Binod Bihari Mahato


Binod Bihari Mahato was an advocate and politician. He had established a social reform organisation among Kudumi known as Shivaji Samaj. He was founder of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in 1972. He was a leader of the movement for the separate state of Jharkhand. He was three times member of Bihar Vidhan Sabha in 1980, 1985, 1990 and member of Loksabha from Giridih in 1991.

Early life

Binod Bihari Mahato was born on 23 September 1923 in Badadaha village in Baliapur division of Dhanbad district. His father's name was Mahendra Mahato and mother Mandakini Devi. He was born into the family of Kudmi. His father was a farmer. He did his primary education from Baliapur. He completed his Middle and high school from Jharia D.A.V and Dhanbad high english School respectively.

Career

Due financial problems of family he did writing work as a daily labour in Dhanbad court. He also works as a teacher. Thereafter he got a job of clerk in Dhanbad. In an incident, a lawyer said to him that he might become clever but still would remain a clerk. After that incident, he decided to become a lawyer. Then he did his inter from P.K Ray Memorial College. He did his graduation from Ranchi College and Law from Law College Patna. He started his profession of lawyer in 1956 in Dhanbad. He fought cases for several displaced people who were displaced because of Bokaro Steel Plant, Bharat Coking Coal Limited, Central Coalfields, Panchet Dam, Maithon Dam etc.
He participated in election of 1952 from Jharia but didn't win. In 1967, communist party of India got divided. He was member of Communist Party of India. In 1971, he participated Dhanbad Loksabha election on the ticket of Communist Party of India and got second position. He won election in Dhanbad municipality. He was a member of vidhan shabha from Tundi from 1980 to 1985. Then he became vidhan sabha member from Sindri and tundi in 1990. Then he became a member of lok sabha from Giridih in May 1991.

Personal life

He married Fulmani Devi. They had five sons Raj Kishore Mahato, Nil Kamal Mahato, Chandra Shekhar Mahato, Pradeep Kumar Mahato, Ashok Kumar Mahato and two daughters Chandrawati Devi, Tarawati Devi.

Culture and Sports

Binod Bihari Mahato was a lover of the culture of Jharkhand. He always attempted to promote folk songs, festivals and culture of Jharkhand. He was organising competition to promote folk dances of Jharkhand. He was participating in festivals such as Gohal puja, Tusu, Jitia, Karma, Sohrai and Manasa puja. He had worked to promote languages of Jharkhand especially Kurmali language, the language of Kudmi Mahato. He encouraged intellectuals, Scholars to promote Kurmali language. He encouraged Laxmikant Mahato, the writer of "Kudmali Sahitya and Vyakran". The writer and poet of Khortha language, Srinivas Punari was his friend. Due to this effort, the study of Kurmali language started in Ranchi University.
His favourite sports was football. He was playing footballs. He was also organising football matches and encouraging youth by donating footballs and jerseys. He was also interested in the traditional game of Jharkhand archery. He was organising archery competition.

Education

Binod Bihari Mahoto always tried to spread education. He had given slogan of "Padho and Lado". He had donated money for the establishment of several schools and colleges.

Shivaji Samaj

Binod Bihari Mahato started profession of lawyer in 1956. Due to Kudumi Mahato background, he met several Kudmi in this profession. Kudmi were mainly farmer. They were simple and were easily influenced by others. There was a lack of education in society. Kudmi have their own rituals and culture. Traditionally, Kudumi were performing these rituals of their own without Brahmin. In those days Brahmincal practices entering into Kudmi culture. Some were trying to make Kudumi Khatriya by giving them janeu and some were suggesting Kudmi to get dikhya from Brahmin. Some were saying to classify Kudmi as Vaishya. Many Kudmi were starting practice such as Tilak and dahej which were not Kudmi custom. Alcoholism was increasing. To solve the problems faced by Kudmi Binod Bihari Mahato started an organisation called "Shivaji Samaj" in 1967. To protect Kudumi from money-lenders and to fight social evil Sivaji samaj was started. Several meetings were held to solve the problems of society and to punish the culprits. Sivaji samaj organised several rallies. It had organised rallies for backward castes and Sri Karpuri Thakur's rally for backward castes.
By the influence of Shivaji Samaj Shibu Soren formed Sonot Santal Samaj. Then Mandal and Teli Samaj formed in the influence of Sivaji samaj.
Several called Shivaji Samaj as a terrorist organisation. Several cases were lodged against its leaders. It works to promotes language, festival and culture of Kudumi. The cause to give the name of organisation Shivaji Samaj was that Binod Bihari Mahato had admiration for Chhatrapati Shivaji. He was believing that Shivaji was Kurmi. Shivaji had fought against the tyranny of Aurangzeb. Thus Binod Bihari was a social reformer.
In due course of time Shivaji Samaj becomes the backbone for Jharkhand movement. Then Shivaji Samaj and Sonot Santal Samaj merged and formed Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha

Binod Bihari Mahato was member of the Communist Party for 25 years. He had disbelief in all India parties. He had thought that Congress and Jan Sangh were a party for feudalism, Capitalist and not for dalit and backward castes. So it would difficult to fight for dalit and backward caste as a member of these parties.
Then he created Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. Under the banner of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha several agitations took place for a separate state of Jharkhand.
He was member of Jharkhand coordination committee along with Ram Dayal Munda, Bindheswari Prasad Keshri, Santosh Rana and Suraj Singh Besra which started fresh initiative in the matter. It sent memoredum to form Jharkhand state. Centre government formed a commeetee on Jharkhand matter in 1989. It stressed the need of greater allocation of the development funds for the area.

Commemoration