Remembering Birsa Munda on his Birth Anniversary

On 15th November, we celebrate the life of the great tribal leader Birsa Munda as the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas or the Tribal Pride Day. This day was announced as the Tribal Pride Day in 2021 by the government of India. 

Born on 15th November 1875, Birsa Munda was a renowned tribal leader who fought for the freedom of India. He belonged to the Munda tribe in the Ulihatu village near Ranchi in Jharkhand. From a young age, Birsa Munda opposed British rule and led movements to protect tribal rights.

In 1895, Birsa Munda gathered a group of tribes to protest against British rule and later on he founded the Munda Council. His rebellion became the symbol of the resistance and people gave him the title of “Dharti abba” or “Father of Earth”. He was arrested in 1900 and died there after suffering from illness at the young age of 25. 

Even after his death, people honoured him as one of the greatest freedom fighters. The airport in Ranchi was named after him. PM Narendra Modi dedicated a museum to him containing a 25-foot statue of him. He is the only tribal leader of the country whose picture is hung in the Central Hall of Parliament. This year, PM Modi announced a scheme to benefit the tribes in Jharkhand. 

Birsa Munda is remembered as a social hero who changed the course of history. Various cultural programs are organised all over India to honour this great freedom fighter, who till his last breath fought for the rights of his country.