BIRSA MUNDA REVOLT

Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the " Dharthi Aba " ( father of the earth), as known amongst tribal , waged a massive war against the British rule in mid 1890's . 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 rights 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 uprisings constituted an important part of the defiance of the colonial regime. Birsa Munda is an outstanding representative of one such movement in late 19th century in Chotanagpur region, who initiated a unique phase of our freedom struggle.

Early Life:- Birsa Munda (also known to his followers as .Birsa Bhagwan) was born at Bamba in a suburb of Ranchi (Bihar) on 15 November 1875. Birsa had his lower primary schooling at a German Mission School at Burjee. No sooner had he completed the upper primary stage than he got associated with the Sardar Movement. He followed the footsteps of his brother by professing Christianity. Later at Bandgaon he was initiated into Vaishnavism. He gave up meat, worshipped tulsi plant, wore the sacred thread and a dhoti dyed in turmeric like a typical Vaishnavite. Till 1895 Birsa was a religious reformer and an agitator for the raiyats’ forest and other rights, but eventually he aimed at the political emancipation of the Munda area as well. Even though the first phase of his movement was not very serious, he suffered rigorous imprisonment for two years in the Hazaribagh jail.

Cause of Revolt:- Before the British came to India, the forests were like mother to the tribals. The British came with their forest, land and other laws and stripped the tribals of their natural rights. They introduced moneylenders, landlords, traders, mahajans, into the region, through which to loot the “adivasis”. They usurped the tribal lands, and reduced them to a slave-like existence. Against this oppression the Munda tribes fought continuously, for over three decades. And it was to this on-going struggle that Birsa Munda gave a new turn and a new meaning. In 1894 Birsa declared himself a god, and began to awaken the masses and arouse them against the landlord-British combine. Combining religion and politics he went from village to village giving discourses and building a politico-military organisation. He declared an end to Victorian rule and the establishment of Munda Rule. He organised the people to stop paying debts/interest to moneylenders and taxes to the British. He broke all links with the missionaries and took the path of revolt. The British retaliated and brought in the armed police. One night, while in his sleep, Birsa was arrested. He spent two years in jail. During the Course of Revolt :- After a series of concerted attacks for nearly two years on the places loyal to the British, the Munda warriors started congregating on " Dombari Hill " at village "Sail Rakab ", on the call of Birsa. Documents revel that the munda's , adopting Guerilla war fare, attack the British in Ranchi and Khunti. Several persons, mostly police men were killed and nearly 100 Buildings were set on fire . In raised over this " Ulgulan " (revolt), the then commissioner Mr. A fobes and Deputy Commissioner Mr. H.C. Streattfield, rushed to Kunti with two company of army to crush the mass struggle ( Ulgulan). On January 6, 1900, the second phase of the Ulgulan movement began. Not only were attacks launched on the moneylender-landlord-mahajan-contractor combine, but directly against the British. Using poisoned arrows many police and Britishers were killed; many traders’ houses were burnt; the flames of armed struggle spread far and wide. But, the British army entered with their guns, brutally massacring the tribals. The bow and arrow were no match to British fire-power. Entire Ranchi and Singhbum town were handed over to the army. The revolt had rocked the British administration to the extent that the commissioner declared a reward of Rs 500 for the arrest of Birsa. Subsequently British forces attacked heavily on Munda warriors congregated at " Dumbari Hill " and made indiscriminate firing like that of "Jaliyan Wala Bagh " and killed several hundred people. The whole hill was littered with dead human corpses. After Brutal slaughter the dead bodies were thrown into the deep gorges and ravines of the hill . Many of the wounded were buried alive . According to editorial published on march 25, 1900, the statesman , put the toll at 400. However , the then administration suppressed the fact and claimed that only eleven persons were killed and nine insured. Fear and panic show spread over the area that "Dombari " was named by munda's as " Topped Buru " - mound of dead.

Aftermath of the Revolt:- Finally, on February 3, 1900 Birsa was caught. Severe cases were put on him, and 482 others. While the cases were on, he began vomiting blood in jail. On June 9, 1900, Birsa Munda became a martyr. Though he had no symptoms of cholera, the British declared he died of cholera. Cowardly murdered in British jails, Birsa Munda became a legend to the tribals of Chota Nagpur, and a symbol of the anti-feudal, anti-colonial struggle of that time. Surely, the Munda’s revolt was very effective for a while but it could not succeed against the absolute power of the government and was suppressed till 1900, but spirit of fighting and leader ship quality of Birsha Munda showed a symbols of his society and culture and became a rallying point for people to rise against foreign rule. That will always remember in the history of India.