On 15 November 1875, Birsa Munda was born in Ulihatu village in the Ranchi district of present-day Jharkhand. He is celebrated as one of India’s greatest tribal icons, a freedom fighter, and the foremost leader of the indigenous rights movement.
Birsa Munda united the tribal communities against British rule and the oppressive zamindari system, leading a powerful uprising known as “Ulgulan” (The Great Movement). This historic resistance not only challenged colonial authority but also ignited a strong consciousness of tribal identity, dignity, and rights.
In honour of his extraordinary contribution, the Government of India has declared 15 November as ‘Janajatiya Gaurav Diwas’, a day dedicated to remembering the culture, struggles, and achievements of tribal communities across the nation.
Notably, it was on his birth anniversary, 15 November 2000, that the state of Jharkhand was officially created. For the people of Jharkhand, the day symbolises dual pride — celebrating their legendary hero and commemorating their State Formation Day.
The slogan “Abua Disum, Abua Raj” (Our Land, Our Rule), given by Birsa Munda, remains a defining expression of Jharkhand’s identity and self-respect.
Major Events on November 15
1830 – Social reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy departed for England.
1920 – The first meeting of the League of Nations was held in Geneva.
1936 – Anti-Comintern Pact signed between Nazi Germany and Japan.
1947 – World Health Organization became a specialised UN agency.
1949 – Nathuram Godse and Narayan Dattatraya Apte, convicted for Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, were executed.
1955 – Trade agreement signed between Poland and Yugoslavia.
1961 – United Nations imposed a ban on nuclear weapons.
1988 – PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat declared the State of Palestine independent.
1989 – Waqar Younis and Sachin Tendulkar made their Test debut in Karachi.
1998 – US President Bill Clinton cancelled his planned visit to India and Pakistan.
2000 – Coup in Fiji declared illegal.
2000 – Jharkhand became the 28th state of India.
2001 – Nuclear bomb-related documents found at an Al-Qaeda base.
2003 – A bombing near a Jewish synagogue in Istanbul killed 16 and injured 150.
2004 – Australia celebrated the 200th anniversary of its naming.
2004 – US Secretary of State Colin Powell resigned.
2007 – A massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Chile.
2007 – Ariane-5 rocket launched telecom satellites for Britain and Brazil into orbit.
2008 – Former RBI Governor Y. V. Reddy appointed to a UN task force on global financial reforms.
2008 – Yogendra Makbal founded a new party, National Bahujan Congress.
2012 – Xi Jinping became General Secretary of the Communist Party of China.
Birth Anniversaries
1866 – Cornelia Sorabji, India’s first woman barrister.
1875 – Birsa Munda, tribal freedom fighter and revered leader.
1902 – S. V. Krishnamurthy Rao, Indian National Congress politician.
1922 – T. S. Mishra, former Governor of Assam.
1937 – Ramesh Chandra Shah, noted Hindi novelist, playwright, and critic.
1950 – Ashwini Kumar, former Director of the CBI.
1964 – Pankaj Chaudhary, Member of the 16th Lok Sabha.
1979 – Sumrai Tete, former member of India’s women’s national hockey team.
1986 – Jyoti Prakash Nirala, Ashok Chakra awardee Garud Commando.
1986 – Sania Mirza, acclaimed Indian tennis player.
Notable Deaths
1937 – Jaishankar Prasad, eminent Hindi literary figure.
1938 – Mahatma Hansraj, noted Arya Samaj leader and educationist.
1961 – Bankim Mukherjee, India’s first communist MLA.
1981 – Kamalabai Hospet, renowned social worker of Maharashtra.
1982 – Vinoba Bhave, legendary social reformer.
1996 – R. C. Prasad Singh, poet, storyteller, and playwright.
2013 – Kripalu Maharaj, revered saint and creator of Prem Mandir.
2017 – Kunwar Narayan, distinguished Hindi poet.
2020 – Soumitra Chatterjee, legendary Bengali actor.
2021 – Babasaheb Purandare, noted Marathi historian and playwright.
Important Observances
- National Book Week
- Newborn Care Week
- Jharkhand Foundation Day
(This story is a translated version from a syndicated Agency feed. Except for the headline, The content has not been edited by The Central Post staff.)
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