Jaipal Singh Munda, Tribal Movement and Constituent Assembly

Like many other Indigenous Leaders Jaipal Singh Munda popularly known as the ‘Maran Gomke’ in the indigenous mundari language which means the ‘great leader’, his contribution and has gone into oblivion. Jaipal Singh Munda hails from Munda indigenous community from Jharkhand which is also known as one of the first settlers of Indian subcontinents. In the colonial India and later in Independent India Jaipal Singh Munda is seen as a shining star from among the tribal leaders in India. An Oxford-educated tribal from India was highly qualified and capable tribal to make valuable contribution in the making of Indian Constitution and also to the formation of Tribal Indentity politics and movements for self-governance in India. His contribution towards the revival of indigenous languages, cultures, social and political identity goes unrivalled to this day. The sad part of the whole story is that Jaipal Singh Munda and his contribution is sidelined deliberately by main line Indian polity and social perview. Here is an attempt to bring such hidden treasure to underline the contribution of indigenous peoples in the making of a nation.