Sarai Kale Khan Chowk renamed as Birsa Munda Chowk; all you need to know

Delhi’s Sarai Kale Khan Chowk will now be known as Birsa Munda Chowk. Union Minister of Urban Development Manohar Lal Khattar made the announcement on November 15, the tribal leader’s 150th birth anniversary.
Notably, the revered freedom fighter and tribal leader played a key role in India’s struggle for independence.
While addressing an event in Delhi to commemorate Birsa Munda, Khattar said, “I am announcing today that the big chowk outside the ISBT bus stand here will be known after Bhagwan Birsa Munda. Seeing this statue and the name of that chowk, not only the citizens of Delhi but also the people visiting the international bus stand will definitely be inspired by his life.”
The Union minister asserted that this decision was taken to honour the freedom fighter so that people visiting the area could know about him and get inspired by his life.
Earlier today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled a statue of Bhagwan Birsa Munda in the national capital. He was accompanied by Khattar and Delhi LG VK Saxena.
While speaking at the event, Shah said, “Bhagwan Birsa Munda was born in a small village and on the occasion of his 150th birth anniversary, this year will be celebrated as Adivasi Gaurav Diwas… Bhagwan Birsa Munda was definitely one of the great heroes of independence. In 1875, while getting secondary education, he raised his voice against religious conversion. When the entire country and 2/3rd of the world was ruled by the British. At that time, he showed courage to stand against religious conversion…”

Birsa Munda, a prominent figure in India’s tribal freedom movement, played a crucial role in motivating the tribal communities of the Chotanagpur region to rise up against colonial rule.
He led the “Ulgulan” (Rebellion), an armed resistance against the British forces.
He belonged to the Munda tribe in the Chhotanagpur Plateau area and spearheaded an Indian tribal mass movement that arose in the Bihar and Jharkhand belts in the early 19th century under British colonisation.
He also influenced his people to realise the importance of owning their land and asserting their rights over it. He became their leader and was given the nickname, ‘Dharti Aba’ or the father of the earth.
He died on June 9, 1900, at age 25.
November 15 was declared ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Divas by the central government in 2021.
(With inputs from ANI)