There is a potent force working against change. People do not like change. They resist change for all kinds of right or wrong reasons. For example, the way we have been teaching history to our children has obviously been erroneous. 

The freedom struggle that led to the rebirth of the nation as a new entity for the present world has been depicted one-sided. The narrative served to the nation for the last decades has truth in it. There is no doubt about it. But it excludes a large number of movements, and efforts to resist British domination. Any objective learner can see that. 

The cynics, poor status quo supporters, lazy learners will give a list of reasons not to revisit the freedom struggle. They feel uncomfortable when someone questions the flawed, clichéd narrative. Their arguments range from the futility of resurrecting the forgotten heroes to doubting your intentions to focus on relevant issues of today to a plethora of escapist routes. But we all know that history is important. 

It is important to know who we are as a nation, as a society and as a culture. Justice must be done. It is better late than never. In the following paragraphs, I will narrate the heroes from the tribes of India who fought for freedom from the British. And we may remember that all these people were real and their lives were valid and real.

Image courtesy Panchajanya.com

Tilaka Manjhi was born on 11th February 1750 in Bhagalpur, Tilakpur, Bihar. After 1770, Tilaka Manjhi opposed the British rule. He led a strong rebellion to the British rule in 1774. Tilaka Manjhi was good in organizing people. He was an expert in archery. He came from Santhal community. For the very first time, Tilaka Manjhi told his tribe about the brutal British regime and also their "Divide and Rule" policy. While the Paharia tribe got tax exemptions, other tribes were heavily taxed. This move was to create the divide.

Tilaka gave the slogan, "The soil is ours." On 13th January 1784, he used archery to hit the Collector, Agustus Cleveland. Cleveland was killed by the arrows of Tilaka. The English could not counter the utter agility of Tilaka and his army. His technique was similar to guerilla warfare. Tilaka and his army caused much damage to the British. On 13th January 1785, Tilaka was publicly hanged on the main Chowk of Bhagalpur. The Santhal tribe considers Tilaka Manjhi as their guru, guiding light and protector of their specific values and culture. He is worshipped by the Santhal tribe.

We cannot deny that Tilaka Manjhi was amongst the first freedom fighters of Bharat. The spirit of love for the soil shined brightly in him.

Tallakal Chandu was born in Tondurnad, Waynad, Kerala on 15th November 1805. He fought against injustice suffered by Kurichiya tribe at the hands of the British. He attacked the cantonment of the British on 11th October 1802. For a long time, the British could not enter Waynad in Mysuru due to the strong resistance posed by Tallakal Chandu and his group. He led an armed rebellion against the atrocities of the white regime. Tallakal Chandu was a natural leader. Thousands of his tribe and adjoining areas followed him. The British feared him. The British captured him by deceit. He was publicly executed at Panmaram fort on 15th November 1805. Chandu ignited the desire for freedom in the neighboring areas as well.

Raghoji Bhangare was born on 8th November 1805 in Devganv, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. He belonged to Koli section of the society. Traditionally, Kolis held the rights to protect the forts of Sahyadri hills. The British took away this traditional work of Kolis. They even inflicted higher farming taxes in 1828. The whole Koli group was sweltering with anger and rage against the injustice. His father raised his voice and he was sent to isolation in the cells of Andaman and Nicobar islands. Rahgoji was given a job by the British to keep him shut. But after some time, he was charged with dacoity. His whole family was forced to make wrong statements. Unable to bear the horror anymore, Raghoji looted all the guns from the police station and entered the forest alongwith his men on horses. Raghoji was a good organizer and manager as well. The whole range of Sahyadri hills started echoing Har Har Mahadev. People started respecting him. They saw that he was judicious in his decisions. He took special care of the poor. In 1845, there was a direct battle between the British and the army of Raghoji. Thousands of Indians died fighting for freedom. Finally, Raghoji was captured and executed in Pandharpur prison on 2nd May 1848.

Veer Budhu Bhagat was born on 17th February 1792 in Silagai, Ranchi, Jharkhand. An expert in guerrilla warfare, Bhagat particularly opposed the British and their bootlickers who extracted money from poor people. 

Bhagat as a boy used to  practice sword use and archery for Hours and hours. He mastered these arts. Seeing his extraordinary command and power, people thought he was bestowed with divine powers. As a symbol of revolt against the British, he always kept an axe with him. Since childhood, he saw the atrocities of the British and the landlords. Sitting beside Koel River, he used to dream of chasing away the usurpers. His tribesmen were his followers. Using swords, axes, and arrows, they fought the dictators. Munda tribe and Uranv tribe followed him completely. They launched many protests. Bhagat was the first freedom fighter from Chhota Nagpur area for whom a prize of one thousand rupees was declared in those days. But nobody ever came forward for this cowardly move of the British.

On 13th February 1832, the army led by Captain Empey fortified the village Silagai. They fired blindly on people. Budhu Bhagat and his two sons Haldhar and Girdhar fought valiantly and laid down their lives while fighting the British army.

To be Continued 

Note: Translated from "Janjati Gauravgatha" published by Vangunjan Prakashan