8.7.1. Jharkhand

Jharkhand is one of the newly formed states of India, carved out of south Bihar in the year 2000. Behind the formation of this state lies more than a century of resistance.

Jharkhand became a state in 2000 after a long struggle that lasted over 100 years. This struggle was driven by the indigenous people (adivasis) who felt marginalized by the government and outside settlers. The desire for a separate state stemmed from their quest for resources, rights over their land, and self-governance.

Imagine a community of friends who often play games together, but one friend feels that their ideas and contributions are ignored. After years of trying to voice their concerns, they decide to form their own group where they can make decisions together. This is similar to how the adivasis sought to form Jharkhand to ensure their issues were addressed.

The social movement for Jharkhand had a charismatic leader in Birsa Munda, an adivasi who led a major uprising against the British.

Birsa Munda was a significant figure in Jharkhand's movement who inspired many through his efforts against British colonial rule. After his death, he became a symbol of the Jharkhand movement, representing the struggle of the adivasis for rights and recognition.

Birsa Munda can be compared to a captain of a sports team who motivates the players to strive for victory, instilling in them a sense of collective identity and purpose. His legacy continues to inspire the community, just as a successful team captain's strategies and spirit keep the team united.

Stories and songs about him can be found all over Jharkhand. The memory of Birsa’s struggle was also kept alive by writing.

The stories, songs, and writings about Birsa Munda played a crucial role in fostering a unified identity among the adivasi people. Literacy campaigns, often led by Christian missionaries, helped spread awareness of their history, customs, and struggles, creating a sense of pride and community among Jharkhandis.

Just like a school play where the history of a legendary figure is portrayed, singing and telling stories about Birsa Munda allowed people to connect emotionally to their heritage, reminding them of their roots and shared struggles, which is essential in nurturing community spirit.

Literate adivasis were also in a position to get government jobs so that, over time, a middle-class adivasi intellectual leadership emerged that formulated the demand for a separate state and lobbied for it in India and abroad.

As more adivasis gained education and secured jobs in the government, a new middle-class leadership began to emerge. This group played a key role in advocating for the creation of Jharkhand and worked to influence policymakers both locally and globally. Their ability to articulate the needs and rights of their community was crucial in the state formation process.

Similar to how a group of students, empowered by education and skills, might speak up for their rights in school, the educated adivasis represented their community to demand recognition and resources, significantly contributing to the formation of a government that reflected their needs.

Within south Bihar, adivasis shared a common hatred of dikus – migrant traders and moneylenders who had settled in the area and grabbed its wealth, impoverishing the original residents.

Dikus, or outside settlers, were often seen as exploiters who took advantage of the adivasi people's resources while leaving them marginalized. This shared experience of exploitation fostered unity among the adivasis, as they collectively sought justice and reclamation of their rights, eventually forming the basis of their social movement.

Think of a neighborhood where a group of new residents starts taking over local resources and businesses, leading to discontent among the original inhabitants. The existing residents band together, creating a community organization to restore their rights and control over their shared space. This reflects the adivasis’ resistance to dikus in Jharkhand.

Adivasi experiences of marginalisation and their sense of injustice were mobilised to create a shared Jharkhandi identity and inspire collective action that eventually led to the formation of a separate state.

The sense of shared experiences, injustices, and the common goal to reclaim their rights helped mobilize the adivasis into collective action. They fought for statehood to protect their interests and ensure that their voices were heard in the legislative framework of India, which eventually resulted in the birth of Jharkhand.

Just like communities coming together to fight a common issue, such as pollution in their neighborhood, the adivasis unified under their experiences and pooled their resources to advocate for a separate state, illustrating the power of collective action in effecting change.

--