World Tribal Day 2024: Tribal Revolutionaries of Madhya Pradesh Who Sacrificed Their Lives for India's Freedom

Bhopal- The struggle of tribal communities in the freedom movement was no less significant. Opposing foreign rule, fighting for India's culture, pride, and autonomy, the tribals committed themselves to the cause of independence, sacrificing their lives for the nation's freedom.

On World Tribal Day, The Mooknayak brings you stories of such freedom fighters from history.

Before 1818, tribes were the first to take up arms against foreign invaders. They used bows and arrows from their villages and fought against the British. Madhya Pradesh has a long history of tribal revolts. From the Vindhya region in the north to the Western Ghats of the Sahyadri in the southwest, the Bhils inhabited these areas. Under British rule, the Bhils faced oppression and exploitation, leading them to rise up in armed rebellion. Notable heroes among them include Birsa Munda, Dashrath-Hirya Bhil, Tantya Bhil, Bhima Nayak, Khajya Nayak, Sitaram Kanwar, and Raghunath Singh Mandloi, who created a glorious history of struggle.

During the 1857 revolt, a network of revolutionaries spread across the entire Malwa-Nimar (now part of Madhya Pradesh) region. Khargone and its surrounding areas were key centers of this revolution. Among these Bhil leaders, Tantya Bhil became an unparalleled legend due to his valor and heroism. Born around 1842, Tantya Bhil became a revolutionary at the age of 16. People in distress would call upon Tantya Mama, who would free them from exploitation. He liberated the poor from the clutches of corrupt British agents and traders.

In the Nimar region, Bhima Nayak led a revolution against the British from 1840 to 1864. He shook the British in Nimar during the 1857 freedom struggle. Bhima, from Panchmohli village in the Barwani state, and his mother Surasi, who led a revolutionary group, played crucial roles in this liberation front. Surasi faced torture and died in prison due to starvation and thirst, making the ultimate sacrifice.

Sitaram Kanwar and Raghunath Singh Mandloi (Bhilala) were tribal leaders who raised their voices against the British in the Nimar region during the 1857 revolt. They took a stand against exploitation and fought the British, sacrificing their lives in the process. They organized a group of three thousand revolutionaries, inspiring Holkar's soldiers and others to join the cause.

Kings Shankar Shah and Raghunath Shah of the Gond royal family in Gondwana made significant contributions to the freedom struggle in the Jabalpur region. Shankar Shah and his son Raghunath Shah led the area during India's first war of independence. They were executed by cannon fire for their patriotic poetry. The queen collected their charred remains and conducted their final rites with honor.

In 1923, during the peak of the national independence movement, tribal leader Badal Bhoy from Chhindwara joined the struggle with his companions. Badal Bhoy organized a gathering in the Tamia tehsil, inspiring the Koytor (Gond) tribal people to join the freedom movement through passionate speeches and calls to action. Under his leadership, thousands of tribal warriors took up the cause. Alongside Badal Bhoy, other tribal leaders like Sahara Bhoy, Amaru Bhoy, Imrat Bhoy, Lotiya Bhoy, Taparu Bhoy, and Jhanka Bhoy also fought valiantly, giving their lives for their motherland.

Mahatma Gandhi's 'Salt Satyagraha' laid the foundation for the 'Jungle Satyagraha' in Madhya Pradesh. The tribals actively participated in this movement. In 1930, the 'Jungle Satyagraha' began in the Chandan forest of Turia village in the Seoni district. Before the movement started, Ramprasad and Mooka gave motivational speeches to encourage participants. When the movement did not cease, the British fired upon them. Martyrs in this struggle included Guddebai from KhamiRith, Renibai from Khamba, Debhobai Bhilwa, and Virju Bhai Marjhodu.