126th Martyrdom Day of Bhagwan Birsa Munda: Legacy, Ulgulan & Tribal Rights

On Birsa Munda’s 126th death anniversary (9th June), tribal groups in Jharkhand pledged to protect his legacy. 

• This happens amid rising debates over “delisting”—a demand to remove tribal converts to Christianity or Islam from the Scheduled Tribes list.

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About Birsa Munda

• Birth: He was born in 1875 in the village of Ulihatu, in the Mundari princely state of Khunti, and grew up in a time when the Munda people were facing increasing exploitation and displacement by British colonial rule and Hindu landlords.
  • Today, Khunti is an administrative district in Jharkhand, known for preserving its unique tribal governance and customary land rights.
  • His birth anniversary falls on 15th November, which is celebrated as ‘Birsa Munda Jayanti’.
• A Munda Leader: Birsa Munda was a tribal leader and religious reformer who belonged to the Munda tribe of Chotanagpur, a region in present-day Jharkhand and Odisha.
• Founded the faith of Birsait:  Blend of animism and indigenous beliefs which emphasised the worship of a single god.
• Legacy:
  • State of Jharkhand was created on his birth anniversary in 2000
  • Honorific Titles: His followers call him “Dharti Aba” (Father of the Earth) and “Bhagwan” (God) because they saw him as a savior.
  • The Vision: He fought for tribal dignity, freedom, and indigenous self-rule, which he called “Adivasi disum”.
  • National Day: His birthday is celebrated nationally as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (Tribal Pride Day).
• Significant Movements:
  • Mundaism: In the late 19th century, Birsa Munda founded a new religious movement known as “Mundaism” or “Kisangism” or “Birsait faith”.
    • Aim: To revive traditional Munda customs and beliefs and unite the Munda people against their oppressors.
    • Emphasis On: Birsa’s teachings emphasized the importance of self-reliance, social justice, and resistance against oppression. 
  • Preachings: He preached that the Munda people should return to their traditional values and reject the influence of both British colonialism, missionaries.
  • The Ulgulan Movement (The Great Tumult) – Birsa Munda: (UPSC CSE Prelims- 2020 & 1997)
  • The Ulgulan Movement (1899–1900), meaning “The Great Tumult”, was led by Birsa Munda in the Chotanagpur region against colonial exploitation and the erosion of tribal rights.
    • The movement opposed the British, who introduced land laws that weakened tribal control; the Dikus (outsiders), including landlords and moneylenders who exploited tribals through debt and forced labour (begari); and missionaries, who were perceived as interfering with traditional tribal customs.
  • Causes of the Movement: The major cause was the disruption of the Khuntkatti system of the Munda tribe, a traditional system of joint village land ownership by original settlers.
    • British land policies converted tribal lands into private property, enabling outsiders to acquire them. This resulted in land alienation, economic exploitation, and loss of traditional authority.
    • Tribals faced further hardship due to high-interest debts, revenue demands, and forced labour, creating widespread resentment.
  • Major Events: The movement reached its peak at Dombari Buru Hill in 1899–1900, where British forces fired upon a gathering of Birsa’s followers.
    • The incident became a significant example of colonial suppression of tribal resistance.
    • Birsa Munda was later arrested and died in Ranchi Jail on 9 June 1900.
  • Legal Legacy- Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, 1908: The revolt contributed to the enactment of the Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act, 1908.
    • The Act restricted the transfer of tribal land to non-tribals and protected customary tribal rights over land, water, and forests.
    • It also recognised the Khuntkatti system and introduced the Mundari Khuntkattidar category for original Munda landholders.
  • Significance: The Ulgulan Movement became a landmark in the history of tribal resistance against colonial rule.
    • It strengthened the demand for tribal identity, autonomy, and protection of customary rights.
    • Birsa Munda’s legacy also influenced the later Jharkhand movement for a separate tribal-majority state.
• Spiritual Reform- The Birsait Faith: Birsa left missionary schools after disagreements over their views on tribal culture. He then started preaching his own spiritual path, called the Birsait faith.
  • Core Principles: It urged tribal members to leave behind superstitions, stop animal sacrifices, give up alcohol, and worship a single supreme creator named Singbonga.
  • Social Clean-up: He taught that Adivasi identity comes from ancestry and community, not any outside religion.
• Famous Slogan: “Abua Raj Ete Jana, Maharani Raj Tundu Jana”, meaning “Let our rule be established and the Queen’s rule end.”
• Death: The British arrested Birsa in 1895 and he died in prison in 1900. 
  • His death sparked violent protests and he became a martyr for tribal activism against the British.

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