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Source: The post is based on the article “Ministry of Culture releases the third Comic book on stories of 20 Tribal Freedom Fighters” published in PIB on 4th August 2022.
What is the News?
The Ministry of Culture has released the third Comic book on stories of 20 Tribal Freedom Fighters at Tiranga Utsav celebration in New Delhi.
What are the important tribal freedom fighters mentioned in the book?
| Tribal Freedom Fighter | Contribution |
| Tilka Majhi | He rebelled against the atrocities of the British East India Company. He mobilised the Pahadia tribe to which he belonged and raided the Company treasury. He was hanged. |
| Budhu Bhagat | He had led guerrilla warfare against the British. He was a leader of the Larka rebellion in 1832. |
| Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu | They were the leaders of the Santhal rebellion (1855–1856), the rebellion in present-day Jharkhand and Bengal in eastern India against both the British colonial authority and the corrupt zamindari system. |
| Ramji Gond | He belonged to the Gond tribe. He rose against the feudal system by which wealthy landlords oppressed the poor with the support of the British. He was caught and hanged. |
| Telanga Kharia | He refused to accept the tax system of the British and their governance. He insisted that they follow their traditional method of self-governance and organized raids on the treasury. He was betrayed and shot dead. |
| Tantiya Bhil | He was known as the Robin Hood of the Central Provinces. He robbed trains carrying British wealth and distributed it among his tribe, the Bhils. |
| Major Paona Brajabasi | He fought to defend the kingdom of Manipur. He was the hero of the Anglo-Manipur war. |
| Malati Mem | She was inspired to join Mahatma Gandhi’s satyagraha movement. She fought against the British monopoly over opium and educated her people about the dangers of opium addiction. |
| Helen Lepcha | She was an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi. Her influence over her people made the British restless. In 1941, she helped Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose escape from house arrest and travel to Germany. She was awarded the Tamra Patra for her invaluable contribution to the freedom struggle. |
| Pulimaya Devi Podar | She heard Gandhi when she was in school and wanted to join the freedom struggle immediately. Despite stiff opposition from her family, she joined the movement. She was imprisoned for her participation in protests. After independence, she continued to serve her people and was awarded the title of ‘Swatantra Sainani’. |
