jharkhandexam.in

Wings To Fly!

Tag: What was Birsa Munda’s role in Jharkhand history?

  • “Freedom Fighters of Jharkhand”

    1. Tilka Manjhi (1750–1785)

    • Place of Birth: Tilakpur, Bhagalpur (present-day Bihar)
    • Tribe: Santhal
    • Father’s Name: Sundara Murmu

    Major Contributions:

    • Considered the first tribal freedom fighter of India.
    • Led the Santhal Rebellion in 1781.
    • Killed British officer Augustus Cleveland with an arrow (13 January 1784).
    • Adopted guerrilla warfare tactics to outsmart the British.

    Sacrifice:

    • Arrested due to betrayal by Paharia chieftain Jaurah.
    • In May 1785, tied to four horses, dragged, and hanged from a banyan tree in Bhagalpur.

    2. Budhu Bhagat (1792–1832)

    • Place of Birth: Silagai village, Lohardaga (Jharkhand)
    • Tribe: Oraon
    • Father’s Name: Heru Bhagat

    Major Contributions:

    • Led a mass rebellion against the British and landlords in 1831–1832.
    • Spread public awareness village to village.
    • Expertly used guerrilla warfare.

    Sacrifice:

    • In 1832, the British surrounded Budhu Bhagat’s house.
    • He and his two sons fought bravely but were martyred.

    3. Pandey Ganpat Rai (1809–1858)

    • Place of Birth: Chatra, Jharkhand
    • Father’s Name: Raja Jugal Kishore Singh
    • Position: Nagvanshi King and Diwan of Chatra

    Major Contributions:

    • Played an active role in the 1857 freedom struggle.
    • United kings and the public against the British.
    • Established alliances with Tatya Tope, Nana Sahib, and Kunwar Singh.

    Sacrifice:

    • Captured by the British.
    • Hanged in an open field in Chatra on 21 April 1858.
    • His last words were: “Victory to Mother India!”

    4. Sidho-Kanho Murmu (1815–1855)

    • Place of Birth: Bhognadih village, Sahibganj (Jharkhand)
    • Tribe: Santhal
    • Father’s Name: Marang Bhagat

    Major Contributions:

    • On 30 June 1855, led the “Santhal Rebellion” (Hul Movement) with over 10,000 Santhals.
    • Gave the slogan against oppression: “Abua Raj Ete Janawar Nay” (We want our own rule, not that of beasts).
    • The rebellion spread across Sahibganj, Dumka, Pakur, and Godda.

    Sacrifice:

    • Killed deceitfully by the British army in 1855.

    5. Thakur Vishwanath Shahdeo (1817–1858)

    • Place of Birth: Badlatoli, Ranchi (Jharkhand)
    • Father’s Name: Thakur Chaitanya Shah
    • Position: Nagvanshi King of Ranchi

    Major Contributions:

    • Active leader in the 1857 revolution.
    • Organized freedom forces against the British.
    • Allied with Pandey Ganpat Rai, Nandaraj, and Murlidhar.
    • Uprooted British administration in Ranchi, Lohardaga, and Chatra.

    Sacrifice:

    • Hanged at Ranchi jail ground on 16 April 1858.

    6. Sheikh Bhikhari

    • Diwan and associate of Tikait Umrao Singh.
    • Actively participated in the 1857 freedom struggle.
    • Played a major strategic role against the British.
    • After the revolution, his property was seized and his family forced to flee.

    7. Birsa Munda (1875–1900)

    • Birth: 15 November 1875, Ulihatu, Khunti
    • Famous Name: Dharti Aaba

    Education & Conversion:

    • Early life full of struggle due to poverty.
    • Converted to Christianity on 7 May 1886 (Chaibasa Lutheran Mission).
    • Later disillusioned with missionary policies and returned to Hindu and tribal values.

    Movement:

    • Goal: Restoration of traditional tribal life and culture.
    • Initiated rebellion against Christian missionaries and British.
    • Arrested in 1895, sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment.
    • After release, reorganized the movement.
    • Arrested again in 1900; died in Ranchi jail on 9 June 1900.

    8. Tikait Umrao Singh

    • Birth: Khatanga, Ormanjhi (some sources mention Ganga Patar)
    • Skilled horseman and swordsman.
    • Led the rebellion in the 1857 uprising along with Sheikh Bhikhari.
    • Blocked the Chutupalu valley route to stop the British.
    • Hanged with Sheikh Bhikhari on 8 January 1858.
    • Zamindari of 12 villages was confiscated.

    9. Nilamber–Pitamber (Brave Brothers of Palamu)

    • Belonged to the Chero-Kharwar community of Palamu.
    • Rebelled against the British in 1857.
    • Attacked Chainpur, Sahpur, and Lesliganj.
    • Later took refuge in Manika forest and launched another rebellion.
    • Colonel Dalton arrested them under pretense of a feast and executed them.
    • Their property was confiscated.

    10. Telanga Khadia (1806–1880)

    • Birth: Sisai Murge village
    • Father: Duiya Khadia (treasurer of the Chotanagpur king)

    Struggle and Sacrifice:

    • Illiterate but skilled organizer and warrior.
    • Inspired by Kol Rebellion (1831–32), began guerrilla warfare against the British.
    • Mobilized the entire Khadia region.
    • British made several attempts to catch him but failed.
    • Shot dead by a traitor in Sisai on 23 April 1880.

    11. Singi Dai (Heroine of Rohtas Fort)

    • Princess of the Oraon community.
    • Formed a women’s army and repelled Mughal invasions three times.
    • Fought alongside her companion Kailee Dai.
    • Symbol of bravery: Oraon women tattoo three lines in her memory.

    12. Gaya Munda (Ulgulan Warrior, Atkedih)

    • Rebelled against the British with his entire family.
    • On 5 January 1900, a constable arrived at Atkedih to arrest him during an Ulgulan meeting.
    • His son Sambhar Munda shot an arrow at the constable.
    • On 6 January 1900, Deputy Commissioner Streetfield surrounded their home.
    • Women attacked the soldiers with sticks.
    • Gaya Munda declared: “This is my home. The Deputy Commissioner has no right to enter. If he does, we will kill him!”
    • The Deputy Commissioner set the house on fire, forcing the family out.

    Punishment:

    • Son hanged.
    • Elder son Doka Munda sentenced to life imprisonment.
    • Wife Maki Dai: 2 years in jail.
    • Daughters-in-law and daughters: 3 months imprisonment.
    • Son Jaymasih exiled.
    • 348 Mundas were tried in court.

    Bindrai Manki and Suiya Munda (Kol Rebellion, 1832)

    • Led the rebellion in Singhbhum, Palamu, and Torpa regions.
    • Major allies: Sagar Manki, Sugga Manki, Mohan Manki, etc.
    • British forced the rebels to surrender.
    • On 19 April 1832, Bindrai and Suiya Munda surrendered.
    • British had to promise security and peace in return.

    Poto Sardar (Kolhan Rebellion, 1837)

    • ‘Ho’ tribal leader who fought for independence.
    • Rebelled against British atrocities and the ‘Wilkinson Rule’.
    • Planned the rebellion by sending arrows to village chiefs.
    • 17 November 1837: Captain Armstrong’s army attacked.
    • 8 December 1837: Poto Sardar arrested.
    • 1 January 1838: Poto, Naro, and Badai were hanged.
    • 2 January 1838: Modu and Pandua were also executed.

    Rudan Munda and Konta Munda (Tamar Rebellion, 1819–1821)

    • Led a rebellion in Tamar region against the British in 1819.
    • Key leaders: Daulat Rai Munda, Shankar Manki, Chandan Singh, Bhadra Munda, etc.
    • 31 August 1819: Attacked Pituchara.
    • Reward announced for Rudan Munda; caught and died in jail.
    • 1821: Konta Munda gathered warriors from Singhbhum.
    • Raja Govind Shahi placed ₹200 bounty on his head.
    • Died in jail after arrest; rebellion ended.

    Fetel Singh Kharwar (Tribal Leader, Garhwa–Palamu)

    • Birth: 7 May 1885, Bahahara village, Garhwa
    • Father: Lagan Singh, village chief of Panchayat Chatta
    • Uneducated but deeply aware of forest rights.
    • Influenced by Gandhiji, fought for forest land rights.
    • 1958: Protest escalated against forest department encroachment.
    • 12 January 1958: Clash with police; supporter Kumbhakaran killed.
    • Arrested, fell ill in jail, later released for good conduct.
    • Died on 31 December 1975. His memorial is still in Bahahara village.

  • “History of Jharkhand: Tribal Movements, Statehood Struggle & Formation Timeline”

    The state of Jharkhand, carved out of Bihar in the year 2000, has a history that stretches far beyond its recent political formation. Rich in archaeological, cultural, and political significance, the region has witnessed human activity since the Stone Age and played a part in the great empires and movements of India’s past. Let’s take a walk through the history of this vibrant land:

    Prehistoric Era: The Earliest Settlers

    • The Chota Nagpur Plateau has been inhabited since the Stone Age.
    • Mesolithic and Neolithic tools and microliths have been discovered across the region.
    • Cave paintings dating back to 9000–5000 BCE have been found in Isko, Hazaribagh district—evidence of early artistic expression.
    • A group of megaliths over 5,000 years old was discovered at Punkri Barwadih near Barkagaon.
    • Chalcolithic Age: The Copper Revolution
    • During the 2nd millennium BCE, copper tools began appearing, leading to the rise of what is known as the Copper Hoard Culture in the region.
    • Excavations at Kabra-Kala (Palamu) revealed a continuous cultural presence from the Neolithic to medieval times, with diverse pottery types such as:
      • Redware
      • Black and red ware
      • Northern Black Polished ware (NBP)

    Iron Age: New Tools, New Settlements

    • The Barudih site in Singhbhum district yielded iron slags, wheel-made pottery, Neolithic celts, and sickles—evidence of Iron Age technology.
    • Radio carbon dating places these artifacts between 1401–837 BCE.[3]

    Ancient Period: Kingdoms and Empires

    The Vedic and Post-Vedic Era

    • Around 1200–1000 BCE, Vedic Aryans expanded eastwards and adopted iron tools for forest clearing and agriculture.
    • This era witnessed the rise of Mahajanapadas (large states) and Śramaṇa movements (like Jainism and Buddhism) that challenged Brahminical dominance.
    • According to scholars like Bronkhorst, the Śramaṇa culture emerged in Greater Magadha, a non-Vedic Indo-Aryan region where Kshatriyas held higher status than Brahmins.

    Empires of the Early Historic Period

    • The region is mentioned in the Mahabharata as Kark Khand, owing to its location near the Tropic of Cancer.
    • It was a part of ancient Magadha and Anga kingdoms.
    • During the 4th century BCE, it came under the control of the Nanda Empire.
    • Later, in the Mauryan period, it was recognized as part of the Atavika (forest) states and was brought under Mauryan rule during Ashoka’s reign (c. 232 BCE).
    • Brahmi inscriptions from the 3rd century BCE have been found in Karbakala (Palamu) and Saridkel (Khunti), along with early historic houses, pottery, and tools.

    Classical Period: The Gupta Conquest

    • Samudragupta passed through the Chota Nagpur region during his southern expedition and launched an attack on Dakshina Kosala in the Mahanadi valley.

    Medieval Era: Dynasties and Regional Lords

    • In the 15th century, Sultan Adil Khan II of Khandesh conquered the area and took the title of Shah e Jharkhand.
    • By the 17th century, the region was integrated into the Mughal Empire under Akbar.

    Colonial Period: From Chero Rulers to British Rule

    • Following the decline of the Mughals, local dynasties like the Cheros governed the area.
    • In the late 18th century, the British East India Company annexed the region, facing resistance from tribal and local leaders.
    • Under British rule:
      • The region was divided into nine princely states.
      • Up to 1905, it was part of the Bengal Presidency.
      • Post-1905, territories were reassigned to the Central Provinces and Orissa Tributary States.
      • In 1936, it became part of the Eastern States Agency.

    🇮🇳 Modern History: Independence and Statehood

    • After Indian Independence in 1947, the area was divided among Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, and Bihar.
    • A long-standing demand for a separate state led to the rise of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).
    • In 2000, the Bihar Reorganisation Act was passed, officially creating the state of Jharkhand.

    Medieval Period

    • 7th Century: Chinese traveler Xuanzang visited and described the region as part of the kingdom Karnasuvarna, ruled by Shashanka.
    • Pala Empire (8th–12th centuries): The region flourished under Buddhist influence; a monastery in Hazaribagh dates to the 10th century.
    • Nagvanshi Dynasty:
      • Bhim Karn, a prominent king, defeated the Raksel dynasty of Surguja.
      • Artistic and religious heritage is visible in sites like:
        • Sahastrakoot Jinaya (Jain idols) in Itkhori
        • Khakparta Temple (9th century, Lohardaga)
        • Bhadrakali Temple in Itkhori

    Early Modern Period

    • Region ruled by various dynasties: Nagvanshi, Khayaravala, Chero, Ramgarh Raj, Raksel, and Kharagdiha Zamindaris.
    • Mughal Invasion:
      • Akbar ordered an expedition against Khukhra (Chota Nagpur) for its diamonds.
      • Defeat of Raja Madhu Singh and revenue of ₹6,000 established.
    • Durjan Shah:
      • Imprisoned by Jahangir for refusing tribute.
      • Released for his skill in diamond identification.
      • Built Navratangarh Fort after shifting the capital.
    • Successors included Ram Shah and Raghunath Shah; the latter built the Jagannath Temple in Ranchi (1691).

    Palamu & Chero Resistance

    • King Medini Ray (1658–1674): Strengthened Palamu Forts, defeated Navratangarh.
    • 1660: Daud Khan led a brutal Mughal invasion; forts fell and temples were destroyed.
    • 1771: British forces under Captain Camac captured Palamu forts after betrayal by Gopal Rai.
    • 1772: Fort fully occupied; British rule spread across Nagvansh, Ramgarh, and Kharagdiha regions.

    Colonial Era Uprisings

    Numerous revolts marked resistance against the British:

    • 1766–1809: Chuar revolt (Bhumij zamindars & paiks)
    • 1780–1785: Tilka Manjhi’s revolt
    • 1831–1832: Kol Insurrection under Bindrai Manki and Budhu Bhagat
    • 1855–1860: Santhal Rebellion led by Sidhu & Kanhu
    • 1857: Sepoy Mutiny saw involvement of Vishwanath Shahdeo, Ganpat Rai, Tikait Umrao Singh, Sheikh Bhikhari
    • 1895–1900: Birsa Munda’s Ulgulan (Great Tumult) – died in Ranchi Jail (1900)

    Freedom Movement and Tribal Awakening

    • 1914: Tana Bhagat Movement merged with Gandhian Satyagraha
    • 1940: INC’s 53rd Session held in Ramgarh with leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Sarojini Naidu
    • Post-1947: Princely states merged with India; region divided between Bihar, Orissa, and Madhya Pradesh

    Jharkhand Movement

    • 1928: Unnati Samaj and tribal leaders demanded separate state.
    • 1955: Jaipal Singh Munda‘s Jharkhand Party submitted memorandum for tribal state—rejected.
    • 1972: Formation of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and AJSU
    • 1988: BJP launched Vanachal movement for forest region statehood.
    • 1994: Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council formed.
    • 1998: Justice L.P.N. Shahdeo led a strong separate state campaign.

    Birth of Jharkhand

    • 2000: Bihar Reorganization Act passed; Jharkhand carved out of Bihar.
    • 15 November 2000: Official formation of Jharkhand with Babulal Marandi as first CM.
    • Comprises Chota Nagpur Plateau and Santhal Pargana divisions.

    Post-State Formation

    • 15 November 2023: Jharkhand celebrated its 23rd Foundation Day.
    • Ongoing focus on tribal empowerment, development, and preservation of cultural identity.

    This rich and turbulent history highlights how the resilience of Jharkhand’s people has shaped its distinct identity—from ancient trade centers to the crucible of tribal uprisings and eventually, to becoming India’s 28th state.