Binod Bihari Mahato

This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. You can assist by editing it. (August 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Binod Bihari Mahato (September 23, 1923 – December 18, 1991) was an advocate and politician. He founded

Binod Bihari Mahato was born on September 23, 1923, in Badadaha village in Baliapur division of Dhanbad district. His father was Mahendra Mahato and his mother was Mandakini Devi. He was born into the family of Kudmi. His father was a farmer. His primary education was in Baliapur and he attended Jharia D.A.V. for middle school and then Dhanbad High English School.^[4]

Career

Because of family financial problems, Mahato did writing work as a daily labourer in Dhanbad court. He also worked as a teacher. Later he got a job as a clerk in

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

Culture and sports

Mahato was a lover of the culture of Jharkhand. He always attempted to promote folk songs, festivals and the culture of Jharkhand. He organised competitions to promote the folk dances of Jharkhand. He participated in festivals such as Gohal Puja, Tusu Parab, Jitiya, Karam Parab, Sohrai and Manasa Puja. He worked to promote the languages of Jharkhand, especially Kudmali/Kurmali, the language of Kudmi Mahato. He encouraged Laxmikant Mahato, the writer of Kudmali Sahitya and Vyakran, to promote Kurmali. The writer and poet of Khortha, Srinivas Punari, was his friend. Due to these efforts, the study of Kurmali started at Ranchi University.^{[citation needed]}

Education

Mahoto tried to spread education. He gave the slogan of "Padho and Lado".^{[clarification needed]} He also donated money for the establishment of several schools and colleges.^[6]

Shivaji Samaj

Due to his Kudmi Mahato background, Mahato met several Kudmi in his profession. Kudmi were mainly farmers. They were simple, poorly educated and easily influenced by others. Kudmi have their rituals and culture. Traditionally, Kudmi performed their own rituals without Brahmin. In those days Brahmincal practices were entering into Kudmi culture. Some were trying to make Kudmi Khatriya by giving them janeu (scared thread) and some were suggesting Kudmi to get dikhya from Brahmin.^{[clarification needed]} Some were saying to classify Kudmi as Vaishya. Many Kudmi were starting practices such as Tilak and dahej which were not Kudmi custom. Alcoholism was increasing. To solve the problems faced by Kudmi, Mahato started an organisation called Shivaji Samaj in 1967. This worked to protect Kudmi from money-lenders and to fight social evils. Several meetings were held to solve society's problems and punish the culprits. Shivaji Samaj organised rallies for backward castes and Sri Karpuri Thakur's rally for backward castes.^{[clarification needed][6]}

Shivaji Samaj influenced Shibu Soren to set up Sonot Santal Samaj. Later Mandal and Teli Samaj were set up.^[6]

Some people called Shivaji Samaj a terrorist organisation. Several cases were lodged against its leaders. It works to promote the language, festival and culture of Kudmi. The reason Mahato called the organisation Shivaji Samaj was that he admired Chhatrapati Shivaji. He believed that Shivaji was Kurmi. Shivaji had fought against the tyranny of Aurangzeb. In this way Mahato was a social reformer.^[6]

Eventually, Shivaji Samaj became the backbone of the Jharkhand movement. Then Shivaji Samaj and Sonot Santal Samaj merged and formed Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.^[6]

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha

Binod Bihari Mahato was a member of the Communist Party for 25 years. He did not believe in any of the Indian parties. He thought that the