While the name of Birsa Munda inspires people all over the state and country, in Lutheran Mission school, where he once studied, it remains uncelebrated and forgotten. A Telegraph picture

Chaibasa, Dec.11: While children all over the country are familiar with the role Birsa Munda played in the freedom struggle, those studying in Lutheran Mission School, Chaibasa, are ignorant of the most basic facts surrounding this icon.

Even of the fact that Birsa was a student of their school in 1886.

While his exploits are celebrated all over the state and country, here he is almost a forgotten figure. On November 15, while the state celebrated the birthday of Birsa, his school observed it as a token, which lasted barely few minutes and did little to familiarise the students with his sacrifices and struggles.

A few children garlanded a photograph of Birsa and saluted it. And remained just as ignorant of Birsa and his importance in the social and political issues of the state.

If a few of them know the name, it?s just that they know. Hardly any of the students know that Birsa Munda once studied in their school, when it was much smaller than it is now, that he played football on the same field as they do, stayed in the same hostels, but which had a thatched roof.

While any other school would have capitalised on the importance of having a historical figure as part of their alumni, this school has mysteriously chosen to ignore it. In an age when children have dearth of figures to look up to, one would imagine that schools would grab opportunities to introduce such inspiring figures to the children.

According to records available with the Jharkhand Tribal Research Institute, Ranchi, Birsa Munda was born in a poor farmer?s family in village Ulihatu (Tamar) of Khunti district in the year of 1875.

He came to Chaibasa on May 7 in the year 1886 as a devotee of Lutheran Mission Church, after passing lower primary from Burjee, where he was baptised. He came into direct contact with European missionaries. All around him he saw injustice and his revolutionary spirit felt stiffled. In search for answers he later left the mission school

In his early years he had passed his days grazing cows and later took up a job with Anand Pandey in Gaurbera village, intending to continue with his lessons further.

He used this time to further his knowledge about the country, its past and its traditions. Everything he heard and learnt, from the Mahabharata to Ramayana, made an impression on his young, sensitive mind.

Influenced by the sermons of a Vaishnavite saint, he practised abstinence and vegetarianism.

Around the same time he came into contact with a German missionary priest who got him admitted in the Lutheran School in Chaibasa.

Incidents and the social situation around pushed him gradually into the role of a revolutionary, who did not hesitate to rake up the most controversial of issues surrounding social and traditional mores and laws, demanding change and freedom.

Totally fearless, no authority could bow him down.

His fearless spirit won him many devotees who followed him through difficult, dangerous paths.

Today, the pages of history throughout the country celebrate his cause.

Which, in a school he once studied, remains mysteriously ignored.