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Birsa Munda History | Essay on Birsa Munda

Birsa Munda History

Birsa Munda History


Birsa Munda (also called as Birsa Bhagwan by his devotees) was born on November 15, 1875, in Bamba, a Ranchi suburb (Jharkhand). He followed in his brother's footsteps by claiming Christianity. He was thereafter initiated into Vaishnavism in Bandgaon. He abstained from meat, revered the tulsi plant, and wore the holy thread and a turmeric-dyed dhoti, like a conventional Vaishnavite would. He finally returned to his forefathers' religion, forming the 'Birsait' cult, which emphasised prayers, faith in God, obedience to a code of conduct, abstention from alcohol and sacrifices, among other things. Birsa received his elementary education at a German Mission School in Burjee. Until he reached the upper primary stage, he was a member of the Sardar Movement.
Until 1895, Birsa was a religious reformer and a fighter for the raiyats' forest and other rights, but he eventually wanted political independence for the region. As a result, he recruited volunteers to assist him fight the British authorities. His was not an all-India movement, but it became associated with the "anti-British Credo," or a hate for European officials and Christian missionaries, which was a national liberation movement. He was imprisoned for two years at the Hazaribagh Prison, despite the fact that the first phase of his campaign was not particularly substantial.

Birsa Munda – Early Childhood
Birsa, who was born on a Thursday in 1875, was named after that day in Munda custom. Ulihatu and Chalkad are mentioned in folk ballads as his birthplaces, reflecting the usual confusion. Sugana Munda, Birsa's father, is from Ulihatu. Birsa's father, mother, and younger brother, Pasna Munda, left Ulihatu in search of work in Kurumbda, near Birbanki, as labourers, crop-sharers (sajhadar), or ryots.



Komta, Birsa's older brother, and Daskir, Birsa's sister, were both born in Kurmbda. Birsa's older sister Champa and he were born in Bamba after the family moved there.

Birsa was born in a bamboo-strip house with no mud plaster or even a secure roof, which could not have been better for a crop-sharer or ryot. A comet or a flag star flew through the sky from Chalkad to Ulihatu, and a flag waved on a mountain top, according to folk songs about his birth. A teacher observed the cross mark on Birsa's palm at school and predicted that he would one day retake the kingdom.

Movement of Birsa Munda
The transition of the tribal agrarian economy into a feudal state was expedited by the British colonial system. Chotanagpur's elders welcomed non-tribal people to reside on and farm the land because tribals couldn't produce enough with their primitive technique. The territories of the tribals were thus alienated. The new Thikadars were a more greedy breed, eager to maximise their fortune.

Birsa Munda was captured on 3 February 1900 and killed on 9 June 1900 at Ranchi Jail under mysterious circumstances.

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