Personal Information
- Place of Birth: Ulihatu village, Khunti district, Jharkhand, India (November 15, 1875)
- Place of Death: Ranchi Jail, Jharkhand, India (June 9, 1900)
- Nationality: India
- Era: Tribal Revolts against British Colonialism (1890s–1900), Late 19th Century India
Summary
Biography
Birsa Munda was born on November 15, 1875, in Ulihatu village to a poor Munda sharecropper family in Chotanagpur (present-day Jharkhand), receiving basic education at missionary school before dropping out to work as a laborer. Witnessing tribal dispossession under British zamindari system—which replaced communal khuntkatti landholding with exploitative outsiders (dikus)—and forest laws restricting access, Birsa turned activist around 1894, rejecting Christianity for tribal revival.
Rise and Ulgulan Rebellion
Birsa proclaimed himself prophet of Birsait faith, urging Mundas, Oraons, and Santhals to abandon witchcraft, pay no taxes, and fight for "Abua raj seter jana, maharani raj tundu jana" (Our rule next, Queen's rule finished). From 1895, he established Munda Raj guerrilla bases in Dombari Hills, attacking police stations, churches, and symbols of authority, mobilizing thousands against land alienation and forced labor.
The 1899–1900 Ulgulan peaked with raids on Ranchi, Khunti, Tamar, and Bandgaon; British forces under A. Forbes crushed rebels at Dumbari Hill, offering Rs 500 reward, capturing Birsa on January 3, 1900, near Jamkopai forest with 400 followers. Tried in Ranchi, sentenced to life for sedition, he died June 9, 1900, officially of cholera (aged 24), amid suspicions of poisoning.
Impact and Reforms
Ulgulan forced British inquiries, leading to Chotanagpur Tenancy Act (1908) protecting tribal lands from non-tribal transfer. Birsa's movement restored tribal pride, blending millenarianism with anti-colonialism.
Legacy
Birsa symbolizes Adivasi resistance; India celebrates Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on his birth, with statues and museums honoring him. For Veergatha, he fits freedom fighters and tribal heroes, complementing figures like Shivaji.
Major Achievements of Birsa Munda
- Founded Birsait faith, reviving tribal culture against missionary conversions.
- Led Ulgulan Rebellion (1899–1900), uniting Mundas against British and dikus.
- Mobilized guerrilla attacks on colonial outposts, forcing military response.
- Popularized "Munda Raj" self-rule slogan for tribal autonomy.
- Inspired Chotanagpur Tenancy Act (1908) for land rights protection.
- Became enduring icon of Adivasi empowerment and anti-colonial struggle.
