The Legend of Birsa Munda

by Tuhin A. Sinha, Ankita Verma

In 19th century India, deep in the heart of what is now the state of Jharkhand, the Adivasis have been leading a life of absolute misery and darkness. The colonial state, with the help of its scheming local collaborators, has cast a net of abuse and exploitation that is tightening around these Adivasis, much like a hangman’s noose does. Everything they hold dear – their land, homes, history, traditions, religion, families – has fallen victim to the grand colonial plan of building a magnificent but merciless empire for the Queen. However, when a people are all but crushed into dust and their identities threatened with a complete erasure, they erupt like a hot, angry whiplash of fire with a roaring so loud that it reverberates in the very heart of the empire and sends a frisson of fear up the spines of those in power. A fire that stokes a rebellion. And at the heart of this rebellion is the twenty-five-year-old Birsa Munda. He decides what must be done to save his community and leads the Adivasis in fighting back to reclaim their lives. A lion-hearted warrior. Healer. Spiritual guide. A forgotten hero. Based on true events, this epic tale of courage is a tribute to the life of Birsa Munda, who in his very short life, mobilized the tribal community, rebelled against forced conversions, envisioned a fairer, more just society and died fighting for it. A thrilling account that chronicles what most history books don’t mention, The Legend of Birsa Munda is the story of a subaltern tribal hero, whose contribution to India’s struggle for independence must never be forgotten.

Genres: Indian Literature

400 pages, Paperback

First published December 20, 2021

About the author

Tuhin was born and brought up in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. He completed his schooling at Loyola School, and obtained a B.Com (H) from the Hindu College, University of Delhi and Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising and Communications Management from the National Institute of Advertising, New Delhi. He is married to Ramyani DasGupta Sinha.

Reviews

[Ashutush · Rating 5 out of 5]

The legend of Birsa Munda is written by Tuhin A. Sinha and Ankita Verma.
The plot revolves around Birsa Munda, a tribal leader who inspires the tribe to revolt against coerced conversions. Birsa Munda is a forgotten hero, and this book aids in acknowledging the part he played in helping his community envisage a fairer and more equal society.
This book is a thriller. You will want to know what happens next.

The plot develops quickly. It comprises 24 chapters and more than 370 pages. The chapters are brief, ranging from 3 to 5 pages. The chapters are identified by dates that tell the historical history of Birsa's life within that specific time period. As a highly accurate narrative of Birsa's life and significant dates is given, the book looks to have undergone extensive research. The political and social climate of that time period is also covered in this book. The brutal exploitation caused the tribal people to make decisions against their traditional values that were too harsh.

There are three sections to the story. Part 1 details Birsa's childhood up until the point that he rebels against the missionary for the first time in his school. The events that followed his escape from the missionary are covered in Part 2. His interaction with Vaidya and the lessons he learned from him about the scriptures, everyday struggles, and the value of becoming free of these colonists In the third section, he describes how he rose to become a movement leader, the militant tactics he used to fight the colonists, his time in prison, and the eventual uprising.

The narrative in Part 2 runs very fast. Once, he removed the silver anklet from the dead body of a lady to arrange food for her hungry children. This was against the traditional belief that whatever clothes or ornaments the deceased person had at the time of death, goes to the grave. He had to run away as all his relatives had turned against him. While he was going away from the village, the contemplation of whether he did right or wrong, is very well explained by the author.

Birsa was an extremely inquisitive youngster. He used to have a lot of inquiries. He read and became informed about various topics as a result of his habit of asking questions and looking for the truth. He knew numerous scriptures by heart. He used to chant these phrases while carrying out his regular tasks and cleaning the Vaidya's (Pandeyji) home. He had learnt English at a missionary school, and then he had also learnt Sanskrit. Both of these languages he had learnt out of curiosity. He also learnt Ayurveda, and then he started treating the local villagers with herbs. At this point, he started to become famous in the area. The author has highlighted this aspect of him, showing how his studies of the scriptures and other topics helped him ignite the flame of freedom inside of him and inspire such a significant movement. As the narrative goes on, this is explained in more detail.

He once made an attempt to protect a woman from being hurt by others who had falsely accused her of being a witch. But when he stepped in, they bound him. He had to flee in the end to save his own life. He then attempted to enlist assistance, but no one seemed interested in getting involved. He realised that someone needed to work not only to eradicate these atrocities, but also to educate and cleanse people's minds of such superstitions. This is the first instance when Birsa tried to help others.

Another event reveals his impulsive personality. He once received insufficient rice from the neighbouring landowner while collecting donations in the form of rice. He said that his illegal alcohol business would cease if Pandey Ji campaigned against alcoholism among the people. Immediately, the landlord generously distributed the rice donation.

Later on, in the village, while holding his hand and gazing into his eyes, an elderly woman made a prophecy. Birsa will be the revolution's torchbearer who puts an end to the tyrants' oppression and horrors. Birsa had a dream a few days later in which he scaled the tree to grab some fruits. But when he touched that fruit in his hands, it exploded into a brilliant star. Birsa was advised by Pandey Ji to depart for his hometown as this would be his karmabhumi at this point. Birsa, however, declined, claiming that he was still unsure of what to do or how to put a stop to the tyrant's authority. However, Pandey ji asserted, "Like Abhimanyu of the Mahabharata, you must plunge in before letting the almighty guide you." However, be willing to give your life if it means bettering others. " He took cover from the storms inside a cow shed on the route to his village. It was here at night that his face eventually started to shine like gold. He gained notoriety as a healer who not only treated patients' illnesses but also gave them hope for a better future as soon as word of this story spread. This book goes into great depth to tell this part of the story in order to show that there was a component of divine assistance.

He altered his appearance to resemble a holy guy. He built a little cottage for himself, started wearing a saffron dhoti, and began chanting mantras continuously. People began referring to him as "Dharti Baba," and he devised a set of principles for his followers to obey. He resisted sending his people to kill the enemies.

Moina and Gaya are the other characters that are developed by the author. Both are the most rebellious and didn't hesitate to use violence against tyranny. This is a story of a war where on one side are the tribals with traditional arms, and on the other side are the guns. The fight was to preserve the cultural and religious identity of the tribe.

This is a story that everyone should read. The contribution of Birsa Munda to India’s struggle for independence must never be forgotten. The author recommends Bharat Ratna for Birsa Munda. An OTT web series based on the account of this book is suggested—it would be a thriller to watch.

[Ujjwala Singhania · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Legend of Birsa Munda by Tuhin A. Sinha and Ankita Verma is my fifth book by Indic Org under their 1000 Reviewers Club 2022 edition.
I picked up this book for reading during the extended holiday during Swatantrata Diwas (thought it to be the perfect time), but couldn't put the book down and finished it in less than two-days. It was engrossing and written so simply.
The book details the Adivasi Movement led by Bhagwan Birsa Munda. His life, his struggles and his determination to bring his people together in a bid to throw away the yoke of superstition and the slavery under the English Empire and its demonic Missionaries. Build a life for themselves where they can be one with their natural habitat, have right to their lands, their God and their rituals; and a future for their children.
The author tells the story of one of the biggest tribal movement against the British Empire, challenging its might by the simple yet determined folks of the deep forests of Jharkand in the 19th CE.
The unlimited greed, the unimaginable cruelty, the bottomless depravity of the Raj and its evil Missionaries. The hunger, the loss of dignity, land, faith, rituals....everything that a human being can hold dear turning into a nightmare because of the policies of an Empire meant to degrade and deprive people of their basic rights.
This unending misery of the Adivasis inspired one child to raise against the injustices of the "Civilized" people and come to be known as Bhagwan.
The authors have used very subtle and sometimes very stark writing style to bring the atrocities of the Raj and its minions to life, chilling the reader to her core. This book is not only the story of Birsa Munda but his people too. And it should be read by more people to appreciate that the freedom struggle was not limited to the heartland of India but was spread in her hinterlands as well. The freedom fighters were not the few that most of us have read about in popular history but many who have often been sidelined or conveniently forgotten. And to appreciate that our freedom hasn't come cheap. It is our legacy and it is our duty to do our bid to make Bharat a better and beautiful nation for our future generations.

[Divya Mahajan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book via Indic Book Club and I am exteremely grateful for it. Birsa Munda : Bharat Mata ka veer Putra by Tuhin A Sinha is the story of tribal revolutionary who was revered as God by his people. Birsa Munda is a revolutionary whose story was forgotten withscores of heros who fought the British for their self respect and well beinf of their people and did not suffer silently the atoroticities and cruelty of the Brith Empire. The author brings out his story , and shows how Birsa became a revolutionary and the incidents , the circumstances and the people that moulded and motivated him and brought out his greatness. His love for tribe,his traditions, his land and people shines throughout even when he had to unwillingly convert.
The author has brought a compelling story that tries to brings out all facets of Birsa's life. The language is not very tough though some loical words require a little understanding but still a powerful naarrative. A must read story for all th know the contributions of lesser known heroes of Independance war. As contrary to popular belief Our independenace was not the result of the efforts of a few leaders but a combined collective effort where contributions of warriors like Birsa was like laying the foundation to a bigger war.

Thanks Indic Book Club for this wonderful story that too in Hindi.

[Reading Diet · Rating 4 out of 5]

ये कहानी भारत माता के एक एसे वीर सपूत की हे जिन्हें स्वतंत्र भारत के अधिकतर लोग भुला चुके हे ओर जिनका इतिहास की ज़्यादातर किताबों ने उल्लेख करना ज़रूरी नही समजा।

उन्होंने पारंपरिक हथियार तीर-कमान और भालों से बंदूक़ और तोपो से लैस ब्रिटिश साम्राज्य की जड़े हिला दीं। वो न केवल स्वतंत्रता के लिए लड़े, बल्कि आदिवासियों के सामाजिक ओर आर्थिक अधिकारो के लिए भी लड़े।

ये कहानी जो की एक सच्ची लोक्कथा हे, इसके लेखक तुहिन ए. सिन्हा एवम् अंकिता वर्मा ने बड़े ही आसान ओर सरल भाषा में लिखा हे। कहानी के नायक को यहाँ किसी भी कृत्रिम तरीक़े से दुनिया के महान खलनायक या देवता के रूप में दिखाने की कोई भी अर्थहिन कोशिश नही की गयी हे।

ये बस 19 वि शताब्दी में भारत के आदिवासी समाज में हुए एक महान शक्तिशाली योद्धा के बारे में हे। हमारी भावी युवा पीढ़ी को इस कहानी के बारे में ज़रूर जानना चाहिए।

ये पुस्तक आपको शुरू से अंत तक खिचे रखेगी। यह पूरी कहानी खतम होने तक में रोज़ शाम को ऑफ़िस का काम निपटा के आगे पढ़ने का इंतेज़ार करता रहता था। आज तक बहुत ही कम पुस्तकें एसी मिले हे जिनसे मैंने ऐसा जुड़ाव महसूस किया हो।

ये कहानी तीन भागो में विभाजित हे। पहला भाग मुख्यतः नायक के जनम के आस-पास के दिन ओर अंग्रेजो द्वारा आदिवासी समाज पर की जाने वाली प्रताड़ना के बारे में हे। कहानी में बहुत सारी जगहों पर वर्णित किए गए हालातों के बारे में पढ़ कर आपकी रूह कंप उठेंगी के कोई ऐसे नरक से भी बदतर हालत में कैसे जी सकता हे।

दूसरे भाग में नायक के बचपन की मुश्किलों ओर उस समय के हालातों के बारे में हे। जब पूरे आदिवासी समाज को ईसाई धर्म में लाने का कार्य ज़ोर सोर से चल रहा था। कैसे मुंडा समाज की धार्मिक भावनाओं को अनदेखा करके उन्हें लोभ, लालच ओर डरा धमका के ईसाई धर्म स्वीकार ने को मजबूर किया जाता था।

कहानी का तीसरा ओर अंतिम चरण मुख्यतः नायक के जीवन के आख़री पाँच सालो 1895-1900 के बारे में हे। जिसे इस कहानी का अहम अंश भी कहा जा सकता हे। ये कहानी हमें इस बारे में प्रेरणा देती हे के हालत कितने भी मुश्किल क्यू ना हो आपको हमेशा अपने वजूद, अपनी संस्कृति से जुड़े रहना चाहिए। भगवान बिरसा मुंडा ने एक समाज सुधारक, उपदेशक ओर महान योद्धा के रूप में अपना जीवन बिताया ओर आने वाली पीढ़ी के लिए जीवन जीने की एक मिशाल दे गए।

1990 में उनके जाने के बाद भी लोग उनके दिखाए रस्ते पर आगे बढ़ते रहे। उन्होंने लोगों के दिल में जो क्रांति की आग जलायी वो उनके जाने के बाद भी जलती रही। उन्होंने ने सूत्र दिया था “अबुवा दिशुम, अबुवा राज।” मतलब के ये हमारा देश हे ओर हम यहाँ के मालिक हे।

मेरा निजी मंतव्य यह रहेगा की हम सब को अपने पूरे जीवन कल में एक बार भगवान बिरसा मुंडा के बारे में ज़रूर पढ़ना चाहिए।

[Gaurav Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Extreme darkness rekindles the radiant flame of the human spirit. You are much stronger than you think.” ― Anthon St. Maarten

Birsa Munda, a revolutionary, a visionary, and a spiritual guru who took on the might of British empire by his sheer determination and courage is the forgotten hero of India’s freedom struggle. He was not only the revolutionary who inspired his people to fight their oppressors but also a spiritual guide who told them not to abandon their faith in the wake of religious conversions. No wonder he was considered as the God personified. His opposition to the British Raj was so strong that he became the most dreaded person in that part of British India which is now the state of Jharkhand. His followers gave a strong fight to the British empire even though they fought with traditional weapons like bows and arrows which were no match to the guns and canons that the British personnel used against them.

Tuhin A. Sinha and Ankita Verma in their book ‘The Legend of Birsa Munda’ has compiled the whole life journey of this great man. During the course of writing this book they referred to many online articles and a few books about Birsa Munda, besides speaking to friends and acquaintances who have lived in the region and are familiar with its history. The best part of the book is that it has been written in the form of a fast-paced story which holds your interest till the last. The book is divided into three parts along with a prologue and an epilogue. The language of the book is easy to follow and does not restrict your flow of reading.

I did not know much about Birsa Munda, thanks to our school history books which mentions him fleetingly. This book was an eye opener for me. We really need more books like this which tells us about those luminaries of freedom struggle who are otherwise get very less space in our history books. The way Birsa Munda spearheaded the whole revolution was quite remarkable. The discipline that his followers exhibited speaks volumes about his leadership skills. Although one or two instances of his divinity has been described in the book, but it has not been explored in detail. It would have been interesting to know how it affected the revolution he was heading and what did he think about his stature as a God among his followers.

One thing that I kept on thinking while reading the book was that even after 75 years of India’s independence nothing has changed for India’s tribal population. They are still being subjected to atrocities and their traditions are still in jeopardy due to religious conversions which are prevalent even today.

I would recommend the book to everyone especially children who should definitely know about this great man. This book will make them understand the lives and struggles of those people who helped us in achieving independence and the price they paid for it.

Thanks to Indica books, for sending me this book as a part of the Thousand Reviewers Club.

[Vishakha · Rating 4 out of 5]

हमारे देश के स्वतंत्रता संग्राम में अनेक महापुरुषों व वीरांगनाओं ने अपना योगदान दिया हैं। इनमें ऐसे कई नाम भी हैं जिनका उल्लेख हमारी इतिहास की किताबों में कम ही दिखाई देता हैं। इन नामों में से एक नाम हैं श्री बिरसा मुंडा का जिनके महासंघर्ष - 'उलगुलान' ने वर्तमान झारखंड में अंग्रेजी शासन की जड़े हिलाकर रख दी। 'भारत माता का वीर पुत्र - बिरसा मुंडा' उनके जीवन पर आधारित पुस्तक है जिसे तुहिन सिन्हा और अंकिता वर्मा द्वारा लिखा गया है। पुस्तक का हिंदी अनुवाद प्रतिष्ठित अनुवादक रचना भोला 'यामिनी' जी ने किया है। झारखंड के एक सुदूर गांव 'उलिहातू' में जन्मे बिरसा मुंडा जी ने न केवल ब्रिटिश राज से लोहा लिया बल्कि आदिवासियों के अधिकारों की लड़ाई भी लड़ी। बिरसा मुंडा जी ने अपने २५ वर्ष के जीवन में वो कर दिखाया जिसकी हम कल्पना भी नहीं कर सकते। यह संघर्ष व जीवटता की वह कहानी है जो भावी पीढ़ियों को सुनाए जाने की ज़रूरत है। इसीलिए लेखकों का यह प्रयास बेहद सराहनीय है।

पुस्तक सरल व रोचक भाषा में लिखी गयी है। इसे एक उपन्यास जैसा रूप दिया गया है जिससे पाठक अंत तक कहानी से जुड़ा रहता है। यह पुस्तक हमें काफी हद तक आदिवासी अंचलों के दैनिक जीवन व इतिहास से भी परिचित कराती है। पुस्तक में बिरसा मुंडा के बचपन का मार्मिक चित्रण है जो पाठक को सहज ही उस समय काल में ले जाता है जब आदिवासियों का अंग्रेजी हुकूमत के हाथों शोषण किया जाता था। यह कहानी आज भी प्रासंगिक है और हर भारतीय खासकर युवाओं को प्रेरित करेगी। ख़ास बात यह है की किताब काफी ईमानदारी से लिखी गयी है जिसमें बिरसा मुंडा जी के जीवन के हर पहलू को सहजता से प्रस्तुत किया गया है। पुस्तक के अंत में उस कालखंड से जुड़ी अतिरिक्त जानकारी जिज्ञासु पाठको के लिए मददगार होती । आशा है आने वाले संस्करणों में इसे शामिल किया जा सकेगा। यह पुस्तक हर घर में पढ़े जाने और संग्रहित करने योग्य है ।

[eShaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5: Really liked it
(The review in English follows the review in Hindi)

यह पुस्तक भगवान बिरसा के जीवन व कृत्यों पर लिखा एक काल्पनिक कथानक है। इसका आरंभ भगवान बिरसा के जन्म से होता है जो जनजातियों के निराशा भरे जीवन में आशा की किरण सदृश आते हैं। पुस्तक का यह प्रथम दृश्य ही बहुत सकारात्मक और बाँध लेने वाला है। जनजाति अंग्रेजों से दोहरी मार झेल रहे थे: दमन की सरकारी नीतियाँ तथा ईसाई मिशनरी। दुःखद है कि स्वतंत्रता के इतने वर्षों बाद भी धर्मांतरण का क्रम उसी प्रकार चल रहा है। कथा का अंत भगवान बिरसा की मृत्यु के साथ होता है और तब मुझे लगा मानों मैने किसी अपने को स्वतंत्रता संग्राम में खो दिया।

लेखक की शैली रोचक है और मैं स्वयं कथा का अंग हो गई थी। कथा की गति अच्छी है और आप इससे कभी भी ऊबते नहीं। पुस्तक बांधे रखती है और हर क्षण आगे क्या हुआ की उत्सुकता रहती है। रचना जी ने बहुत ही सुंदर अनुवाद किया है। एक स्थानीय होने के नाते अनुवाद के शब्द-प्रयोग और वाक्यांश आदि से मैं जुड़ पाई।

पुस्तक में मुंडा समाज की सरलता और उनकी संस्कृति का सुंदर चित्रण है। भोली जनजातियों के ईसाई मिशनरियों द्वारा छल और धोखे को भी सार्थक रूप से दर्शाया गया है। उनकी घोर निराशाजनक परिस्थिति व अंग्रेजों तथा जमींदारों के अत्याचार की पीड़ा का भी समुचित चित्रण है ।

झारखण्ड के स्थानीय होने के बाद भी मुझे बिरसा मुंडा के विषय में अधिक ज्ञान नहीं था। इस पुस्तक ने मुझे भगवान बिरसा के विषय में और जानने के लिए प्रेरित किया और मैंने अपने पिता से कई प्रश्न पूछे व कहानियाँ सुनी।

पुस्तक से जुड़े कुछ बिंदु जिनपर और काम हो सकता था:
* संपादन और अच्छा हो सकता था। कई स्थान पर टाइपिंग से जुड़ी गलतियाँ व अन्य छोटी-बड़ी त्रुटियाँ दिखीं।
* एक या दो बार कहानी की निरंतरता टूटती सी लगी।
* जनजाति भी हिन्दु ही हैं। पुस्तक में उन्हें मंदिर जाता हुआ दिखाने या मुंडा राजा द्वारा देवी मंदिर बनाने की बातों के बाद भी मुझे एक अलगाव सा अनुभव हुआ। जैसे की वे हिन्दु से अलग हों। यह पूरी तरह से एक राजनीतिक छलावा है और मुझे लगता है लेखकों ने इस पक्ष पर अधिक ध्यान नहीं दिया।

So this book is a historical fiction written on the life and works of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. Birsa Munda was a freedom fighter from Jharkhand who also worked for the upliftment of the tribals. The book begins with the birth of Birsa Munda and the whole scene is so positive and full of hope in the despair that the tribals are living in. The tribals were facing two-fold attack from the British, one: oppressing policies of the government, and two: heavy conversions from Christian missionaries. Sadly, even after getting freedom, the deceitful conversion by missionaries are still going on at an alarming rate. The novel ended with his death and it felt like I personally lost someone to our freedom struggle.

The author's writing style is captivating and I felt as if I became a part of the story. The pace is good and you never feel bored. The book keeps you engaged and you constantly want to know what happened next. I read it in Hindi and the translator Rachna ji has done her work *well*. I was able to connect to the words and phrases used the whole time. Being a native, I felt at ease.

One could see the simple mindedness of Mundas and a glimpse of their culture. One could also find a portrayal of how the missionaries were a fraud and tricked the simple-hearted tribals. And also, the despair they were living in and the horrendous acts of the British and the Zamindars. I loved the story progression.

Subtly, the book brings a few important points which are applicable even to modern times. Birsa's parents taught him about their culture, their gods, their traditions, their stories, their recipes, their songs, their roots themselves. They had converted to Christianity and couldn't come back under pressure from missionaries. In hope of keeping their own identity intact they taught all these to their youngest kid. Today, we, as Hindus, are facing something similar. We either don't have our institutions or don't own them and families don't teach their children about their traditions and customs. Many find themselves lost without this guidance.

"अगर चमत्कार चाहते हो तो स्वयं चमत्कार बनो"
How many of us remember this? It is a constant battle and we start blaming that gods have left us. We forget that god has given us the ability to choose, to become what we want, to change the situation. The book inspires us to do instead of expecting divine intervention.

Even after being a native of Jharkhand - the land of Birsa Munda, I did not know much about him. This book prompted me to ask questions regarding Bhagwan Birsa to my father and I got to know even more about his life.

Things that could have been even better:
* Once or twice I felt a gap in the story.
* The tribals are Hindus only but even after showing them as going to Temples, or Munda King having built Devi temple, I still felt a disconnect. Like they were different from Hindus. This is a political propaganda to divide us and I think the authors have not given much thought to this aspect.

[Bimit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Birsa Munda is a legend who made a lasting impact on India's fight against the British despite living just 25 years. His spirit of activism against British rule embodied the spirit of a young freedom fighter and tribal leader. The Indian tribe movement he led was based in the tribal belts of modern Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Chattisgarh. His primary target was the missionary arm of the British Raj which coerced the tribals to convert to Christianity. The book focuses on the milestones he achieved in his rebellion against the Raj.

The significant characters are
Karmi - Mother
Sugna - Father
Tribe - Munda
Komta - Elder Brother
Anand Pandey - Mentor

The story begins in 1875 in Ulihatu village in the Khunti district in the state of Jharkhand, where Birsa is born to a poor tribal family. In 1880, the family migrates to Bamba village, where his father, Sugna, becomes a Christian. Sugna later converts Birsa to Christianity when he is almost 11 in order to get him into a good school, as all the schools were run by missionaries and only accepted Christians. In 1886, Birsa is admitted to a residential school in Chaibasa at the age of 11. Upon baptism, he has christened Birsa David, however, his father also instructed him to never forget his roots.

In 1889, Birsa comes back to his family in Chalkad as he was expelled from school due to his spat with missionary dons of the school.

1890 - Birsa meets Anand Pandey in Bandaganva, where he receives Vedic education from his guru.
In the course of four years of living with him, Birsa becomes the local hero of Bandaganva, helping and healing the folks of the village. Throughout nearby regions, word of his fame spread.

After returning to his hometown of Chalkad in 1894, he begins helping the sick. Upon his arrival in his new hometown, the word of his deeds quickly spread - The healing powers of a 19-year-old boy.

During this time, Birsa begins teaching the people lessons from Gita, Ramayana and Mahabharata, thus eventually becoming a god in people's eyes, reminding them of the glorious past and Vedic lessons, as well as urging them to return to the ancestral religion, which upset the British Raj and missionaries. In response, the authorities arrest him and sentence him to 2 years in prison, and when he is released, he immediately begins organizing an armed rebellion against the government.

Munda Army transfers its base to Dombari in 1898 due to its tactical advantages - three-sided mountain cover, dense forest to hide in, and abundant water supply. By attacking English establishments, looting weapons and robbing White houses, the Birsa Munda Army carries out numerous skirmishes. Most importantly, the missionary conversion mafia is being hit at its core, where the primary intent is to return tribal Christians to their original religion - Sanatan Dharma. On Christmas Eve of 1898, they destroy churches and missionary schools as part of this mission.

Following that, the group is forced to change bases and hide from the authorities for the next few months. Birsa Munda and his allies are officially a nuisance to the Raj and they are actively hunting them. Eventually, he is caught in Rogoto village in the month of February 1900 by Superintendent of Police, Thomas Rosh.
He dies on June 9 1900 in jail due to deteriorating health at the age of 25.

The author manages to create the right atmosphere. Authors have done everything well, whether getting the historical relevance right or adding vivid details to the novel that add depth.

The book has some amateur flaws from an editing perspective which does not allow a crisp and seamless experience while reading. Many scene transitions are just cross breaks that just move on to the next event. However, the book is really interesting in its final act.

I read the book in Hindi and the language was polished, however, there are some problematic things regarding the Hindi translation
- Words like AWRAT and ADIVASI are problematic. AURAT is an Urdu word from the Arabic root AWRA, which means nudity and defectiveness. It is a demeaning term for women. VANVASI (Forest Dwellers) should have been used instead of ADIVASI. ADIVASI was coined by the British
- The term Paigambar/Prophet is used for Birsa which has an Abrahamic connotation. There is no dearth of appropriate Hindi and Sanskrit terms.
- The term Messiah is used which again has Abrahamic connotation.

Character introductions fail to grab the attention of the reader. While the hero of the story has an interesting bend undergoing metamorphosis, others can be best described as just prototypes.

It's a compelling story about the war-torn struggle for survival and hope for the future. It is designed and written in a way that you can step in at any time. The chapters are short and concise and the story is a balanced mixture of fact and fiction however every page fails to hold the weight and the action, detailing and dialogues could have been much better. Nevertheless, it is an important book because it is a story that most Indians don't know about and it is a biopic in its truest sense which gives a bittersweet feeling.

[Sunil Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter" - Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe

Johar, Namaskar- We have heard these words on the national forum from our first tribal president, who now resides in Rashtrapati Bhavan which merely a century ago was the Viceroy's palace. The mere thought would have those colonial rogues and their acolytes turning in their graves.

Birsa Munda- Bharat Mata Ke Veer Putra is one of those books that tells you the story of a great freedom fighter who was vilified and hunted by one of the most savage and organized empires in the world - the British. Full of pathos and imagination, this semi-fictionalized account has vivid imagery and drama that manages to bring an often forgotten and neglected historical figure to life.

The popular imagination of India has been suffused with Nehruvian myth-building that has largely neglected many significant figures who were more instrumental in igniting a true spirit of a struggle for freedom in the masses. This has undergone a slight change in the past decade, in which many figures have again been brought forth from the shadows. This year's mega-success 'RRR' has capitalized on this feeling and attempted to rectify the fixation with a few, namely Gandhi and Nehru.

Narrative building has been done over decades and will continue. Pitched battles will be waged over every figure of the past. But, keeping that aside Tuhin Sinha and Ankita Varma have really made an earnest attempt to understand the time frame and it reflects in their writing, which is both poignant and thought-provoking. It gets depressing and heart-rending at times, as it brings alive the many tragedies the Indian subcontinent has had to suffer at the hands of cruel and oppressive rulers. Our cup of woes continues to the present day, but at least we are apparently 'free' and live in the world's biggest democracy- a small consolation.

Birsa Munda died young like all great revolutionaries but in that short age of twenty-five he did more than people do over several lifetimes. There is no denying the fact that the man had charisma that inspired a poor and oppressed society to rebel against an unjust system composed of the British and their loyal servants, the zamindars as well as the usual pliant 'Gunga-Dins' who staffed the constabulary and civil society. The brown man's burden continues till the present day with the hypocritical posturing of the West on practically every issue under the sun.

German Lutheran missionaries and other Victorian proselytisers come across as one of the main villains in the oppression of the tribals and an attempt to crush their native beliefs by the British. Birsa's life trajectory is interesting and he even converts to Christianity in childhood due to poverty becoming Birsa David for a while. His keen intellect realises and rails against the cunning missionary apparatus as he realizes their true malafide intentions.

This continues to the present day in the state of Jharkhand, itself an initiative of the BJP and Vajpayee to respect tribal aspirations and as a partial homage to the legend of Birsa Munda. From Mahasweta Devi to the supposedly 'woke' tribe in cinema and media, his story will come to us in various avatars to conform to the ideology of whoever helms their respective 'creative' project. Legends like Munda and Bhagat Singh succumb to votebank politics and revisionism and their spirit of true patriotism is often obfuscated beyond belief.

Altering historiography or a gratuitious assault on the core Indic/Dharmic tenets of this country's civilization was an avowed and very important colonial project. From Monier Wiliams of partial renown for his Sanskrit dictionary to the loyal footsoldiers of a dystopian and made-up ideal today; the dharmic underpinning has undergone centuries of assualt and indoctrination.

“When the walls of the mighty fortress of Brahmanism are encircled, undermined & finally stormed by the soldiers of the cross, the victory of Christianity must be signal and complete”- Monier Williams.

This book shows us how Victorian proselytisers with the active connivance of the British government attempted to coerce and convert the most vulnerable sections of Indian society, and how they fought back. The much 'derided' Macaulay and his acolytes were and continue to remain the motive force for our intellectual enslavement nearly two centures later.

Another plus point of the book is that unlike a dull academic tome that may provide you with more factual detail and in the process bore and fail to bring the main message home, this book is cinematic, vivid and engaging. It reads like a screenplay.

Two books I read recently conform to the factual but boring definition: 'The Ivory Throne' by Manu Pillai and 'Black Spartacus' by Sudheer Hazeerasingh.' Accustomed as I am to reading English, it was slightly tough going in the beginning as the Hindi version was provided. From a slightly slow start, it picks up pace to riveting battles and invigorating and inspiring battles in the end.

The past eight years in India have seen a slight revival in revisiting forgotten figures from the past. A former IAS officer, an established sycophant of the dynasty, who infamously asked Pakistan's assistance to remove the incumbent PM and called him a tea-seller exemplifies the Nehruvian myth building we have been subject to for generations, swallowing it hook, line and sinker.

RC Majumdar had condemned the establishment in his 1973 essay 'Indian Historiography- Some Recent trends' accusing it of distorting history to suit their own objectives.

“I know from personal experience how the Government of India has sought to utilize history for the spread of ideas which they have elevated to the rank of national policy to their own satisfaction. They are not willing to tolerate any history which mentions facts incompatible with their ideas of national integration and solidarity"

In recent times, attacks on the 'Brahmanic' state(in Arundhati Roy's words) have intensified, polarising and hateful invective has reached endemic levels, and we have been hapless spectators to people being killed merely for expressing their opinion.

As the India-born George Orwell of 'Big Brother' fame once mentioned, ' The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history' . The fact that Brahminic learning has to be suffused with a Kshatriya spirit to battle comes across clearly when we read Birsa Munda's life journey and his mentor Anand Pandey.

We have a surfeit of intelligentsia in this country that has recently reached new nadirs in appeasement and building fake narratives.

Churchill, avowed India-hater once remarked aptly, ' While the Hindu elaborates his argument, the Moslem sharpens his sword. Between these two races and creeds, containing as they do so many gifted arid charming beings in all the glory of youth, there is no intermarriage. The gulf is impassable.'(winstonchurchill.org). However, east is east and west is west, and the twain has been meeting albeit to a limited extent, so we have always have hope for the future.

Some episodes in this book like the dalliance between the zamindar Tribhuvan Singh and the English official's wife with the active encouragement of the husband would have seemed fanciful, had I had not read the raconteur Khushwant Singh's many raunchy reminiscenses of the Nehru-Edwina age apart from British Historian Andrew Lownie's 'The Mountbattens: Their Lives and Loves' and 'Indian Summer: The Secret History of the End of an Empire' by Alex von Tunzellman' and the 'Crown' all of whom openly discuss the promiscuity of the ruling Empire.

The indifference of the Empire and its barbaric cruelty remained a constant feature, most notably in the Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre in 1919, nearly two decades after the death of Birsa Munda in prison by 'poisoning' as hinted by the authors.

Official accounts are always 'whitewashed' however, along with the connivance of a pliant and 'eager-to-please' machinery. The most disgusting aspect is this servility that alllowed a mere 40-50 thousand Englishmen at any time to govern a vast land of nearly 300 million at the time.

The fact that the British underestimated the power of 'pagan' tribals and the charisma of Birsa Munda is constantly reiterated in this book.

Academic and Marxist ideologues are quick to discard the 'patriotic' element and Pandey's mentorship and harp on the 'revolutionary' dialectic and contradictory aspects of Munda's 'back to roots' approach that suit the 'subaltern' and 'proletariat' aspects of West-transplanted 'Communist' ideology that are foisted on India's "Dharmic' past. Jharkhand along with Chattisgarh and a few other states remain part of the extreme left Maoist Naxal belt that was evocatively described by Sudeep Chakravarti in his book 'Red Sun- Travels in Naxalite Country'

The authors have mentioned the divinity 'Singobaba', 'Ulgulan'(great revolt) and 'the slogan 'Abua Disum, Abua Raj' very often that engendered a spirit of camarederie among the oppressed tribal population at the time as well as during the 'Jharkhand' movement for the formation of a tribal-empowered state in the Indian Union.

Sadly, as mentioned in the epilogue and media narratives to the present day, proselytization and missionary activity and coerced conversion continues to the present day. Sarnaism, the tribal belief system in Jharkhand comes under the ambit of Sanatana belief like the Lingayats in Karnataka but is being actively pushed as a 'separate' religion to further divisive votebank politics.

This book is not exacly a 'hagiography' but close to that, and some more complex issues related to Birsa Munda could have been discussed. We see him dithering between 'violence' and 'non-violence' and certain mystical, supernatural activity that justify the 'Bhagwan' moniker, but a more objective account could have taken some more realistic aspects of his personality into consideration. To sum up, I enjoyed reading this book and would like to thank Indica Books for sending it to me.

[Guruprasad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Thank Indic Book Club for sending a copy of this incredible book as part of Books Reviewer Club 2022.

This Book is the Biography of Bharat mata’s Own Son Bhagawan Birsa Munda who invoked the spirit of fight and respect towards the land and culture in the hearts of our tribal brethren in the 18th century when they were undergoing continuous assault on their body with rigors labors in the land of the zamindars and spiritually by the missionary who were using all the tactics to lure the tribal of bharat to denounce their indigenous gods and goddess and accept Only Jesus as the one true god and Christianity as only religion to be practiced in their life.

Author has done a wonderful job in creating the chapters short and crips based on the years and places.

Birsa Munda was a blessed child of Singbonga who was born the parents Sugna and Karmi , The child was loved by both of the parents even they were undergoing atrocities of the landlord, in order to come out this poor condition Sugna decides to leave his ancestry gods and accept the christianity on which Birsa was provided the opportunity to be sent to the missionary Boarding school . where he was schooled majorly in christian thoughts and a bit other subjects , when the circumstances make him meet Sam Munda and thereby develop a good friendship between them , In The school Birsa was provided access to the library which he made use of it to know more about christianity and the world.

Sam’s Death and his funeral changed the view of Birsa regarding the christian missionary and their regards towards tribals was just to convert them to the christians and had no value to the practice or belief of tribals which made birsa to protest and fight back , author portray of character of Father from Gentle and Kind soul in the school to the hardcore missionary person during the later is done so well , which impressed me a lot.

Birsa came back to his Village after this event and did an unfortunate sacrilege of his own people's belief by desecrating the grave of his neighbor girl to steal an anklet and provide food for his family . when this act was caught and birsa was shamed in front of his family and humiliation faced by his family and him is so well written in the book . This makes him run from his village in the forest without looking back and stopping only at the sound of poor wounded Bhura , whom he takes to the nearby village healer Anand pandey . when he gets bhura treated their , birsa comes across the sanskrit books of anand pandey and request anand ji to be his guru and teach . which he does after testing birsa interest and teaches him the scriptures of our santana religion,healin medicine and also ignite the importance of freedom from the british rule and administration in the land .
When the time comes for anand pandey to join friends of freedom fighters , Birsa and Bhura decides to go back to Chalkad the village of Birsa .
Birsa earns a good name by providing the villagers the service of healing and medicines and starts addressing the villagers regarding the importance of freedom and getting rid of the British Govt rule on their land .
Soon the fellow villagers and sardars were impressed by the persona of birsa and requested birsa to lead the rebel fight against the british .

Birsa anointed himself as dharati aba and started giving sermons to the fellow tribals on the importance of getting back to roots of ancestral culture instead of converting to christianity and gains immense followers among the tribals which gives nightmare to british administration and christian missionaries .

Even though Birsa insisted on not harming the innocent people and other religious structures during the fight for freedom , circumstance changes and his close followers had to resort to the violence and burning down churches in retaliation of the harassment done by the British administration towards the innocent tribal women and children .

The valor shown by the tribal fighters against the gun power British soldiers in their fights is praiseworthy and shows the leadership and training provided by the Birsa munda .

The British get hold of the location of Birsa only by means of bribing the munda sardars and capture him . Realizing the impact of Birsa munda on the minds of the tribe and their fight for freedom in future, The British kill birsa through slow poisoning in the food in the prison, and hence Bharat mata loses her beloved son.

Only things I wanted more from the book was what made Birsa Munda to anoint himself as dharati aba and the impact on the tribals in their fight against the British after the death of Bhagawan Birsa Munda.

Its a Very good and inspirational book to read .

[Vineet Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

यह सोचकर आश्चर्य होता है कि बिरसा मुंडा केवल 25 वर्ष जीवित रहे . इतने कम उम्र में उन्होंने संगठन बनाया, अंग्रेजों से स्वतंत्रता की लड़ाई लड़ी, मिशनरीओं द्वारा धर्मांतरण के विरुद्ध आवाज उठाई, धर्मान्तरित लोगों को वापस अपने धर्म से जोड़ा, अपने लोगों के बीच एक चिकित्सक, एक उपदेशक का काम किया. लोग सोचेंगे कि ऐसा तो बहुत लोगों ने किया है. लेकिन यहाँ बात ये है कि जो बिरसा मुंडा कि पृष्ठभूमि है और झारखण्ड कि जो भौगोलिक स्थिति है, वहां यह काम मुश्किल था. इसलिए बिसरा मुंडा विशेष हैं.
बिरसा मुंडा को मैं केवल स्वतंत्र सेनानी के रूप में नहीं देखता हूँ. बल्कि जैसा कि लेखक ने इस पुस्तक में लिखा है कि साथ ही साथ आध्यात्मिक एवं भारतीय सांस्कृतिक चेतना के पुनर्जागरण के भी प्रतीक के तौर पर हमें उनको याद करना चाहिए. जैसा कि याद होगा झारखण्ड जहाँ पर बिरसा मुंडा पैदा हुए थे, वहां के वर्तमान मुख्यमंत्री ने कुछ समय पहले बयान दिया था कि आदिवासी हिन्दू नहीं हैं, तथा ऐसे ही बयान दूसरे आदिवासी या दलित नेता देते रहते हैं, जिनको इतिहास और वर्त्तमान परिपेक्ष्य की बिल्कुल जानकारी नहीं हैं, उनका एक ही उद्देश्य है - येन केन प्रकारेण सत्ता प्राप्ति, चाहे उसके लिए कोई भी कीमत चुकानी पड़े. इसलिए ऐसे समय में इस पुस्तक की प्रासंगिकता और बढ़ जाती है. जो आदिवासी और दलित जनता के मन में बढ़ते हुए अलगाववाद को कम करे और उनमें भारतीय सांस्कृतिक चेतना भरे.
पुस्तक की भाषा सरल एवं सरस है. पूरे पुस्तक में कहीं भी ऐसा नहीं है कि कहानी बहुत जल्दी आगे बढ़ गयी या बहुत धीरे-धीरे बढ़ रही है, कहानी एक निरंतर गति से आगे बढ़ती रहती है. इस विषय एवं इस नायक को चुनने के लिए लेखक को बहुत-बहुत साधुवाद. साथ ही साथ एक शिकायत है लेखक से कि उन्होंने इस पुस्तक के प्रचार के लिए बहुत कम प्रयास किया. और नहीं तो कम से कम सभी भाजपा नेताओं का इस पुस्तक के साथ फोटो हो ऐसा प्रयास लेखक की तरफ से होनी चाहिए, ऐसी मेरी अपेक्षा है. अगर प्रधानमंत्री तक ये पुस्तक पहुंचे तो बहुत अच्छा होगा. तुहिन सिन्हा जी ने इतनी अच्छी पुस्तक लिखी है लेकिन प्रचार का जिम्मा दूसरों पर छोड़ दिया है ये अच्छी बात नहीं है, उनको अपने स्तर पर भी इसकी जिम्मेवारी लेनी चाहिए.

[Swapna Peri ( Book Reviews Cafe ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Title: The Legend of Birsa Munda
Author: Tuhin Sinha
Format: Kindle
Published By: Manjul Publishing
ASIN & Edition: B09NKWT647 & First
Genre: Historical Fiction
No.of pages: 323
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the book
In 19th century India, deep in the heart of what is now the state of Jharkhand, the Adivasis have been leading a life of absolute misery and darkness. With the help of its scheming local collaborators, the colonial state has cast a net of abuse and exploitation that is tightening around these Adivasis, much like a hangman's noose does. Everything they hold dear – their land, homes, history, traditions, religion, families – has fallen victim to the grand colonial plan of building a magnificent but merciless empire for the Queen. However, when people are all but crushed into dust and their identities threatened with a complete erasure, they erupt like a hot, angry whiplash of fire with a roaring so loud that it reverberates in the very heart of the empire and sends a frisson of fear up the spines of those in power. A fire that stokes a rebellion. And at the heart of this rebellion is the twenty-five-year-old Birsa Munda. He decides what must be done to save his community and leads the Adivasis in fighting back to reclaim their lives. A lion-hearted warrior. Healer. Spiritual guide. A forgotten hero. Based on actual events, this epic tale of courage is a tribute to the life of Birsa Munda, who, in his concise life, mobilised the tribal community, rebelled against forced conversions, envisioned a fairer, more just society and died fighting for it. A thrilling account that chronicles what most history books don't mention, The Legend of Birsa Munda is the story of a subaltern tribal hero whose contribution to India's struggle for independence must never be forgotten.

About the author
Tuhin A. Sinha is among the best-selling authors in India, a columnist and a screenwriter. Tuhin is acknowledged among the most prolific Indian writers with a maverick knack to experiment with new genres. While his first book, That Thing Called Love (2006), was an offbeat romance, The Captain (2008) was a cricket thriller that explored the underbelly of modern cricket. Of Love And Politics (2010) was a political thriller. His fourth and fifth books, The Edge of Desire (2012) and its sequel, The Edge of Power (2013), can be called socio-political thrillers with a solid feminist skew. Daddy is Tuhin's sixth book and his first non-fiction narrative.

What to expect
Birsa Munda was a young freedom fighter and a tribal leader whose spirit of activism in the late nineteenth century is remembered to be a strong mark of protest against British Rule in India. Born and raised in the tribal belt around Bihar and Jharkhand, Birsa Munda's achievements are known to be even more remarkable by virtue of the fact that he came to acquire them before he was 25. It is to be understood that he is an unsung hero. This book by Tuhin Sinha, with a mix of fiction and probably mostly the real-life of Birsa Munda, is a good work.

Who can read
This is a work of historical fiction. Here in this book, the author tried to introduce and imbibe the flavours of patriotism and the lost heritage of freedom fighters. The book is to educate and inform the importance and greatness of Birsa Munda and such tribal leaders who contributed to the freedom struggle. Thus, the book can be considered as a book of heritage under historical fiction and can be read by any reader.

My thoughts
Indian freedom struggle is one of the most iconic incidents that happened in the world. There have been numerous books, plays, articles, movies etc. forms where the heroes of the freedom struggle have been talked about. Meanwhile, there are many other prominent people who ate their own risk and power fought against the feudal system of the British government.

The latest mentions of Alluri Seetaramaraju of Andhra, Komaram Bheem of Telangana and Birsa Munda of Odisha have gained prominence. In this connection, more details about Birsa Munda from some sources say that - During the period, 1886 to 1890, Birsa Munda spent a significant amount of time in Chaibasa, which was close to the centre of the Sardars agitation. The activities of the Sardars had a substantial impact on the mind of the young Birsa, who soon became a part of the anti-missionary and anti-government program. By the time he left Chaibasa in 1890, Birsa was firmly entrenched in the movement against the British oppression of the tribal communities.

On March 3, 1900, Birsa Munda was arrested by the British police while he was sleeping with his tribal guerilla army at Jamkopai forest in Chakradharpur. He died in Ranchi jail on June 9, 1900, at the young age of 25. Though he lived a short span of life and the movement died out soon after his death, Birsa Munda is known to have mobilised the tribal community against the British and forced the colonial officials to introduce laws protecting the land rights of the tribals. Birsa's achievements as a young tribal revolutionary have continued to be celebrated over decades now, and he has successfully carved out a space for himself in popular and folk literature, academia, and mass media.

Thus this book is highly recommended to everyone who likes to read historical fiction.

How is the narration
The narration is incredibly engaging and attractive. Right from the birth of Birsa till the end of his struggle, the story goes with a flow that literally transports the readers into the lands and world of Adivasis.

About the characters
Apart from the main character Birsa, a few other important characters make up the story. Every character has enough scope, strength and importance. The introduction of the characters and the manner in which they dive into the story is engaging.

Writing Style
Arjun's writing is neat, honest and to the point. He doesn't rely on anything else but good writing. He uses his vast knowledge of history, facts, and elements of elements in making the story more readable. Nowhere in the story feels dull and out of focus because of the brilliant narration.

Grammar & Vocabulary
The grammar and vocabulary used in the book are apt for the subject and contents in the book. No complex words are used, thus making the book more receptive.

What did I like
1. The story-line
2. The plot
3. Perfect mix of facts and fiction

What could have been better
The story is just fine, and now flaws are observed.

Entertainment quotient
Knowing the unknown and diving back into history is quite a fascinating exercise. Through his book, author Tuhin Sinha takes everyone back into history and makes them taste the freedom struggle, the then British Rule and the Adivasi\Tribal life.

Pick it if
you like historical fiction
you are looking for a hero's story

[Subramanyam K.V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bhagawan Birsa Munda, I heard this name for the first time when I was in school. We had a Hindi lesson on this legend, and I was drawn to his personality. There is a famous revolutionary called Shri Alluri Sita Rama Raju who hails from Andhra Pradesh. Shri Alluri fought for Independence, and Birsa Ji also fought for Independence; I adored Shri Alluriji; it was an easy connection to make with Shri Birsa Munda.

A few weeks ago, we watched the movie "Major" at AMB mall in Hyderabad, and as fate would have it, we went to the crossword store there. While strolling aimlessly in the store, I got to see the book "Bhagawan Birsa Munda" by Tuhin A Sinha and Ankita Verma. I picked the book without any expectations and am thankful that I picked it.


The story begins in the jungles of the place now fondly called Jharkhand. It was the late 19th century and the British by now had few decades of uninterrupted power in this region. Buoyed by their unchallenged regional hegemony, the British started bringing one draconian law after another to increase their loot. This was breaking the back of the Adivasis, the tribals native to those forests. Soon, the land owners were becoming agricultural laborers in their own farms, and they had to break their backs to earn even two meals a day. The only way to escape the torture was to convert and give up their identity.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place, most Adivasis chose not to give up their identity. However, their living conditions were deteriorating, and some did not have an option other than embracing Christianity as that was the only way to hold on to their minuscule agricultural lands. Bhagawan Birsa Munda came from such a family. How did he transform these Adivasis? What did he learn? Who taught him? How did Birsait come into existence? How did he become the most wanted person for the British Raj? Most importantly, how did he achieve all this when he lived on this earth for less than 25 years? Do read the book for the answers.

The first thing that amazed me in the book was the way in which the authors told Birsa ji's story. They ensured that the biography was narrated like a gripping story. This kept me interested in reading the book till I finished it.

The authors worked hard to get the childhood of Birsa Munda ji right, forming the cornerstone for his deeds later. I felt that they took extra care in depicting each of the characters so that we understand the motivation behind their acts later. The scheming British, the gullible and power-hungry zamindars, hawk-eyed missionaries, and innocent tribals have a story to tell. The authors ensure that we listen to them. Birsa ji parents, his brother and Maina will stay with us for a long, long time even after completing the book. The role of Anand Pandey and the Guru -Shishya relationship is one of the book's hallmarks.


The policy of Divide and Rule, which the British practiced, demanded that the rulers identify and enlarge the fault lines already prevalent in the society. This book shows how the British tried to exploit the fault lines in Indian society and widened the schisms between communities. This book brings to light the dishonest ways of the British and how a young Birsa tried to unite his people.

I loved the chapters that spoke about Birsa's knowledge and his organizing skills; He was a healer, a spiritual guide, a reformer, and a revolutionary. One can't but empathize with and love the Munda warriors who laid down their lives for the protection of their culture and their religion. The authors did a fantastic job in the book. This book is a must read.

Do read the book.

We as an independent nation are turning 75 on this Aug 15th. This would be a very good book to read as we would know about the life and times of on of India's greatest heroes.

[Gaurav Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

"वीर, तुम्हारा लिए सहारा, टिका हुआ है भूतल सारा,
होते तुम न कहीं तो कब को उलट गया होता संसार।
नमन तुम्हें मेरा शत बार।" - रामधारी सिंह 'दिनकर'

क्रांतिकारी, दूरदर्शी और आध्यात्मिक गुरु बिरसा मुंडा, जिन्होंने अपने दृढ़ संकल्प और साहस से ब्रिटिश साम्राज्य की शक्ति को बड़ी चुनौती दी, भारत के स्वतंत्रता संग्राम के विस्मृत नायक हैं। वह केवल एक क्रांतिकारी नहीं थे जिन्होंने लोगों को अपने उत्पीड़कों से लड़ने के लिए प्रेरित किया, बल्कि वे एक आध्यात्मिक मार्गदर्शक भी थे जिन्होंने उन्हें धर्म परिवर्तन के दृष्टिगत अपने विश्वास को नहीं छोड़ने के लिए कहा। कोई आश्चर्य नहीं कि उन्हें भगवान के रूप में माना जाता है। ब्रिटिश राज का उनका विरोध इतना शक्तिशाली था कि वह ब्रिटिश भारत के उस हिस्से के सबसे घातक व्यक्ति बन गए थे जो अब झारखंड राज्य है। उनके अनुयायियों ने ब्रिटिश साम्राज्य को प्रबल चुनौती दी, यद्यपि वे पारंपरिक हथियारों जैसे धनुष और तीर से लड़े, जो उन बंदूकों और तोपों से मेल नहीं खाते थे जो ब्रिटिश सैनिकों ने उनके खिलाफ इस्तेमाल किए थे।

तुहिन ए सिन्हा और अंकिता वर्मा ने अपनी पुस्तक 'भारत माता का वीर पुत्र बिरसा मुंडा' में इस महान व्यक्ति की पूरी जीवन यात्रा को संकलित किया है। इस पुस्तक को लिखने के समय उन्होंने कई ऑनलाइन लेखों और बिरसा मुंडा के बारे में कुछ पुस्तकों का उपयोग किया। इसके अलावा उन मित्रों और परिचितों से भी बात की जो उस क्षेत्र के मूल निवासी हैं और उसके इतिहास से परिचित हैं। किताब की सबसे अच्छी बात यह है कि इसे एक धाराप्रवाह कहानी के रूप में लिखा गया है जो आपकी रुचि को आखिरी तक बांधे रखती है। पुस्तक को प्रस्तावना और उपसंहार के साथ तीन भागों में विभाजित किया गया है। पुस्तक की भाषा सरल है और वह आपके पढ़ने के प्रवाह को बाधित नहीं करती है।

मैं बिरसा मुंडा के बारे में ज्यादा नहीं जानता था। हमारे स्कूल के इतिहास की किताबों में उनका उल्लेख बहुत ही सतही तौर पर किया गया है। यह किताब मेरे लिए चक्षु उन्मीलक थी। हमें वास्तव में इस तरह की और पुस्तकों की आवश्यकता है जो हमें स्वतंत्रता संग्राम के उन दिग्गजों के बारे में बतायें जिन्हें हमारे इतिहास की पुस्तकों में बहुत कम जगह मिलती है। जिस तरह से बिरसा मुंडा ने पूरी क्रांति का नेतृत्व किया वह काफी प्रेरक था। उनके अनुयायियों ने जिस अनुशासन का प्रदर्शन किया, वह उनके नेतृत्व कौशल की विशिष्टता के बारे में बताता है। यद्यपि पुस्तक में उनके देवत्व के एक या दो उदाहरणों का वर्णन किया गया है, लेकिन इसके बारे में विस्तार से नहीं बताया गया है। यह जानना दिलचस्प होता कि जिस क्रांति का वह नेतृत्व कर रहे थे, उस पर इसका क्या प्रभाव पड़ा और वह अपने अनुयायियों के बीच एक भगवान के रूप में माने जाने के बारे में क्या सोचते थे।

पुस्तक पढ़ते समय एक बात मुझे बार बार उद्वलित करती रही, कि भारत की स्वतंत्रता के 75 साल बाद भी भारत की आदिवासी आबादी के लिए कुछ भी नहीं बदला है। उन पर अभी भी अत्याचार हो रहे हैं और धर्म परिवर्तन के कारण उनकी परंपराएं आज भी संकट में हैं ।

मैं इस किताब को हर किसी को विशेष रूप से बच्चों को पढ़ने का सुझाव दूंगा, जिन्हें इस महान व्यक्ति के बारे में निश्चित रूप से जानना चाहिए। इस पुस्तक से उन्हें उन लोगों के जीवन और संघर्षों को समझने में सहायता मिलेगी जिन्होंने स्वतंत्रता आंदोलन में अपना सर्वस्व न्योछावर कर दिया।

मैं इंडिका बुक्स का हृदय से आभारी हूँ जिन्होंने मुझे यह पुस्तक हजार समीक्षक क्लब के सदस्य के रूप में प्रेषित की। भारतीय भाषाओं को प्रोत्साहन देने के इस प्रयास के लिए आपका कोटिशः धन्यवाद।

[Bharathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started the book, I did not expect to be drawn in to this extent, to be so emotionally charged with the tale of this legendary warrior, who was a virtual god to his people. This book brings to light how little we know of real heroes of the freedom struggle, who remain unknown simply because they fought and died in a part of the country that is not in the limelight all the time. What a pity that men like Bhagwan Birsa are in the shadows today!
This book does him the justice he deserves by taking us through the life of the impetuous boy who grew into a lad burdened by guilt and helplessness and then into a man who devoted not just his life but his death too to keep the flame of rebellion alive in HIS people.
The simple, direct writing style is gloriously impactful, hitting home hard and conveying the horrifying struggle and the shocking conditions of the Mundas under British Raj. It connects with us at a deep level, communicating the anguish of the people and making us feel their pain.
We Indians need more books like the Legend of Birsa Munda, telling us about the real heroes of our land, and the brave souls who were no less heroic as they followed their leaders until the very last.
The one thing that jarred slightly (but truly this is nitpicking) is the abrupt closure to Birsa's seemingly divine healing powers. I did miss a clear conclusion to that aspect, because Birsa's acceptance among the people was grounded in that talent of his.
But every character, every dialogue was in place, every scene crisp and devastatingly evocative. The gentle interweaving of human relations amidst the story, talking of the unblemished, devoted love of simple tribal people makes the book a heart warming read.
Thank you Indica Books for this incredible book.

[Anupama Warrier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly thankyou Indica Academy and Indic bookclub for sending me Birsa Munda- Bharat Mata ka Veer Putr by Tuhin Sinha.
The book deals with the revolutionary movement by the Munda tribe led by Birsa Munda. A truly inspiring life journey of a great man in his early twenties challenging an entire British empire and its Missionaries. The one who encouraged his whole tribe to revolt against the ill treatment, slavery and forced religious conversions by the colonizers.
The book is divided into three sections. The first section narrates Birsa Munda's childhood followed by the second section describing his rise towards becoming a freedom fighter. The last section narrates about Bhagwan Birsa Munda turning into a mass leader and how the entire tribe keep the freedom struggle alive until their last breath. Along with Birsa Munda the book also glorifies the struggles of Gaya Munda, Komtha, Moyna etc.
Definitely a must read book about our forgotten freedom fighter and also one of the biggest tribal movement against the British empire.

[achyuth krishna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Indica books for sending this book to review.
The book is about an unsung hero who is spiritual leader and freedom fighter. Thanks to the authors for letting the current generation know about such great personality. The narration is beautiful and engaging. This is a biography of the legend BIRSA MUNDA from his first breath to last. He fought against the blind beliefs within our community, against the British for our community. He is a philosopher, doctor, Flutist, fighter and what not.. He's the revolution. He is the ideology.

Loved reading the book.
Thank you

[Abhinav · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish more biographies were written in this manner.
Nonfiction requires a commitment from me, as I read and comprehend it much more slowly.
The majority of biographies of persons in whom I have a passing interest therefore become completely implausible to read.
While still being accessible, Birsa Munda paints an engrossing portrayal of one of the most revered figures in Indian history.
This is a fantastic introduction to the study of the War for Independence, and it paints a fascinating portrayal of a complicated man.

[Gandhali P · Rating 1 out of 5]

Its good history but it also is not written well because many grammar mistakes are there and should be corrected.