How PM Modi’s invocation of Birsa Munda’s revolution has laid the foundation for Jharkhand’s political ‘Asmita’

In my growing up years in Jamshedpur, one would often across the mention of Birsa Munda and his revolution. The few Birsa Munda statues across the state would evoke curiosity. In fact, as a student, I remember there were numerous occasions when I tried to find out about the legendary freedom fighter’s story. However, there was dearth of credible literature and authentic reading material on Birsa Munda’s life. A lot of it changed post 2014, when as prime minister, Narendra Modi started talking about Birsa Munda’s revolution. A concerted effort was made to decolonize our history. So instead of celebrating just those freedom fighters who the British and Marxist historians wanted us to know about, for the first time an attempt was made to celebrate those warriors whose contribution to our freedom movement was no less consequential but who had never been given their due. Political relevance of Birsa Munda’s movement “Bhagwan Birsa Munda, with his traditional bow and arrow, shook the British empire, armed with guns and cannons. He fought not only for political freedom, but also for the social and economic rights of tribals,” said Prime Minister Modi in Mann Ki Baat. Having authored the book, The Legend Of Birsa Munda, I was amazed by the sheer trajectory of Birsa Munda’s life and the vast number of evolutions visible in his short life of 25 years. Birsa Munda may aptly be called a social reformer turned violent revolutionary. In this trajectory, lies the brilliance of his legacy. There are some key points about Birsa Munda’s revolution that hold political relevance even in contemporary context : One, Birsa Munda’s primary battle was against predatory proselytization of tribals by German missionary Father Hoffman who was given this responsibility for the region by the British administration. Cultural subjugation, along with financial oppression were the two weapons of destruction employed by the Britishers upon the Adivasis. Sadly, today, 124 years after Birsa Munda’s revolution, forced and enticed conversion of Advisais remains a scourge. I have witnessed this during my visit to Birsa Munda’s birth village, Ulihatu, where most villagers have now converted to Christianity. What adds to the problem is the complicity of politicians like Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, who has tried his best to create a divide between the tribal and non-tribal population of Jharkhand with his mischievous claims like- ‘Adivasis are not Hindus’. I have over the years tried to factually combat this political ploy of vested groups to alienate the Adivasis from the Sanatana Dharma. A concerted attempt at educating people about Birsa Munda’s ideals will help dispel the misconceptions created by vested groups. Two, Birsa Munda’s story is a classic story of the victory of human spirit and determination, amidst the toughest odds. With his limited means and resources, he mobilised the community and launched a private army that shook the might of the British administration in the region. Forty years after Birsa Munda’s revolution, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose launched a much larger private army the Indian National Army with a global imprint. What Subhash Chandra Bose achieved on a larger geographical spread globally, Birsa Munda had achieved on a smaller stage within the tribal regions of the Bengal province. This best elucidates the power and cult following of Birsa Munda. Most importantly, with his repeated invocation of the contribution of Birsa Munda and other unsung tribal freedom fighters, Prime Minister Modi has sent an unequivocal message: that our freedom movement was the not the fiefdom of any one ideology of party. In fact, the first important tribal rebellion by Tilka Manjhi predates the formation of the Congress party by over 100 years. This invocation of the unsung legacy of our tribal warriors is particularly important for the descendants of these warriors, many of whom are living in extreme penury, often unaware of their ancestry’s contribution to the nation. Celebrating these unsung achievers bestows a sense of belongingness in their descendants, makes them aspirational and gives them an opportunity and purpose towards serving the nation. Relevance of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas In 2021, Prime Minister Modi declared Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas. On this day, he dedicated the Birsa Munda Memorial Udyan and Musuem in Ranchi to the nation. Speaking on the occasion, he recalled the genius of Birsa Munda thus : “Bhagwan Birsa knew that attacking diversity in the name of modernity, tampering with ancient identity and nature was not the way for the welfare of the society. He was in favour of modern education, he advocated for change, he showed courage to speak against the shortcomings of his own society.” This 15th November, Prime Minister Modi will become India’s first prime minister to visit Ulihatu, Birsa Munda’s birth village. From nearby Khunti, Prime Minister Modi will launch ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’ and Pradhan Mantri PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups) Mission. The PM PVTG is a first of its kind focussed mission to help the poorest sections of society combat their inadequacies. There are 75 PVTGs in 18 States & UTs living in 22,544 villages (220 districts) having a population of around 28 lakhs. These tribes stay in scattered, remote and inaccessible habitations, often in forest areas and hence a mission with budget of about Rs 24,000 crore, is planned to saturate PVTG families and habitations with basic facilities such as road and telecom connectivity, electricity, safe housing, clean drinking water and sanitation, improved access to education, health and nutrition and sustainable livelihood opportunities. In addition, separately, saturation will be ensured for  PMJAY, Sickle Cell Disease Elimination, TB Elimination, 100% immunisation, PM Surakshit Matritva Yojana, PM Matru Vandana Yojana, PM Poshan and PM Jan Dhan Yojana. Having travelled across tribal areas particularly in Jharkhand, I know that malnutrition leading to sickle cell anaemia and stunted growth are a cause of concern in backward areas. The PVTG will address these issues in a focussed and clinical manner, leading to better conditions in the years to come. There couldn’t have been a better place than Birsa Munda’s birth district for PM Modi to launch this ambitious programme. Birsa Munda was a beacon of hope for the entire Adivasi community. The PVTG mission is another beacon of hope for the community and it will expedite the community’s progress significantly. Birsa Munda’s legacy: The way ahead The nation remains indebted to Prime Minister Modi for giving Birsa Munda’s legacy his due. Over the years, the awe-inspiring story of Birsa Munda has found new admirers and followers across the country. As the nation prepares to celebrate Birsa Munda’s 150th birth anniversary in 2025, Birsa Munda today is not just a hero for tribals but for every Indian. In the years to come, Birsa Munda needs to represent Brand Jharkhand globally. Jharkhand, a state with a unique population diversity and immense natural and industrial resources, needs to be at the forefront of India’s growth story. Three big developments could play a crucial catalyst in this transformation: Birsa Munda being given the Bharat Ratna; creation of a Birsa Tourism Corridor that leverages Adivasi arts, crafts and eco-tourism for a global audience and the creation of a mammoth war memorial at Dombari Buru for all Janjatiya warriors of India. Dombari Buru is the hill where Birsa Munda’s army fought the wily Britishers on 9 January 1900 before they were overpowered. These hills symbolize the valour and sacrifice of the entire community. Prime Minister Modi, with his persistent invocation of the legacy of Birsa Munda, has clearly laid the foundation for Jharkhand Asmita. The state, held back so far, due to corrupt politicians of the JMM, is now all set to usher in a better future. The writer is a bestselling author and the national spokesperson of BJP. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views. Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.