Question

Birsa wanted from the government to set up_________.
A.Munda-Raj
B.Munda rebellion
C.Bodo movement
D.None of the above

Answer 1

Hint:Birsa Munda was one of the major freedom fighters to come from a tribal background. He was part of an Austroasiatic tribal group now centred around Bangladesh and the north eastern states in India. They were once the largest tribe in India. They are also known as the Mudhas. Birsa was born and raised in the tribal situated Bihar and Jharkhand, and he was also known as Dharti Aaba (Father of Earth).

Complete answer:
 Birsa Munda was born on 15th November 1875 , in the Munda tribe of the Chotanagpur Plateau area. Birsa Munda his hate towards the British grew as the reign intensified and helped to mobilise the tribal community against the British rulers and colonial officials in order to establish multiple laws that are protecting the land rights of the tribals. Birsa Munda's slogan against British Raj was —Abua raj ster jana, maharani raj tundu jana ("Let the kingdom of the queen be ended and our kingdom be established")— became a symbol for the tribal movements.

When the land became in custody of the feudal landlords, Birsa demanded opportunities for people to work on their land, settle down and cultivate their fields. This made him an interest for the British officials and they were worried about the political aim of the Birsa movement. He demanded the establishment of Munda raj in order to drive out missionaries, moneylenders, Hindu landlords, and the government. According to the followers of the movement, all these forces were the cause of the misery the Mundas were suffering. They demanded for the movement to be established in order to change the brutal reality faced by the tribe.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note:The Munda rebellion forced the officials to introduce laws in favour of the tribe. The Chotanagpur Tenancy Act of 1908 gave the tribes an opportunity to be taken seriously by the land owners. It showed that the tribal people had the capacity to protest against injustice and express their anger against colonial rule. Munda used traditional symbols and language to rouse people, urging them to destroy “Ravana” (dikus/outsiders and the Europeans) and establish a kingdom under his leadership.