News Excerpt:

Adivasis from Jharkhand’s Kolhan region observe January 1 as a day of mourning and remembrance.

Historical background:

• In 1912, the Bengal Presidency was partitioned to create Bihar and Orissa Province.
• However, this new province had a large Adivasi population with its distinct culture and many grievances with both the British and non-tribal populations.
• Thus, in 1912 itself, the demand for a separate tribal state was articulated for the first time at St Columba’s College, Hazaribagh.
• The Simon Commission, mandated to report on constitutional reforms in India, gave it official credence in 1930.
• It deemed Bihar and Orissa the most artificial Indian province, as it unified three distinct areas with varying physical, social, linguistic, and cultural characteristics under a single administration.
• While Orissa was carved out in 1936, Adivasis’ demands remained unheard.
• In 1938, the Adivasi Mahasabha was formed to continue the struggle, with Jaipal Singh Munda (1903-70), former captain of the Indian hockey team, emerging as its tallest leader.

Issue of Kharsawan’s merger with Orissa:

• Kharsawan was a small princely state lying to the west of Jamshedpur.
• At the time of Independence, Kharsawan, alongside 24 other princely states in eastern India, decided to accede to the Union of India and join the state of Orissa.
• After all, Kharsawan and neighboring Saraikela (which today form the Seraikela Kharsawan district in Jharkhand) had more Odia speakers than Hindi speakers.
• However, most Adivasis did not support this merger. They also did not want to join Bihar — the alternative option.
• They wanted a separate Adivasi state.

Action in Kharsawan:

• A huge meeting was called at Kharsawan on January 1, 1948, the day when the merger was to take place.
• The 50,000-strong crowd gathered and raised their demands in Kharsawan.
• However, due to some reason, Munda could not show up.
• This was also the day of the weekly haat in the town.
• Moreover, many more were shopping at the nearby haat.
• Orissa military police had taken charge of law and order in the town.
• It opened fire at the crowd gathered for a protest and the weekly haat (market), killing hundreds.

Aftermath and conclusion :

• To date, there is no consensus regarding just how many lives were lost in the massacre.
• The then-Orissa government confirmed only 35 dead.
• There is also no clarity regarding who was responsible for ordering the massacre.
• Several committees were made, and investigations were carried out, but no report came out.
• Today, a memorial stands at the marketplace in Kharsawan.
• It has been a “political pilgrimage” site in the state, with several state leaders visiting the memorial on New Year’s Day through the years.