Tribal Movement & Freedom Fighters of Odisha

Abstract

Tribal resistance movement was an integral part of Freedom Movement of Odisha. In this historic movement the heroic role played by some distinguished tribal leaders like Laxman Naik of Koraput, Ratna Naik of Keonjhar, Kamala Lochan Dora Bisoyee, Chakra Bisoyee and Nabaghana Kanhar of Ghumsur, Dayanidhi Dharua of Mayurbhanj, Rindo Majhi of Kalahandi, Tama Dora of Malkangiri, Dharanidhar Nayak of Keonjhar, Madri Kalo and Nirmal Munda of Sundergarh and Veer Surendra Sai of Sambalpur who had contributed a lot for the freedom of India as well as Odisha deserves mention. There are few important aspects of the tribal resistance movement of Odisha which deserve mention. One is that the tribals have their own social, cultural and religious identity, their own taboos, make beliefs and peculiar compulsions of lifestyle and therefore, any attempt of the administration of an alien rule to make an inroad into the tribal society by way of reformatory and correctional changes, however laudable, is bound to be resisted by the tribals with all their individual and collective might.