The Immortal Hero with a glorious legacy

Today marks the birth anniversary of a great tribal hero Telanga Kharia. A man who was the symbol of tribal autonomy, self-determination, and sovereignty.

A great tribal leader without whom the Indian freedom would have not been complete; Source: Public Domain

The popular perception of the fight against British envisions it as a movement led by the landed gentry in the countryside with peasants and tribals having a rather passive role. It is understood to have political connotations only associated with soldiers, nobles and zamindars fighting against colonial oppression.

The decades preceding 1857 saw fierce opposition in the form of a series of tribal rebellions which eventually gave an impetus to the later political actions.

Self-driven movements erupted in Rangpur and Dinajpur, Sanyasi-Fakir rebellion was again revived in Sherpur Pargana, the Farizai movement took roots in East Bengal, and the Santhal Hool in modern-day Jharkhand. This history of tribal resistance to British goes back to 1771 when Tilka Manjhi led Paharias in Tilapore forest in a fight against subjugation.

Another tribal leader who created political consciousness in the people around him and started a strategic attack against the colonizers was Telanga Kharia. Active in the Chhota Nagpur region during the 1850s and 60s, he remains a source of inspiration till day.

Born on 9th February 1806, to the Kharia tribe of Jharkhand, he was attracted towards ideals of equality and justice that were quite ahead of his time. His revolutionary spirit made him attend the court of the local king. This deep understanding of the importance of justice and egalitarian social organisation would have a significant impact on the tactics he used to challenge the British.

An intervention in his homeland started in the latter half of the 19th century when the British went to impose restrictions on the activities of “savages” in order to settle them down. This created huge disruptions in the Parha System, the local self-governance system of the Kharias.

The increasing numbers of exploitative moneylenders, appropriation of taxes, forced labour were other issues that emerged as a consequence of this. Enraged by the constant ill-treatment of his fellow tribesmen, Telanga Kharia started a full-fledged revolt. He went on to establish 13 Jury Panchayats that would dispense justice by flouting the laws enforced by the British. Akharas were opened to provide military training to people.

His followers initiated multiple attacks and raids on the British and were able to challenge their power to a great extent. When the British realised their mistake of underestimating the tribals, they started to hunt down Kharia. Unfortunately, someone snitched against him and gave his whereabouts to them. He was arrested by the British while organising a panchayat.

But nothing could stop Khraia in his pursuit of autonomy. He started to revive his movement after getting released from jail. When the news of his political activities reached the British, they decided to bring the entire movement down by killing him. This great freedom fighter was shot while he was offering his prayers. His burial place Telanga Topa Tand is considered as sacred ground by the locals. His revolutionary spirit remained alive long after his death.