Why in the news?

• The government starts preparation for celebrating  Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on November 15 which marks Birsa Munda’s 150th birth anniversary.

Birsa Munda

• Who was he?:
  • He was an Indian tribal freedom fighter, reformer, and religious leader in the Deccan region.
  • Other Name – ‘Dharti Abba’ or Father of the Earth
• His Contributions:
  • Religious:
    • He renounced Christianity and protested against the conversion of Tribals by Christian missionaries.
    • He created a new religion called “Birsait”, which worshiped only one god and was used to spread strong anti-British feelings.
  • Reformer
    • He stressed the need for the tribals to study their religion and not forget their cultural roots.
    • He convinced people to give up superstition, alcohol, theft, lying, murder, and begging under his new religion.
  • Freedom Fighter:
    • As a freedom fighter, he led the Munda Rebellion against the British.
• Death: Birsa died of cholera in the jail in 1900 and the movement faded out.