In the freedom struggle, Dalits, Bahujans and tribals had sounded the bugle of war even before 1857 because people were angry with exploitation, moneylenders, landlords, usurers and the British rule. The struggle continued before 1857 and later till independence. Although revolutionaries were active in all the provinces, the freedom struggle under the leadership of Birsa Munda in Jharkhand is a historical example in itself. The tribals fought under his leadership in Ranchi and the surrounding areas and gave the British a hard time.
Birsa was a god for the Mundas. To awaken the people, he told that the biggest reason for the backwardness of the tribals was superstition and illiteracy. Birsa started calling the witchcraft etc. prevalent among the Mundas useless. He also told what harm is caused by not keeping cleanliness. He also explained the importance of education. He also told that only an uneducated person becomes a victim of exploitation.
Birsa Munda had a unique art of connecting people. For the betterment of the tribals, he explained to the people that do not steal, do not commit violence, do not beg, do not get involved with sadhus and exorcists. Do not believe in witches and ghosts. Be hardworking like an ant. I am not going to drown you. We tribals are the owners of this earth by virtue of our identity. We are all naturally independent, so Swaraj is our birthright. Which we will take.
In that era, people started calling him Dharti Baba. Birsa Munda had become a prophet because of his social work and miraculous stories related to him. People believed that any injury sustained by his touch would heal.
Birsa Munda opposed the practice of sacrifice and created a new religion which is called Birsayat Dharma. In Jharkhand, Birsa Munda is not only a symbol of social and political consciousness, but he is also considered a pioneer of religious consciousness. Considering Birsa Munda a big threat, the British put him in jail and gave him slow poison. Due to this, he was martyred on 9 June 1900. But his thoughts and his work will always remain. In Jharkhand and Bihar, people worship him like a god.
You must be logged in to post a comment.