Jacob Hembrom SJ
There were clouds of helplessness in the minds of Adivasis. Anger and frustration were the prominent feelings of people all over. There were hardly any rays of hope at the end of the tunnel. They were chained by the unending interest of debts of ‘Zamindars’ (Landlords). There was an ambience of distress and desolation. Their identity and their very existence were under threat. They were in the dungeon of misery. Those who had the eyes of kindness could only read the faces of these most exploited people.
It was in this chaotic atmosphere and deep human agony that our great and charismatic heroes of the time were born in the persons of Sidho Murmu, Kanhu Murmu, Chand Murmu and Bhariva Murmu brothers. Their birth in Santal society brought a spark of hope against hopelessness. As they grew up, they witnessed the ill treatment meted out to their fellow brethren by the Zamindars as well as the British. They saw the harsh reality of the British auctioning away large tracts of land belonging to the Santals to anyone who would guarantee them these fixed revenues.
A lot of rich Indians based in cities brought Zamindaris in these far off forests and pretty soon, started exploiting people there. As young adults they found it difficult to accept that their land is going into the hands of British appointed local Zamindars. Eventually, they became bonded labourers in their own land. It is in this context that they realized prophetic call within and ultimately gave up their lives in fighting for the freedom.
Today, has the situation changed in anyway? Certainly not; rather its forms have changed. Poverty and illiteracy are two major facts that have made many people to succumb to different bondages. People selling their lands to the rich for stone queries; the Government altering the law of the land to invite multinational companies to drain out the natural resources which once our ancestors owned them; people becoming victims of human trafficking, yet another major concern of the day.
On this great day as we owe our tribute to them, let us put our ears to the echo of their challenging message to us. Let us become the torch bearers of their sacrificial love. In our own way let us become means of social change.