Munda Rebellion (Chota Nagpur, 1874-1901)

This was a tribal movement that developed between 1874 and 1901 and was led by Birsa Munda from 1895. It affected an area of about 400 square miles in the Chota Nagpur region of South Bihar. The movement was born out of basic problems that affected the tribals in the colonial period. The Munda system of common land holdings had been destroyed by the intrusion of jagirdars, revenue farmers and merchant moneylenders.

It is noteworthy that the movement had a distinct connection with Christianity in its early phase. The Mundas accepted Christianity with the beliefthat the German missionaries would help themn against the exploitation of the zamindars. However, dissatisfaction with the German missionaries made them turn to the Catholic mission. But seeing the colonial ties between the colonial officers and the zamindars, the Munda sardars turned against all outsiders and finally rose in a rebellion ulgulan', led by Birsa Munda. Previously, Birsa Munda had declared himself as messenger Statue of Birsa Munda in Pune, Maharashtra of God with miraculous healing powers. But under the influence of sardars, his religious movement began to acquire agrarian and political content.

In 1899, Birsa Munda declared a rebellion to establish the Munda rule and encouraged the kiling of 'jagirdars and rajas and hakims (rulers) and Christians'. Birsa succeeded in mobilising nearly 6000 Mundas armed with swords and spears, bows and arrows. There was active participation of women in this movement. Economically weaker non-tribal people were not attacked.

Main leader: Birsa Munda

Suppression: The rebellion was ruthlessly suppressed by the British forces. Birsa was arrested in 1900 and he died in prison the same year.