Birsa Munda was a tribal who revolted and agitated against the atrocities and discrimination of the British. He led the movement at a very young age and did many things for the betterment of the society. Through this article you will learn about Birsa Munda History and his rebellion. He played the role of the Munda Council Chief and also dedicated himself to ensure the success of this council.
Birsa Munda History
Birsa Munda was born on 15 November 1875 in Ulihatu near Ranchi (presently in Jharkhand). His father’s name was Sugana Munda and his mother’s name was Karmi Hatu.
Birsa Munda’s father was a spiritual leader and his mother managed the household. They were all members of the Munda tribe. The Munda tribe was one of the major tribal communities in that area.
Birsa Munda loved the traditions of his tribe since childhood. He would learn the language of his tribe and loved and enjoyed the dance, songs and culture of that tribe.
Birsa Munda Childhood
Being surrounded by his people and the customs of his community while growing up helped him develop a strong personality and sense of who he is.
Birsa’s early childhood was spent with his parents in Chalkad. When Birsa Munda came in contact with a Christian missionary, he realized that these missionaries were engaged in converting the tribals into Christians.
Birsa Munda was very good at studies, so Jaipal Nag asked him to enroll in the German Mission School. Birsa was converted to Christianity there and his name was changed to Birsa David.
Who later came to be known as Birsa Dawood. After studying there for a few years, he left the German Mission School.
Birsa Munda’s life and thinking were deeply influenced by his tribal customs. He was deeply influenced by the way of life of the tribal people where people supported each other in happiness and sorrow and everyone considered each other equal.
But the discrimination, injustice and unfair treatment meted out to the people of his community by the British inspired him to stand up against the British.
Birsa Munda began to feel that the British rule was a threat to the social, cultural and economic fabric of his community. Therefore, he started trying to unite people to oppose the British rule.
In the year 1895, Birsa Munda gathered a group of tribals to protest the forced labour and taxes by the British and revolted against the British. This revolt was followed by more revolts.
After this, Birsa Munda became a prominent leader of the tribal resistance movement in Jharkhand. Birsa’s goal now was to bring together the various tribes of Jharkhand for one purpose. He would give the message of freedom and self-governance to the people and people would also praise him a lot for this.
Birsa Munda founded the Munda Council in the year 1899. His goal behind this was to unite and bring together the various tribes of Jharkhand so that they could oppose the British rule.
The first meeting of the Munda Council was held in the year 1900, in which a resolution was presented. In which they urged the British to stop interfering in tribal affairs.
Apart from this, the objective of the Munda Council was also to establish a self-governance system so that the people of the tribal communities could be allowed to follow their customs and traditions on their own.
Birsa Munda Rebellion
This rebellion was an important rebellion, which was carried out by tribal fighters against the British rule.
In this rebellion, he carried out secret missions to attack places controlled by the British such as government buildings and police stations.
For this they used traditional weapons and guerrilla warfare tactics. With the passage of time, people from different tribal communities started joining this movement and strengthened this rebellion even more.
The British were very troubled due to the courage and leadership of Birsa Munda. On 5 January 1900, Birsa’s people or his followers killed two police constables in Etkedih.
After this, on 7 January, they attacked the police station of Khunti and killed a constable and destroyed the houses of the shopkeepers there. Local officer A. Fobes, and Deputy Officer H.C. Streetfield reached Khunti with a contingent of 150 people to suppress the growing rebellion.
Birsa Munda Death
The British administration also placed a bounty of Rs 500 on Birsa Munda. He was caught in the forests of Jamkopai in Chakradharpur on 3 February 1900 and was arrested.
Birsa Munda was sentenced to life imprisonment and sent to Ranchi jail. While he was in jail, he suffered from illness and neglect. Birsa Munda died in Ranchi jail on 9 June 1900.
Birsa Munda died at the age of just 24. After his death, the movement also gradually ended.
Conclusion
Birsa Munda was born in a tribal family of Ulihatu Ranchi. From childhood, he was very attached to the customs and traditions of his community.
He saw equality among people in his tribal community and he also saw that people are supporting each other in good and bad times. All these things left a deep impact on his mind and also helped in shaping his personality.
He did not even care about his life for his people and died at the age of just 24. People still remember him and the work done by him and salute him wholeheartedly.
In this article you learned about the history of Birsa Munda. How did you feel after reading about him? Do share your thoughts with us by commenting.
Read More : Bhagat Singh Biography: Life introduction of Bhagat Singh in Hindi
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
When is Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary celebrated?
Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary is celebrated every year on November 15. It is celebrated with great pomp especially in Jharkhand.
Where is Birsa Munda Airport?
Birsa Munda Airport is in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand.
Where is Birsa Munda Park?
Birsa Munda Park is a great place for fun and relaxation spread over 400 acres. This park is located in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand.