Culture, Secularism and Diversity SPEECH BY SHRI K.R. NARAYANAN, PRESIDENT OF INDIA, ON THE OCCASION OF UNVEILING OF THE STATUE OF SHRI BIRSA MUNDA NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 1998 I am happy to associate myself with the unveiling of the statue of Shri Birsa Munda, a legendary figure in the history of our struggle for freedom. He is well known as an early advocate and exponent of tribal rights and as an indomitable fighter against foreign rule and oppression. One of the lesser known aspects of our fight against British rule is that tribal uprisings constituted an important part of the defiance of the colonial regime. Birsa Munda is an outstanding representative of one such movement in late 19th century in Chotanagpur region, who initiated a unique phase of our freedom struggle which decisively influenced its course and subsequently made us deeply conscious of tribal issues vis-a-vis nation building. Birsa Munda rose from the lowest rank of peasants to mobilise people against the appropriation of tribal land and disintegration of their way of life, economy, and culture by the colonial system. He fought against the predatory tendencies in the name of modernisation and the oppressive Zamindari system, invoking the spirit of tribal order characterised by simplicity, absence of tyranny, and living in harmony with nature. He used the myths and symbols of his society and culture and became a rallying point for people to rise against foreign rule, oppression and injustice. His movement was also infused with the spirit of religious reform, social justice and cultural regeneration. He fought against British rule, suffered imprisonment and subsequently became a martyr. Through his struggle he became a cult figure, a part of the folklore and was even deified by the people as 'Dharti Abba' or 'Birsa Bhagwan'. The Bihar Regiment of the Indian Army invokes his name in one of their battle cries. Birsa Munda's struggle was suppressed by the British authorities. But it did not go in vain. His fight for the rights of the people for forest resources, land and preservation of their distinct identity was subsequently recognised when the then British Government, through a series of measures, guaranteed tribals' rights to reclaim their land and empowered officials to forcefully evict the occupation of tribal land by others. The Chotanagpur Tenancy Act of 1908 which partially protected the rights of tribals is considered as an important outcome of Birsa Munda's fight. The arduous fight of Birsa Munda against British rule and its ramifications found articulation in the larger context of our struggle for independence when Surendranath Banerjea took up the issue in the Legislative Council and many other leading newspapers of the period editorially supported its cause. The impact of this movement was significant enough that even the British Government that suppressed it, recognised its gravity. This was reflected in the secret report of the then Lt. Governor who wrote, "the disturbance may have quieted down but Simla requires to be constantly reminded that it is sitting on a powder magazine." The popularity, intensity and relevance of the movement launched by Birsa Munda was so widespread that all the mainstream political groups supported it and eulogised its contributions to arouse the common people to stand against the mighty British empire. Acknowledging his crucial role in awakening the masses of Chotanagpur against British rule, the Indian National Congress and the Forward Block observed Birsa Day in 1940 with great enthusiasm. Paying tribute to Birsa Munda, the Indian National Congress named the main gate of its Ramgarh Session in 1940 as Birsa Gate and published stories of his eventful life which was circulated among the delegates. The awakening triggered by Birsa Munda found its manifestation in the formation of Kisan Sabha by many tribal groups, which later joined the struggle for freedom. Many followers of Birsa Munda who took pride in calling themselves 'Birsaites' joined the nationalist movement for independence and were greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi. Historians have asserted that the campaigns of Indian National Congress in Chotanagpur would not have been successful without Birsa Munda's agitation. As we survey the remarkable life and deeds of Birsa Munda, we are struck by the spontaneity of people's action. One important feature is that Birsa Munda's movement attracted a large number of women who suffered imprisonment, faced police bullets and embraced death. The then British Government was perplexed by the willing and large-scale participation of women in the agitation launched by Birsa. Birsa Munda stood out as an early protagonist of tribal rights, a pioneer in mobilising women for the cause of freedom and as an irrepressible fighter for justice and human dignity. His movement launched in late 19th century has significance for our own times. To-day our tribals, in all parts of our country, are fighting for their inalienable rights to land, forest resources and cultural identity. In all such fights we find an echo of Birsa Munda's strivings. To-day our tribal brothers and sisters are heroically standing against the forces of so-called modernisation which run antithetical to their life-style, and understanding of nature and culture. They resist the alarming deterioration of environment as they are the protectors and preservers of "Jal, Jungle and Jantu" and draw our attention to the need for re-examining our concepts of development and progress. They underline the need for truly sustainable development projects. Since the days of our struggle for independence, we have taken steps to guarantee the rights of our tribal brothers and sisters. Our Constitution, the fundamental law of the land, stipulates the provisions for their upliftment. The unveiling of the statue of Birsa Munda is national recognition of the role of tribals in the freedom struggle and of the importance of preserving their identity and their rich traditional culture while improving their living conditions and integrating them emotionally into the mainstream of national life. Thank you Jai Hind ^Top