Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the iconic tribal freedom fighter and spiritual leader, is honoured on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas 2025 for leading the Ulghulan revolt and defending Adivasi land rights. Born on 15 November 1875, he challenged British rule and became Dharti Aba for millions. His legacy remains central to India’s tribal identity and justice movements.
TheInterviewTimes.com, 15 November 2025: Every year on 15 November, India observes Janjatiya Gaurav Divas to honour the courage, sacrifice, and spiritual leadership of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, one of the youngest revolutionaries in Indian history. More than a century after his martyrdom, his call for justice and dignity continues to echo across Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and the entire tribal belt of central India.
Who Was Bhagwan Birsa Munda?
Bhagwan Birsa Munda was born on 15 November 1875 in Ulihatu village in present-day Khunti district of Jharkhand. He belonged to the Munda tribal community, which faced severe exploitation under British rule. Colonial officers, missionaries, zamindars, and moneylenders—whom tribals called dikus—took away ancestral lands and forced Adivasis into beth-begari, a cruel form of bonded labour.
Birsa initially studied at a missionary school but soon rejected conversion after realising that the colonial system was eroding tribal culture. At 20 years of age, he experienced a profound spiritual awakening and declared himself a messenger of Singbonga, the supreme deity of the Mundas. He founded the Birsait faith, which combined spiritual reform with resistance to oppression.
Through his teachings, Bhagwan Birsa Munda urged Adivasis to reclaim their land, identity, and dignity—sparking a mass movement that changed the course of India’s tribal history.
देश के महान स्वतंत्रता सेनानी भगवान बिरसा मुंडा जी को उनकी 150वीं जयंती पर शत-शत नमन। जनजातीय गौरव दिवस के इस पावन अवसर पर पूरा देश मातृभूमि के स्वाभिमान की रक्षा के लिए उनके अतुलनीय योगदान को श्रद्धापूर्वक स्मरण कर रहा है। विदेशी हुकूमत के अन्याय के खिलाफ उनका संघर्ष और बलिदान…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 15, 2025
The Ulghulan: A Tribal Revolution That Shook the British Raj
In the late 1890s, Birsa called for Ulghulan, meaning “The Great Tumult”. It became one of the most powerful tribal uprisings against British rule.
The Ulghulan had three clear goals:
- End British rule and establish Munda Raj (self-rule)
- Restore khuntkatti land rights, the traditional system of community ownership
- Expel exploitative outsiders, including missionaries and moneylenders
Birsa’s famous call—
“Abua raj ete jana, abua disum ete jana.”
(“Let the queen’s rule end, and let our land be ours.”)
—became the slogan of resistance.
On Christmas Eve 1899, his followers launched coordinated attacks on British posts. The most defining battle unfolded on 9 January 1900 at Dombari Hill, where hundreds of tribal fighters armed with bows and arrows confronted British rifles. Though outgunned, their courage shook colonial authorities.
The revolt forced the British to enact landmark laws such as the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act of 1908, which finally recognised tribal land rights. This remains one of Birsa’s greatest achievements.
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Arrest, Mysterious Death, and the Rise of Dharti Aba
On 3 February 1900, Bhagwan Birsa Munda was captured while asleep in Jamkopai forest. He was lodged in Ranchi Jail, where he died on 9 June 1900 at just 24 years old. The official cause was listed as cholera, but most tribal communities believe he was poisoned.
His death transformed him into a deity. Across Adivasi regions, he is worshipped as Dharti Aba, meaning Father of the Earth. His teachings continue to guide tribal movements rooted in justice, land rights, and cultural identity.
Legacy and National Recognition
In 2021, the Government of India declared 15 November as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas to honour Birsa’s contributions to the freedom struggle. The same day is also celebrated as Jharkhand Foundation Day.
His legacy is visible across India:
- A towering statue stands in the Parliament complex.
- Ranchi’s airport, central jail, university, and hockey stadium carry his name.
- Tribal organisations continue to demand the Bharat Ratna for Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
Why Bhagwan Birsa Munda Still Matters in 2025
For India’s 10+ crore Adivasi population, the issues Birsa fought against—land alienation, forest displacement, and cultural marginalisation—remain deeply relevant. As modern development pushes into tribal regions, his belief in people’s rights over their land has renewed significance.
His life reminds the nation that India’s freedom struggle was not fought only in cities but also in forests and hills by young tribal heroes who stood unarmed against an empire.
Key Takeaways
- Bhagwan Birsa Munda remains one of India’s youngest freedom fighters and tribal icons.
- His Ulghulan movement reshaped land rights and tribal identity in central India.
- 15 November is celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas and marks his birth anniversary.
- His message of land, dignity, and self-rule remains relevant in 2025.
- India continues to honour him as Dharti Aba, the eternal protector of the earth and his people.