The plateau of Chhotanagpur brims with forest wealth and minerals. Nature’s vast resources had always attracted outsiders to this region and this led to the rise of various classes of exploiters in whose strong clutches the life of tribals inhabiting this region became extremely difficult. In such circumstances prevailing during the end of nineteenth century Birsa Munda rose like a phoenix. During his lifetime the flame of social revolution ignited by him forced the erstwhile British government to take steps to free the tribal people from the shackles of the exploiters.

The author A.K. Dhan is the member of the Permanent Committee of the University Grants Commission for Scheduled Castes and Tribes. Well-known educationist Shri Dhan also served as Chancellor of several Universities and member of Union Public Service Commission.