Peasant Uprisings Against feudal Exploitation: The Enduring Legacy of Birsa Munda
The history of India’s struggle for freedom is inextricably tied to the peasant uprisings against colonialism and feudal exploitation. As we journey back to the late 19th century, the misty highlands of Chhota Nagpur—today’s Jharkhand, formerly part of Bihar—come alive with the legacy of the Munda people, a fiercely independent tribal community led by a remarkable young leader: Birsa Munda. The Chhota Nagpur plateau, stretching across the southern districts of the Bihar province, was a storm center for peasant rebellions throughout the 19th century. The Munda people, primarily engaged in agriculture, had a unique folk tradition and a history of anti-imperialist resistance. Despite their contributions to the fighting heritage of India, they continued to suffer under the heavy yoke of landlords and moneylenders who held over 70 percent of the land, wielding absolute economic and political power. Beneath the surface of their everyday lives, a quiet tension simmered. The Birsa Munda Uprisi...