Birsa Munda (1875–1900) was a Hindu leader and a folk hero, belonging to the Munda tribe who was behind the independence movement that rose in the tribal belt of modern day Bihar, and Jharkhand during the British Raj, in the late 19th century making him an important figure in the history of the Indian independence movement.

Even though he lived for just 25-years, Birsa Munda is one legend who has made a long-standing impact on India’s fight against the British. 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.

Munda spent his childhood amidst poverty in a typical tribal setup, where he was forcefully converted to Christianity and was named Birsa David. he got education from a missionary school.

During the late 1880s, Munda began to understand the nature of exploitation meted out by the British against the native tribals. The huge disruption caused by British agrarian policies made an impact on the livelihood of these tribal people, disrupting their usual way of life which was hitherto peaceful and in tune with nature. Not only British economic and political policies but also aggressive religious and cultural policies of the Christian missionaries which belittled the tribal people and their culture acted as fuel for their fight against the British.

In 1894, Birsa Munda began to awake masses and also arose them against the British atrocities. Not only the tribals but also many other people also flocked to see the new leader of the masses. he was worshipped and became popular as Bhagwan Birsa Munda.

The Christian missionaries were unnerved as Birsa was becoming the stumbling block in the path of conversion. Many within Christianity also began to join Mundas .

In 1895, Birsa asked his fellow tribesman to renounce Christianity and guided them to worship one Bhagwan and showed them the path of purity, austerity and prohibited cow- slaughters. His simple system of offering was directed against the church which levied a tax. He stated that the reign of Queen Victoria was over and the Munda Raj has begun.

On February 3, 1900, Birsa Munda was caught by the British from Jamkopai forest, Chakradharpur. On June 9, 1900, Birsa Munda was brutally killed by the British while lodged at the Ranchi jail aged just 25.