Why was Birsa's vision of a golden age ?why do you think such a vision is appealed to the people to the people of the regions .
Answers
Birsa Munda's vision of a golden age was a satyug (the age of truth). When Mundas would live a good life, construct embankments, tap natural springs, plant trees and orchards and will practise cultivation to earn their living. And they will not kill their brethren and relatives. They would live honestly and all together happily. Birsa also wanted people to once again work on their land, settle down and cultivate their fields.
Such a vision appealed to the people of the region because they were very much eager to lead a free life because they had got fed up with the colonial forest laws and the restrictions that were imposed on them.
Birsa’s vision of golden age was to have their land free of dikus. He considered that age to be the ‘age of truth’. According to Birsa, in the golden age, the tribal sirdars will be able to rule among themselves and no one will be there to dictate terms to them. His golden age vision was to have an age with no vices like liquor, witchcraft, sorcery and uncleanliness. He did not want any role of outsider participants like missionaries, Hindu landlords, moneylenders, traders and Europeans.