Question

Describe the actions of followers of Birsa. Answer.

Answer 1

Birsa Munda was an Indian freedom fighter and a tribal leader who revolted against the British rule. He was a visionary who played a crucial role in liberation of his community, the tribal people, who were exposed to persistent dominance by the British exploitative policies and atrocities. His own experiences as a young boy, when he traveled from one place to another in search of work provided him with an understanding of different matters from which the community was suffering due to the British oppression. After realizing the fact that the British company arrived in India to torture the people and carry the wealth abroad, he started spreading awareness to expose the agenda of British and gathered his army of tribals. The army responded with movements and protests against the injustice and treachery of the British Raj. He was an active participant in the revolt and is remembered as a relentless fighter who possessed the courage to fight the British. He also claimed himself to be a messenger of the almighty and told his followers to follow the concept of One God. His influential personality and motivational speeches encouraged the public to believe in the power of freedom, to dream of a different world than the one they lived in. His efforts for the restoration of full ownership rights of tribals exemplified his leadership and vision.

From 1886 to 1890, his family resided at Chaibasa, a place which came under the influence of the Sardars’ activities. He was influenced through the activities and was encouraged to support the anti-Government movement. In 1890, his family moved and gave up their membership in the German mission to support the Sardar’s movement.Later he involved himself in the popular agitation movement against the unjust laws enforced upon the traditional rights of the Mundas in the protected forest in the Porhat area. During the early 1890s, he started spreading awareness among the common people about the plans of the British company to gain total control of India.He emerged as a successful leader and revolted against the dual challenge of agrarian breakdown and culture change. Under his leadership, the tribal movements gained momentum and numerous protests were staged against the British. The movement demonstrated that tribals were the real proprietors of the soil and also demanded the expulsion of middlemen and the British.The movement eventually faded out after his sudden demise. But it was remarkably significant as it forced the colonial government to introduce laws so that the land of the tribal people could not be easily taken away by the dikus (outsiders). It also symbolized the strength of the tribal community and the courage tribals possessed to stand against the prejudice of the British Raj.He was also a self-proclaimed messenger of the almighty and propagated the principles of Hindu religion. He recommended that the tribal people who converted to Christianity return to their original religious system and also advocated the concept of One God. Eventually, he came across as a god-man figure to the tribal people who sought his blessings.