After decades-long demands by tribal activists in the State, the Government on Wednesday finally took a revolutionary decision that the statues of one of the most prominent freedom fighters of Eastern India Birsa Munda, who is popularly called as Bhagwan (God) in Jharkhand, will no longer have shackles. CM Raghubar Das on Wednesday ordered to change all statues, icons, pictures that portray Bhagwan Birsa Munda in cuffs with immediate effect.
In a notification issued by Tourism, Art-Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs (Cultural Directorate) of the Government, it has been stated that the CM has asked to place all pictures and statues of Birsa Munda without shackles. The CM has said that the pictures, statues showing Bhagwan Birsa in shackles reflect repression and it leaves a negative impression on the youths' minds. All departments, directorates and institutions will soon change the pictures, icons and show Birsa Munda without cuffs.
Welcoming the decision, Tribal Advisory Council member Ratan Tirkey said the step was long pending on the part of the Government, yet it has a symbolic connotation and the Government needs to take more such steps that actually empower the tribal people of the State.
“The demand to remove cuffs off Birsa Munda was first raised by Jharkhand Party leader NE Horo. We then formed a group named All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) in 1987 and this group raised the demand very seriously that time. We had even met the President of India and submitted a memorandum to him back then,” said Tirkey.
“After formation of Jharkhand as a separate State the demand was again raised in 2002 but it subsided as people from just one particular tribe - the Munda tribe - were taking part in the dharna and protests,” he added.
Tirkey said the decision was heartwarming, yet the Government needs to take more steps to actualise the dreams of Birsa Munda. "Just by removing shackles, the tribal population will not be free from oppression. The Government has to take into account other issues such as decentralisation of powers, more opportunities for the people, making CNT and SPT Acts work for people among others. The dream of Birsa Munda to establish one's own regime will be actualised when the tribal population participates in the decision making process,” he added.
Birsa Munda is the biggest icon of the State, on whose name a number of institutions, facilities and organisations have been established with hundreds of pictures and statues set up across Jharkhand. He had led the “Ulgulan” (revolt) or the Munda rebellion against the British.
Born on November 15, 1875 at Ulihatu village in Khunti district, Birsa died at an age of just 25, in Ranchi’s Central Jail. He was arrested along with hundreds of tribal revolutionaries in 1900 from Chakradharpur (West Singhbhum) and was brought to Ranchi Jail via Khunti and now the famous Birsa Chowk of Ranchi which has an iconic statue of Bhagwan Birsa in cuffs. According to official records he died in Ranchi Jail on June 9, 1900 from cholera.