Rindo Majhi
Rindo Majhi was an Indian freedom fighter. He was a leader of the Kandha revolution in Orissa against the British[1] in 1853.
Early life
Majhi was born at Urladani Bandagada and brought up in a tribal family. His father was Dabisa Majhi and his mother was Jageri Majhi from the village of Lubengarh. Majhi often went to his uncle's house in Lubengarh. He was associated with Balaram Patra of Urladani while revolting against the British.
The Kondhs
Khonds are worshipers of nature. They revere the soil as their mother. They believe that everybody lives in the world by the mercy of the soil. They sacrifice a member of the tribe for Mother Soil. They celebrate Maria every year. The British treated this system as superstition and antisocial, leading them to raid the tribal areas of Kalahandi district and Phulbani under Major General Campbell. The Kondhs' philosophy is that a human's physical body is created from the soil by God, so if anyone sacrifices a life for the uplift of someone else, it will be a transformation.
Kalahandi under British control
The Kondhas were nearest to the Kalahandi King. When the British captured Nagpure, Kalahandi went under their control and, as per the institution of Kings and Zamindars of Kalahandi, collected tax from the Kondhas. There rose the voice of Kondhas, and Majhi was the movement's key figure. Though he knew well about the power of the British, he repeatedly attacked them and their supporters. Khnodas assisted him as he was their chief. At that time, another Kondha chief named Chakra Bisoi attacked the British repeatedly.
Arrest and imprisonment
In 1853, Lt. Macniell arrested Majhi. The Kondha chief was imprisoned in Rasalkanda jail without trial. The revolution grew much stronger among the Kondhas after Majhi's arrest.[2] After two years, in 1855, Macneill brought a shackled Majhi from village to village in order to create fear among the Kondha leaders. The tactic backfired.
Death
On 10 December, Kondhas attacked the residence of Lt. Macneill at Urladani. The British had guns and power. Hundreds died. Macneill escaped narrowly because the Tahasildar of Kandhamal, Dinabandhu Pattanaik, came and rescued him and his forces. The British killed Tada Domba and hanged Majhi. After a long gap, "Adivasi Sangha" of Kalahandi celebrated his death anniversary with traditional equipment to remember his work and to inspire new generations.
Tributes
Bhawanipatna, 10 December
Thousands of tribals from different parts of Kalahandi and neighbouring districts paid glowing tribute to martyr Rindo Majhi on his death anniversary at Urladani.
Sporting their traditional attire and carrying their weapons, the tribals took out a massive rally before attending a memorial meeting. Former minister Mr Balabhadra Majhi, former MP Mr Dhaneswar Majhi and Captain Dibya Sankar Mishra addressed the meeting organised jointly by Rindo Majhi Smruti committee, Rindo Majhi foundation trust, state culture department and Urladani gram panchayat.
Ex-minister Mr Majhi, while exhorting fellow tribals to take full advantage of the numerous schemes meant for them, observed that unless the tribals of Kalahandi are developed and brought to the mainstream of society, the tributes to the martyr will remain incomplete.
Mr Majhi and other speakers highlighted the role played by the martyr in the freedom struggle of the country and uniting the tribals against alien rule. The Kondhs and dombos of Kalahandi had revolted against the British under the leadership of Rindo Majhi between 1853 and 1855, much before the Sepoy Mutiny often billed as the first freedom struggle of the country.
According to Historians, after Kalahandi, among other regions of the state, came under the occupation of the British East India Company, the foreign rulers attempted to control minor forest products to garner revenue by introducing “thekadar” system. This led to exploitation and deprivation of the age-old rights of tribals. Besides, the Company officials also interfered in the socio-cultural and religious practices of tribals. Such interventions and changes caused resentment among tribals and it took the form of revolt under the leadership of Rindo Majhi. This tribal uprising is known as the 1st Kondh Meli.
Company officials, apprehending the spread of resentment, tried to subdue the tribals and took Rindo Majhi under custody. In order to suppress and to pressurise the tribals, Rindo Majhi was moved from village to village in chains. However, instead of suppressing the tribals, it infuriated them, and they forcefully released their leader from bondage. Thereafter, open war between tribals and the East India Company started. There were large numbers of casualties from the side of company forces. However, the traditional weapons of the tribals could not match the superior arms with gun power of the British. At last, Rindo Majhi along with 13 followers met martyrdom facing gun shots in the last war near Urladani of Kalahandi. The historians lament that the struggle and sacrifice of Rindo Majhi is yet to be given due recognition by the government, and he is yet to get martyr status. Moreover, his workplace in Urladani, Mohangiri and Manikera gram panchayats are also remaining neglected, raising question marks on the sincerity of the government.
“For the memory of Rindo Majhi, the state culture department with the initiative of Rindo Majhi Foundation Trust, as suggested by Co Chairman Cum Secretary Bhawani Shankar Nial, who has worked on this issue in the last two decades, had constructed a bronze statue with an expenditure of Rs 10 lakh. However, it could not be inaugurated as local tribals, alleging some defects in the statue and protesting that it doesn’t properly portray his features. There is demand for rectification of defects before installation,” one of the historians and tribal researchers said.[3]
References
- ↑ D.K. Joshi, S. Mund, M.P.Mishra, The Kandha Revolution in Kalahandi, Orissa Review, Aug 2007
- ↑ Elliot's Report, 473; Mahatab et al., History of the Freedom Movement, 2:3-4, Senapati and Kuanr, Kalahandi, 59
- ↑ "Tributes to Rindo Majhi on death anniv". thestatesman.com. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
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