Name of Uprising: Birsa Movement
Area: Bihar and Jharkhand
Important Leader : Birsa Munda.
The Mundas were the frustrated tribal people who resorted to rebel several times in 1789, 1807, 1812, 1819 and 1832 in Bihar & modern Jharkhand. These revolts were because of the undue interference by the administration and the attitude of the landlords. This led to the emergence of Birsa movement under the leadership of Birsa Munda.
The name of Birsa Munda (1875-1900) is cherished in India as one of the great freedom fighters. He raised the voice against the transformation of the tribal agrarian system into the feudal state around the Chhotanagpur area. In 1900, at the age of 25, he was captured by British and put into prison. He died most probably because of the torture in prison.
Today, Birsa Munda is a venerated figure in Bihar and Jharkhand. His name decorates the airport of Ranchi and Birsa Institute of Technology, Ranchi.
The followers of Birsa Munda are called Birsait.
“Aranyer Adhikar” which means “Right to the Forest” was a novel of Mahashweta Devi Published in 1977. This novel was based upon the Munda Rebellion and Mahashweta Devi got “ Sahitya Akademi Award” for Bengali in 1979 for this work.