Question

Write a short note on Birds Munda under the following heads :
1.His childhood
2.His growing up years
3.Golden age of the past
4.Influence of the British in tribal affairs and how it affected Birsa

Answer 1

Dear Student

Birsa Munda
1. His childhood: Birsa was born in a family of tribal group - Mundas that lived in Chottanagpur in Nagpur in the mid-1870s. His father was poor. He grew up around forests of Bohonda, grazing sheep, playing the flute, and dancing in the local akhara. His father had to move from place to place due to poverty.
2. His growing up years: He went to local missionary school and listened to sermons of missionaries. In his adolescenance, he heard tales of Munda uprisings of the past and saw the sirdars (leaders) of community urging people to revolt and fight for their land
3. Golden age of past: Leaders of community talked about golden age when Mundas were free of oppression of dikus, and
They saw themselves as the descendants of original settlers of the region. They lived a good life, constructed embankments, tapped natural springs, planted trees and orchards, practised cultivation to earn their living. They lived honestly.
4. Influence of the British in tribal affairs and how it affected Birsa: British had adverse affect in tribal affairs. The land policies of the British were destroying traditional land system of tribe.
Birsa urged his followers to recover their glorious past. He also turned against missionaries and Hindu landlords. The main aim of Birsa Movement was to drive out missionaries, moneylenders, Hindu landlords and government and set up Munda Raj with Birsa as
its head.

Regards