Shri Birsa Munda was born on 15th November 1875, in Birsa and spent his childhood moving from one village to the other with his parents. He belonged to the Munda tribe. He received his early education at Salga under the guidance of Jaipal Nag (his teacher). After the recommendation of his teacher, Birsa converted his religion to Christianity to enroll at the German Mission school. By the influence of Christianity, he came to relate to religion later. Becoming aware of the British colonial ruler and their efforts to convert tribals into Christianity, Birsa opted out of the school and started an ideology of ‘Birsait’ and soon members from two communities i.e. Munda and Oraon community started joining him and that turned into a dispute with the British conversion activities. From 1886-1890, Birsa Munda spent most of his time in Chaibasa which was near the center of the Sardars campaign. The campaigning of the Sardars led a strong impact on the mind of the young boy (Birsa), and soon he became involved in the anti-missionary and anti-government programs. In 1890, when Birsa left Chaibasa, he was strongly rooted in the movement against the British oppression of the tribal communities. Birsa Munda was arrested by the British police on 3rd March 1900, while he was sleeping with his tribal revolutionary army in Jamkopai forest, Chakradharpur. Bisra took his last breath on 9th June 1900, in Ranchi jail. At that time he was just 25 years old.
However, he lived a short span of life but he is known to have prepared the tribal community against the British. Though the ‘Birsait’ movement died out soon after his death, Birsa’s achievements as a young tribal revolutionary are celebrated over decades now. He also has carved out a space in many hearts. Swami Vivekanand Subharti University remembers the great Shri Birsa Munda on the occasion of “Janjatiya Gaurav Divas”.
