Janjatiya Gaurav Divas: Tribal Movements and Facts for UPSC
Q. With reference to tribal movements in India, consider the following statements:
1. Birsa Munda led the Ulgulan movement seeking the restoration of the Khuntkatti land system.
2. Veer Narayan Singh, who participated in the resistance against the British, belonged to the Gond tribe.
3. The 'Adi Vaani' initiative is an AI-powered tool for the translation of tribal languages.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Context
India celebrates Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (Tribal Pride Day) on November 15 every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of the legendary tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda (born 1874). The year 2024–25 is being observed as Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh to mark 150 years of his birth.
Who was Birsa Munda?
Born in Ulihatu village (Jharkhand), Birsa Munda was a spiritual reformer and anti-colonial revolutionary who unitied tribal communities against British exploitation.
Key Contributions:
- The Ulgulan (Great Tumult): Led the movement (1899–1900) for tribal self-rule and the restoration of Khuntkatti (community land rights).
- Dharti Aaba: Known as the "Father of the Earth," he envisioned a moral, self-governed society free from colonial influence.
- Resistance: Challenged British land laws and feudal systems that displaced tribal populations.
- Legacy: Martyred in Ranchi Jail at the age of 25.
Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum Initiative
To preserve the underrepresented history of tribal uprisings, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs is establishing 11 museums across India.
Major Museums Already Inaugurated:
- Jharkhand (Ranchi): Bhagwan Birsa Munda Tribal Freedom Fighter Museum.
- Chhattisgarh (Raipur): Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Memorial & Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum.
- Madhya Pradesh (Chhindwara): Badal Bhoi State Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum.
- Madhya Pradesh (Jabalpur): Raja Shankar Shah and Kunwar Raghunath Shah Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum.
Other Planned Locations: Rajpipla (Gujarat), Lambasingi (Andhra Pradesh), Wayanad (Kerala), Hyderabad (Telangana), Tamenglong (Manipur), Kelsih (Mizoram), and Ponda (Goa).
Notable Tribal Leaders & Movements
The museums chronicle several iconic uprisings against British tyranny:
- Veer Narayan Singh (Chhattisgarh): A zamindar from the Binjhwar tribe who led the 1856 movement to feed starving people during a famine. He was executed in 1857.
- Badal Bhoi (Madhya Pradesh): Led tribal protests in 1923 at Chhindwara; broke forest laws in 1930.
- Raja Shankar Shah & Kunwar Raghunath Shah (Gond Kingdom): Poets and descendants of King Nizam Shah who used verses to resist British influence during the 1857 revolt.
- Iconic Crusades: The museums also highlight the Halba Kranti, Bhumkal Kranti (led by Gundadhur), Jungle Satyagraha, and Rani Cho-Ris Kranti (a pioneer women-led protest in 1878).
Digital & Cultural Initiatives
The Government has launched several platforms to mainstream tribal knowledge systems:
- Adi Sanskriti: A digital learning platform offering courses on tribal artforms.
- Adi Vaani: An AI-powered translation tool designed to preserve and promote indigenous languages.
- Tribal Digital Document Repository: A searchable archive of tribal-related research (repository.tribal.gov.in).
- Aadi Mahotsav: A national festival celebrating tribal crafts, cuisine, and culture.
🎯 Analysis & Insights
Prelims mastery
Correct Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only.
Reasoning: Statement 1 is correct as Birsa Munda led the Ulgulan for Khuntkatti rights. Statement 2 is incorrect because Veer Narayan Singh belonged to the Binjhwar tribe, not Gond. Statement 3 is correct as per the digital initiatives listed by the Ministry.
Mains perspective
"Tribal movements were a significant yet often underrepresented component of India's struggle against colonial rule." Discuss the contribution of tribal leaders like Birsa Munda in shaping India’s anti-colonial consciousness. (150 words)