151st birth anniversary of Birsa Munda

Today is 151st birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, a revered tribal leader and freedom fighter who led the Munda Rebellion against British colonial rule.

Birsa Munda was born on 15 November 1875, 18 years after India’s first war of independence in 1857, into a Munda tribal family in Ulihatu, a village in present-day Khunti district of Jharkhand. His parents were Sugana Munda and Karmi Hatu. At the time of his birth, the region was part of the Chotanagpur division of Bihar.

His birth anniversary, November 15, is marked as Jharkhand’s Statehood Day.

Birsa converted into a Christian to receive education from the German Protestant Mission School (called Lutheran Mission School) in Chaibasa (in the state of Jharkhand).He later distanced himself from Christianity.

In the 1890s, Birsa Munda started the Ulgulan movement and in 1894, Birsa declared his opposition to the British and the Dikus (outsiders) and thus began the Munda Ulgulan.

Birsa also started his own sect called the Birsait, and proclaimed he was god’s messenger. Many tribal people Mundas, Kharias and Oraons accepted him as their leader and called him Bhagwan.

Birsa asked the tribal people to keep distance from the Christian missionaries and revert to their traditional ways. He also advocated for the non-payment of taxes.

Birsa was arrested in 1895. After coming from the jail after two years he he resumed his armed struggle by razing police stations, churches, government property and houses of Zamindars.

He was arrested in 1900 from Jamkopai forest in Chakradharpur. He died on June 9th 1900 while lodged at the Ranchi jail. He was only 25 years old when he passed away. Authorities claimed he died of cholera although this claim is doubted.

After his death, his movement petered out.

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