The iconic Birsa Munda was the biggest tribal leader, a social reformer, and one of the foremost freedom fighters. In tribal history of Bengal Presidency is alter ego was Birsa Bhagwan. Birsa belonged to Munda tribes currently staying across Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. More info here https://career101.in/birsa-munda-biggest-tribal-leader-freedom-fighter-british-raj/5084/

1. Birsa Munda as The Biggest Tribal Leader and
Foremost Challenger to British Raj
Despite being from marginalized section, precisely Munda Tribe, acquiring a rebel
stand against the mighty British and leading the entire flock of rebel was no easy feat.
Famously known as Dharati Abba, Birsa Munda was biggest challenge to British
Establishment in Chhota Nagpur area of Today’s Jharkhand during 1890- 1900.
Birsa Munda was the biggest and iconic social reformer, leader and one of the
foremost freedom fighters. In tribal history of Bengal Presidency is alter ego was
Birsa Bhagwan. Birsa belonged to Munda tribes currently staying across Jharkhand,
Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
I am not only a body, I am an ancestral claimant. Ancestors and their claims never
dies and so do I. And no one can evict me of this Jungle. These lines are taken and
translated from the poem written by Hariram Meena. These lines are dedicated to the
bravery and struggles of Birsa Munda and other tribals, that depicts a story of their
rights and struggles against inhuman policies of colonist British Rule, Moneylender
and landlords, for their rights.
Early Life of Birsa Munda
He was born on 15th
of November 1875, at the village of Ulihatu, earlier in the
Lohardaga district of Bengal presidency and now in Khunti district of Jharkhand. He
was born on Thursday which means veerwar (day of brave) in their prevalent
language and hence named Birsa after that day, according to the then prevalent Munda
custom. Some sources also claim that he was born on 18th July 1872, and not in 1875.
And the folk songs also reflect popular confusion and refer to Ulihatu or Chalkad as
his birthplace. Ulihatu was the birthplace of Birsa's father Sugna Munda. Ulihatu's
claim rests on Birsa's elder brother Komta Munda, who lives in the village, where his
house still exists in a dilapidated condition.
His father's name was Sugna Munda and mother's name was Karmi Hatu. His father
had a several children and Birsa was among them. He had one elder brother, Komta
Munda and two elder sister Champa and Daksir. He also had a younger brother names
Pasna Munda. Due to poverty, Birsa spent much of his childhood moving from one
village to another with his parents in search of employment.
In childhood, he was sent to his maternal uncle’s village Ayahattu where he received
his early education from a school at Salga under the guidance of his teacher Jaipal
Nag. He was a very sharp student and on the recommendation of Jaipal Nag, he joined
Christian missionary school. In order to join the German Mission school, Birsa had to
convert his religion to Christianity as Birsa David. Because at that time, student of no
other religion could join the Christian missionary school other than Christianity.
During his schooling in the German Mission School he came across the truth that the
British government was forcibly converting the sons of soil to Christianity and giving

2. bibles in their hands in order to occupy their land. He, however, was opted out of the
school after a few years.
After what Birsa saw the British and Christian missionaries do to Indians, he went on
to protect his land, religion and culture from British and Christian Missionaries. Birsa
created new religion called Birsait which emphasised on one god, and encouraged his
followers to get back to their tribal root and to follow their own tradition. He also
staged several movement against the British rule for the protection of his land and
culture and soon became popular among the tribal communities who nicknamed Birsa
"Dharti Abba", Father of the Earth.
Movements and Revolts, Birsa Munda is Known For
Sardar Movement From 1886 to 1890, he spent much of the time in Chaibasa as he
was residing there with his family. He was living at a place that came under the
influence of sardar's activities that is why activities of sardar had an enormous impact
on Birsa’s mind. He was so much influenced with activities of Sardar that soon he
became a part of the anti-missionary and anti-government program. In 1890, in order
to support the Sardar’s movement, his family moved and gave up their membership in
the German mission.
Agitation movement- The new law and order established by British government with
regards forest and and land settlement increased the interference of landlords and
moneylenders in tribals life, which led to the exploitation of tribal communities.
During the early 1890s, Birsa involved himself in the popular agitation movement
against the enforcement of unjustifiable laws upon the traditional rights of the
Munda Tribe in the protected forest of porhat region.
Simultaneously, Birsa also started to spread awareness among the common people
about the policies of the British company to gain total control of India and led Munda
Revolt in Chhotanagpur which was also called Ulgulan Vidroh. Ulgulan means a
revolution, a movement or a struggle, to establish the right of indigenous people over
their resources snatched away from them by landlords and moneylenders.
Resistance against agrarian breakdown and cultural change- He established
himself as a successful leader and resisted the dual challenge of agrarian breakdown
and cultural change. Numerous protests were staged against the British under the
leadership of Birsa, which made the tribal movements flourish. The movement help
the tribal to show the British government that they are the real heir of the soil.
Religious revolt- He saw that his illiterate, uneducated tribe were indulged in
superstition, taking advantage of this, he declared himself to be a messenger of
almighty God so that he could unite people against the British rule. He propagated the
principles of Hindu religion and recommended the tribal people who converted to
Christianity return to their original religious system and also advocated the concept of
One God.

3. Personal Life of Birsa Munda
While living in Singhbhum he came across a girl who was of a neighbourhood village
sankara. They got married but after some time he left her due to her faithlessness.
However, he received proposal of marriage from two women later but, he refused to
marry either of them.
On 3rd
of march 1900, the British police arrested Birsa Munda while he was sleeping
with his tribal guerilla army at Jamkopai forest in Chakradharpur. Birsa's death was
mysterious and shredded with controversy. On 9th of June,1900 at Ranchi jail he was
declared dead of cholera by British government although he showed no symptoms of
the disease.
Non transparent ways of dealing with life fuelled rumors (which could hold truth also)
that he might have been poisoned. After the death of Birsa, the movements died out
soon.
Although, he lived a short span of life, he is stature is way bigger. Bhagwan Birsa
Munda rests in our hearts as a strong mark of protest against British rule in India. His
bravery and struggles against the unjust British rule, will always remembered and
celebrated.
Commemoration of Birsa Munda
To honour the revolutionary deeds of Birsa Munda numerous of institutions,
organizations and places have been named after him. Some of the famous institutions,
organizations and places, in the name of which Birsa Munda is commemorated are
listed below.
1. Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium
Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium is a stadium established in Ranchi the capital of
Indian state, Jharkhand. It is used mostly for association football matches and for
athletics. The opening and closing ceremonies of the 2011 National Games of India
was hosted in this stadium. It has seating capacity of 35,000 spectators. Renovation of
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium located in Delhi that hosted the opening and closing
ceremonies of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, was the inspiration behind the
establishment this stadium. It has some phenomenal features like imported, dust and
fireproof roof.
Birsa Agricultural University
Birsa Agricultural University is an agricultural university which was established on 26
June 1981 at Kanke, Ranchi the capital of the Indian state, Jharkhand. It was
inaugurated by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. it was established with the primary
objective of developing area specific technologies and manpower in the fields of

4. agriculture, animal husbandry and forestry for the development of the plateau region
of Bihar and Jharkhand.
Birsa Munda Airport
Birsa Munda Airport which is also known as Ranchi Airport, is the primary and only
airport serving the city of Ranchi, the capital of the Indian state, Jharkhand. The
airport is named after Indian freedom fighter, the tribal leader, the folk hero Birsa
Munda and is currently managed by Airports Authority of India. It is located in Hinoo
and sprawls over an area of 1568 acres. It is one of the 30th
busiest airport of India.
Birsa Institute of Technology
Birsa Institute of Technology Sindri (BIT Sindri) was formerly known as Bihar
Institute of Technology Sindri. It is an affiliated engineering college located in Sindri,
Jharkhand the state of India. BIT Sindri is one of the oldest engineering and
technological institute in India which is established in 1949. It was established in 1949
with temporary campus at Patna and affiliated to Patna University but a year late, it
was shifted to its permanent campus at Sindri in Dhanbad District. After the
establishment of Ranchi University in 1960, it was affiliated to Ranchi University and
later to Vinoba Bhave University after establishment of Vinoba Bhave University at
Hazaribagh in September 1992. In 2000 with the partition of Bihar, BIT Sindri was
named Birsa Institute of Technology but due to historical importance of its name, later
decided to be referred only as BIT Sindri.
Millions of Salute to The Iconic Tribal Leader!