In this, our 75th year of Independence ... weneeded quality literature around our great tribal freedom fighters. This bookis a truly commendable start in that direction. -Arjun Munda, Minister ofTribal Affairs Our first war of Independence was not in 1857. In fact, tribal mutinies against the British began at least 75 yearsbefore the 1857 revolution. These battles were fought with traditional bows andarrows and spears, and predated the reported political movement that came tothe fore in the latter part of the nineteenth century. we complete 75 years ofIndependence, it is only fair to acknowledge that a parallel freedom movementhad existed in our far-flung villages and jungles, away from the mainstreamfreedom movement acknowledged in the books of history. The Great Tribal Warriors ofBharat is a humble attempt to honourthese largely unsung heroes of an epochal movement, whose contribution remainslargely unacknowledged. The book begins with Tilka Manjhi, who unleashedguerilla warfare to combat the British, and includes Jaipal Singh Munda, one ofthe most nuanced speakers of our Constituent Assembly, tracking the trajectoryof this movement. These brave warriors came from all parts of India, includingthe Northeast and the South, and from all tribes existing in the country. This book is a rare collectionand a journey into self-discovery for our civilization turned nation.