Birsa Munda

Birsa Munda
Photograph from S. C. Roy's The Mundas and their Country
Native name	बिरसा मुंडा
Born	(1875-11-15)15 November 1875 Ulihatu, Khunti district, India
Died	9 June 1900(1900-06-09) Ranchi Jail
Nationality	Indian

Birsa Munda  pronunciation  (1875–1900) was an Indian tribal freedom fighter, religious leader, and folk hero who belonged to the Munda tribe. He spearheaded an Indian indigenous tribal religious millenarian movement that arose in the tribal belt of modern-day Bihar and Jharkhand in the late 19th century, during the British Raj, thereby making him an important figure in the history of the Indian independence movement. His achievements are even more remarkable for having been accomplished before the age of 25.

His portrait hangs in the Central Hall of the Indian parliament, the only tribal leader to have been so honored.

Birsa Munda was born on 15 November 1875, at Ulihatu in colonial Bihar, now in the Khunti district of Jharkhand, on a Thursday, and hence named after that day, according to the then prevalent Munda custom. The folk songs reflect popular confusion and refer to both Ulihatu and Chalkad as his birthplace. Ulihatu was the birthplace of Sugana Munda, father of Birsa. The claim of Ulihatu rests on Birsa's elder brother Komta Munda living in the village, where his house still exists albeit in a dilapidated condition.

Birsa's father, mother Karmi Hatu, and younger brother, Pasna Munda, left Ulihatu and proceeded to Kurumbda, near Birbanki, in search of employment as labourers (sajhedari) or crop-sharers (ryots). At Kurmbda, Birsa's elder brother, Komta, and his sister, Daskir, were born. From there the family moved to Bamba where Birsa's elder sister Champa was born followed by Birsa himself.