The Akhil Bhartiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram on Sunday inaugurated the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Bhawan as the new Tribal Research and Training Centre in Delhi. The grand ceremony was attended by dignitaries, social leaders, and activists, including Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who was also the chief guest. All India Joint General Secretary Vishnu Kant outlined the efforts behind the construction of the centre and the vision it carries forward.

Ashram president Satyendra Singh presided over the event and said the tribal communities have always safeguarded nature. The purpose of this ashram is to protect their identity, existence, and promote development.

Union Minister Khattar said that the Bhawan will serve as a hub for research, training, and leadership. Ministers Durga Das Uike and Kiren Rijiju applauded the role of tribals in India’s culture and nation-building. RSS Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale stressed the empowerment of tribals, adding that the topic should not be displaced from mainstream discussions.

Who was Birsa Munda?

Birsa Munda was an independent tribal activist, folk hero, and the leader of the Munda tribe. He played a very important role in the religious movement that rose in the Bengal Presidency (present-day Jharkhand) in the late 19th century during the British Raj. This made him one of the most important figures in the history of the Indian independence movement in the context of tribals. The revolt led by Birsa Munda was concentrated in the Munda belt of Khunti, Tamar, Sarwada, and Bandgaon.

Birsa received his early education in Salga under the guidance of his teacher, Jaipal Nag. Later, he converted to Christianity to join the German Mission School. After dropping out, Birsa Munda created a faith called Birsait, the followers of which became a major challenge for British authorities in the area. The Birsaits openly declared their enemies were the British, and not the Christian Mundas.

The central cause of the Munda revolt was the unfair land-grabbing practices by colonial local authorities that nearly demolished the entire tribal land system. Birsa also challenged British Christian missionaries and opposed conversion activities along the Munda belt. Birsa rose to such prominence that his portrait hangs in the Indian Parliament Museum even today.