Famous Personalities of the Kol tribe

Who are the Kols?

Kols are chiefly the low caste tribe or the vanvasis inhabiting the Eastern part of India. The Mundas, Ho and the Oraeon tribes are part of the Kil tribe. The Kols are employed in cutting down jungles every year, and conducting wood sales. They are also water-carriers and fishermen.

Buddhu Bhagat

Amar Shaheed Budhu Bhagat, the hero of the Kol rebellion, openly opposed the British repression. He also played a very important role in the freedom struggle of 1857. But before this, during the year 1831–32, to free Chhotanagpur from foreign oppression, the trumpet of the movement had been mixed with the tribes here. This rebellion is also known as ‘Larka Rebellion’. Many tribes like Munda, Oraon, Ho etc. were included in this.

Veer Budhu Bhagat was born on 17 February 1792 in Silagai village of Chanho block of Ranchi district. He belonged to Oraon tribe. His family occupation was farming. Veer Budhu Bhagat was considered very skilled in shooting arrows. He was very fond of hunting. As a child, he used to go for grazing goats in the forests around the village. Within a short span of time, he became so famous for many reasons that people started feeling that he was given some kind of divine power. Due to their village being on the banks of the Koel river, there was a tendency to flow like a river forever.

He never tolerated injustice. Budhu Bhagat had been watching the cruelty of the landlords and the British army since childhood. He had seen how the ready crops were forcibly taken away by the landlords and the houses of the poor villagers could not keep the stove burning for several days. When hundreds of tribals resolved to take iron against the British rule, they found a leader like Veer Budhu Bhagat. Budhu trained his squad for guerrilla warfare. He now had enough public support for the rebellion. Veer Budhu Bhagat was one of the best horsemen. He had given all his strength in the fight with the British.

By taking advantage of the dense forests and inaccessible hills, he defeated the British army many times. Seeing the rebellion against injustice, the British government and the landlords trembled. Veer Budhu Bhagat roamed the villages and inspired people to continue the struggle against the British. Soon the British came to know that it is impossible to suppress the tribal rebellion without capturing Budhu. Therefore, the British government also fixed the amount of reward for capturing them and started all efforts.

When the British made a plan to encircle Silagai from all sides, Veer Budhu Bhagat had come to know about this before his people. He told his people to be ready.

When the British made a plan to encircle Silagai from all sides, Veer Budhu Bhagat had come to know about this before his people. He told his people to be ready.The British had also adopted fiercely inhuman methods to crush this rebellion. Despite the indiscriminate firing, all the people continued to face the British by conventional weapons. The area was shaken by the fierce cries of old people, children, women and youth.

Many tribal people sacrificed their lives in this fight. Hundreds of people were killed, including his sons ‘Haldhar’ and ‘Girdhar’. It is said that it was impossible to capture and kill Veer Budhu Bhagat, but he was weakened from within due to the death of his sons. On 13 February 1832 AD, Veer Budhu Bhagat, the hero of the Kol rebellion, fought with the British received to. Earlier, showing his indomitable courage, he saved the sixes of the British. As a result, hundreds of agitators were killed in the village of Silagai in the Kol rebellion. Thousands of houses were burnt, thousands of livestock were confiscated and grains of thousands of farmers were burnt.

It is said that even after the sacrifice of Veer Budhu Bhagat to create fear among the tribals, the British had adopted inhuman methods, but the torch of the revolution started by them never slowed down. His martyrdom is also recorded in golden letters in the pages of history.

Silagai Tongri is still a witness to the bravery of Veer Budhu Bhagat. Evidence of the bravery of Veer Budhu Bhagat, skilled in arrow-bow, is the ‘Veer Pani’ waterfall, where he shot the arrow. We can never forget their sacrifice, love for the motherland, their valor, valor and indomitable courage. The story of his bravery will always be cherished in the hearts, minds and hearts of people from generation to generation.

References

Kol Caste , Indian Aboriginal Tribe (indianetzone.com)

Buddhu Bhagat — The Kol Rebellion (getyourselfeducated.blogspot.com)