Tulasi Munda: The Unsung Warrior

When one comes from poverty, it is difficult to imagine a better tomorrow for oneself. Transforming the lives of thousands and breaking stereotypes is a dream many do not dare to see. Tulasi Munda, despite the incredible feats she has achieved, just sees it in terms of work that needs to be done, work that has been done, and work that remains yet undone. This Padma Shri recipient has changed thousands of lives in the tribal community with the power of education. While words fall short of marking her current feats, she continues her noble, selfless endeavours to transform the community.

Tulasi Munda; Image Souce: Business Today

Lovingly known as “Tulasi Apa”, which literally means “Sister Tulasi'' in Odia, social activist Tulasi Munda belongs to the Munda ethnic group of adivasis. This Orissa-based Padmashri (2001) recipient is highly revered for her courage to take modest steps which later translated into an entire path for the betterment of others in her community. She has fought against every act of injustice she and her people have to endure and her indomitable spirit sparked fortitude in others too. In fact, inspired by her endeavors, Amiya Patnaik based her 2017 Odia biographical film, Tulasi Apa, on her.

Munda is a self-made educationist who has always believed that “The goal of education is to improve Life, to make things better around us, to do things better.” For her, education is the answer, it is the key to mitigate all social evils like superstition, lack of hygiene, gender discrimination, drunkenness, wife-beating and all sorts of backward thinking. However, her fondness for literacy doesn’t emerge from her own rosy experiences of studying. There was no school in her village and neither did anyone from her community was tolerant towards educating the girl child. So being the youngest in her family, while her siblings went to the field to tend goats or worked in mines, she stayed back with her widowed mother helping her in household chores.

She was born to a patriot in Keonjhar, one of the most backward regions of Orissa, in 1947, just a month before India gained independence from the British. It was evident from the very beginning that she had a mind of her own. She did not submit to the conventional notions of slavery and poverty which were prevailing in her community, rather she formed her own ideals and followed them through. Even at a very young age, she could discriminate between ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ and pelted stones on her neighbor when he was beating his daughter under the influence of alcohol.

When she was 12, she decided to move to her sister’s village in Serenda, 65 kms away from her own, to earn additional income for her mother by working in a minefield. She worked as a laborer in iron mines, cut stone, sifted iron from waste and after all that effort, she was paid ₹2 per week. Even while working, she was floating in her dreams of educating herself. So, making efficient use of the resources she had, she learnt Odia letters from her village postman and used forest hills as her blackboard. She taught herself whenever she could.

Such ferocious passion for knowledge was bound to find its way in the hearts of many. So in 1961, phenomenal women who were committed to social work like Malti Chaudhury, Roma Devi and Nirmala Deshpande were enthralled by her. Tulasi later joined them in their village forays and struggles in different parts of the country too. Another major inspiration came her way when she met Vinoba Bhave when visited Orissa during the Bhoodan Andolan Yatra. Encouraged by his vision and commitment to donate land, she started a journey of her own to improve the lives of poor villagers. No one could have foreseen its still persevering impacts.

Hence, a year later in 1964, armed with her social service training, Munda initiated a school under a tree for tribal mine workers in Serenda, thus bringing the “Charity begins at home” ideal to life. She had been a child labour herself in those mines and now she was helping others overcome the same. Life had come full circle. But all was not well yet, Tulasi still had trouble convincing people of the need for education altogether. However, nothing was enough to dishearten her mission in life. She visited each home herself, telling the tribe how education was not a waste for boys working on mines and it was much needed for girls too rather than being a preposterous ideal.

Confident in herself, she convinced the village pradhan to use his verandah to teach children with her conviction. Since many were still opposed to the idea of getting their children out of mine work, out of earning some wages to support the family, for education, she began teaching at night. She was illiterate herself so she started by telling them stories of the great Indian freedom movement, the endeavors of the great scholars and national leaders. She would teach them the letter she learnt to read herself.

This smooth sailing social ship could not maintain its balance much longer with the lack of funds, but this is where the villagers pitched in. Tulasi has managed to convince them of the importance of education and made it desirable to be literate. So, while she sold vegetables and puffed rice to earn money to keep this school afloat, the locals provided her with food and a place to live in because of the noble cause she was working towards. She even managed to convince the villagers to help her build a school by cutting stones from the mountain. And there it was, ready in 6 months, the Adivasi Vikas Samiti School.

Her endeavors had sparked something that had long remained dormant inside the tribe. Even with no money to pay the teachers, the youth who had studied till primary level voluntarily gathered to teach the future of their tribes. Even her students were moved by the love they received and offered to pay her a fee for her services, which Munda gladly calls the milestone in her mission. Now the money started trickling in, multiple international and industrial organizations had started donating the money for her cause.

Thus was the advent of the journey for Munda tribe from darkness to light, led by one of their own. Today, her efforts have benefitted her people and those living within 100km of this tribal belt. Now she charges ₹200 a month for hostel from those who can afford it and the school is graced with the dedication of 7 teachers and 354 students with hostel for 81 of them.

She has won the Odisha Living Legend Award for Excellence in Social service for her pioneering efforts. She has transformed more than 20,000 young lives. Selfless as always, Munda feels this is just the beginning. She believes that we can only make ourselves happy by bringing happiness to others. Tulasi Munda is most definitely, the shining light of education towards a brighter tomorrow for the tribal people.

The furious Warren Hastings, the then Governor of Bengal, sent around 800 soldiers to capture Tilka, but he escaped. United under the 28 years old iron wing of Tilka, the Adivasis attacked the Punjab regiment of the British and their weapons outdid the company’s rifles, which made them vanish into their cantonment.

The Britishers did not stop. Tilka’s activities were pouring oil into the fire of the Britishers. The attack and revolt of Tilka invited special attention to the tribal people. To make things work for them they learned that they should handle the tribal people properly. Their next step was the appointment of August Cleveland as the revenue collector in the areas of the Bhagalpur, Rajmahal, and Munger districts.

Cleveland, unlike other Britishers, identified the strength of the Adivasis and decided to make a dent in their unity. He made all attempts to gain a good name among the tribes. He learned the Santhali language and communicated effectively. He also reduced the tax along with some employment opportunities.

But Tilka did not fall prey to this trap. He understood the real intentions of the Brishters and neglected all those enticements. He wrote letters in Sal leaves and gathered his love and support from his people.

In 1784, Tilka, along with his comrades, attacked the napping soldiers, and a poisoned arrow from his bow darted on to Cleveland who died after a few days. With the great victory, Tilka and his group returned to the jungle.

This alarmed the Britishers, and someone in Majihi’s group betrayed him by helping the Britishers to find Tilka. After some runs and hides, Tilka was captured by the British soldiers, and he was tied to a horse, dragging him for miles until they reached Bhagalpur. The first hero of the tribal revolt met his death on the 13th of January 1785. He was only 35 when he died by hanging.

This short-lived yet volcanic hero might fail in his mission. But his attempts and revolts served as a start for many other upcoming revolts of the tribals. He stood up as a pioneer to revolt against the British, which even many kings were afraid to do. He sank in the hearts of the tribal people who made him alive in their songs and stories.

Source: Wikimedia commons

Confident in herself, she convinced the village pradhan to use his verandah to teach children with her conviction. Since many were still opposed to the idea of getting their children out of mine work, out of earning some wages to support the family, for education, she began teaching at night. She was illiterate herself, so she started by telling them stories of the great Indian freedom movement and the endeavours of great scholars and national leaders. She would teach them the things that she learnt to read herself.

This smooth-sailing social ship could not maintain its balance much longer with the lack of funds, but this is where the villagers pitched in. Tulasi has managed to convince them of the importance of education and made it desirable to be literate. So, while she sold vegetables and puffed rice to earn money to keep this school afloat, the locals provided her with food and a place to live because of the noble cause she was working towards. She even managed to convince the villagers to help her build a school by cutting stones from the mountain. And there it was, ready in 6 months, the Adivasi Vikas Samiti School.

Her endeavours had sparked something that had long remained dormant inside the tribe. Even with no money to pay the teachers, the youth who had studied till primary level voluntarily gathered to teach the future of their tribes. Even her students were moved by the love they received and offered to pay her a fee for her services, which Munda gladly calls the milestone in her mission. Now the money started trickling in, and multiple international and industrial organizations started donating money to her cause.

Thus was the advent of the journey for the Munda tribe from darkness to light, led by one of their own. Today, her efforts have benefitted her people and those living within 100km of this tribal belt. Now she charges ₹200 a month for a hostel from those who can afford it, and the school is graced with the dedication of 7 teachers and 354 students with a hostel for 81 of them.

She has won the Odisha Living Legend Award for Excellence in Social service for her pioneering efforts. She has transformed more than 20,000 young lives. Selfless as always, Munda feels this is just the beginning. She believes that we can only make ourselves happy by bringing happiness to others. Tulasi Munda is, most definitely, the shining light of education towards a brighter tomorrow for the tribal people.