NEW DELHI: On the 150th birth anniversary of revered tribal leader and freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda, Union minister for urban development Manohar Lal Khattar announced that Sarai Kale Khan Chowk will now be known as Birsa Munda Chowk.
The announcement, made during a ceremony near the ISBT bus stand, was aimed at honoring Munda’s legacy and inspiring citizens and visitors with his contributions.
“I am announcing today that the big chowk outside the ISBT bus stand here will be known after Bhagwan Birsa Munda. Seeing this statue and the name of that chowk, not only the citizens of Delhi but also the people visiting the International Bus stand will definitely be inspired by his life,” Khattar said.
The announcement was made alongside the unveiling of a statue of Birsa Munda by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Manohar Lal Khattar, and Delhi LG VK Saxena in the national capital.
A tribute to the hero of India’s tribal freedom struggle
Birsa Munda, known as ‘Dharti Aba’ or ‘Father of the Earth,’ led the tribal community in the Chotanagpur region in the early 19th century against British exploitation.
His movement, known as “Ulgulan” or “The Rebellion,” rallied tribals against the colonial land-grabbing policies that forced them into poverty. Munda’s fight emphasized the importance of self-ownership of land and rights, urging his people to rise against British rule.
A pioneering figure for the tribals of Bihar and Jharkhand, Munda’s teachings also led to the founding of the faith of Birsait, blending animistic and indigenous beliefs focused on monotheism.
Though he passed away at just 25, his legacy has endured, with November 15 declared ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Divas’ by the Central Government in 2021 in recognition of his contributions.