Spiritual Teachings of Birsa Munda: A short note and Ulgulan quatrains

 

Short Note

Birsa Munda (3 June 1875 – 9 June 1900) called on the tribal community to let go of superstitions, witchcraft, and blind obedience to outsiders. He inspired his followers to adopt monotheism and trust in their ancestral heritage instead of worshipping foreign deities. He urged them to avoid drinking alcohol, become teetotalers, and stop animal sacrifices and forced labor. He encouraged the tribe to work hard, be self-reliant, take pride in their indigenous identity, and reclaim their ancestral rights over water, forest, and land.

He inspired the tribal community to live a disciplined life, often following strict rules of vegetarianism and keeping their community clean. He suggested they embrace the Birsait Faith to achieve unity, gain spiritual strength against exploiters, and commit to establishing tribal self-rule based on theological values to create the Ulgulan - the Great Tumult.

Ulgulan Quatrains

Let go of old fears,

Witchcraft's shadows disappear.

No more bowing low,

To gods from lands we do not know.

One God we believe,

Our own roots we receive.

Stronger than foreign might,

Our ancestors' guiding light.

Let liquor's hold release,

Pure water brings us peace.

No more blood to spill,

Just honest work, our will.

From soil, we learn to thrive,

Our spirit stays alive.

Proud of who we are,

Beneath our homeland's star.

Jal, jangal, zameen,

Our heritage, our scene.

These rights we will reclaim,

Whispering our ancestral name.

A disciplined way,

Cleanliness guides our day.

Vegetarian fare,

A healthy life we share.

For self-rule, we will strive,

With spirits kept alive.

Theological might,

To kindle Ulgulan's light.

Birsait's truth we seek,

Together, strong and meek.

A great tumult, we shall raise,

In these enlightened days.