India’s first ever Bhagwan Birsa Munda Janjatitya Gaurva Divas was kickstarted by Prime Minister Narender Modi in Ranchi in Jharkhand on 146th birth anniversary of legendary tribal leader on Monday. He opened Bhagwan Birsa Munda museum in Ranchi showcasing legacy of and contribution of Birsa Munda and tribals in freedom movement of the country.
Born in the present day Jharkand Bhagwan Birsa Munda in 1875, had raised a banner of revolt against the exploitative policies of the then British, who were out to loot resources of tribals in Jharkhand.
Munda had given a clarion call against the British by launching a tribal freedom movement –Ulgulan- for their exploitative and colonialisation polices.
The impact of Birsa Munda was so great that the British were forced to bring about the Chota Nagpur Tenancy Act in 1908, restricting the transfer of tribal land to non-tribal in the region, say historians.
Fearing a mass uprising against them due to his wide appeal, leadership and fighting spirit, Birsa Mudna was jailed by the British and he died in Jail in 1905.
Revoking his contribution to the freedom struggle while participating in the celebration of maiden Bhagwan Birsa Munda Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, Prime Minister Narender Modi announced the launch of 10 tribal freedom fighters memorial in the tribal areas. “The budget for the tribal development has increased from Rs 21525 crore in 2013 to Rs 78, 256 crore in 2021-22, he says taking a dig at the Congress and other opposition parties.
The government has also encouraged Bamboo cultivation and sale of bamboo by bringing in suitable legislation to empower the tribal communities in the country. The welfare board has been set up by the denoted nomadic and seminomadic communities, PM says.
Barring the newly created Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, there was virtually no celebration or a token function observed by tribal communities and the most of state governments in Himalayan region - all of them have a sizeable tribal population, living in the snowbound and cold region of the region.
In Himachal Governor Rajendera Vishwanath Arlekar offered floral tributes to Birsa Munda at a function organised at Raj Bhawan today on his birth anniversary, which is being celebrated as 'Tribal Pride Day'. He said that Birsa Munda was the hero of tribal society and a great freedom fighter.
Recalling the contribution of Birsa Munda in the freedom movement, Governor said he was a great hero of Mother India whose name has been written in golden letters in history. It is our duty to glorify the life of great heroes of freedom struggle. Director, Centre for Tribal Studies, Himachal Pradesh University Shimla Dr. Chandramohan Parsira, Shimla gave details about the life of Birsa Munda. Principal Secretary Tribal Development Onkar Sharma, Senior officers of State Government were present on the occasion amongst other dignitaries.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur twitted and congratulate the people of Jharkhand on the occasion of the statehood Day and Bhagwan Birsa Munda Janjatiya Gaurav Divas.But no function was organised in Tribal belt by the government
LG- Jammu and Kashmir preside over the function to remember the tribal leaders who have contributed immensely to freedom and development. He honoured local tribal heroes for their contribution in development in the UT, say the reports.
Terming Birsa Munda as “Darti Aaba “. Ladakh BJP MP and member of the Ladakh Hill Development Council Jamyang Tsering Namgyal says that Bhagwan Birsa Munda was a great freedom fighter who gave “new direction to the Tribal community in India”.
Himachal’s tribal veterans late TS Negi, former Vidhan Sabha Speaker, who hailed from Kinnaur and late Devi Singh Thakur, former Congress tribal leader, who came from Lahaul-Spiti tribal district. played key role in getting Tribal status for Kinnaur and Lahauli-Spiti respectively when Himachal attained statehood.
The various NGOs working in the tribal belt hailed first ever Bhagwan Birsa Munda Janjatiya Divas saying that it is the recognition of the yeoman service that the tribals of the country have rendered in the freedom movement.
The sacrifices of tribal community and its contribution to the freedom struggle is immense Bhagwan BIrsa Munda’s birth anniversary is being celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas is a recognition to the tribals' contribution in freedom movement, says tribal poet Ajey. But you never know what "development agenda" the present government is setting for the tribals, he says. .
On the other, without making any mention of the Janjatiya Guarav Divas, CPI ML liberation front also paid their tributes to Birsa Munda and identified the leader with the leftist struggle.
(Kuldeep Chauhan, Editor and Administrator, HimbuMail, )
