founded his own religion, Birsait, to maintain
his society's belief system. Munda persuaded the people of Oraon and Munda to
return to their traditional beliefs and worship of One God. Birsa worked as a
social worker as well. He warned his people about witchcraft and drink, and
urged them to pray and follow a strict code of conduct.
Munda also had successfully united his people to confront anti-establishment
forces. He created a movement named ‘Ulgulan' (The Great Tumult) in the
Chaibasa district between 1886 and 1890. Birsa was arrested on March 3, 1900,
and died on June 9, 1900, at the age of 25.
The colonial authorities recognised the potential of Birsa's campaign and passed the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act in 1908. As a result, it became India's first law prohibiting the transfer of tribal land to non-tribal people
The leader of st
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