Page 65 - Mann Ki Baat, October 2022

TRIBAL FREEDOM FIGHTER MUSEUM Prime Minister also inaugurated
Bhagwan Birsa Munda Memorial
Udyan cum Freedom Fighter
CELEBRATING THE GLORIOUS TRIBAL HISTORY & CULTURE Museum at Ranchi in Jharkhand.
At the inauguration, he said, “In
this Amrit Kaal of Independence,
the country has decided that it
will give a more meaningful and
a more grand identity to the tribal
My dear countrymen, India is celebrating traditions of India and its valour
‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to stories.” There are statues of many
th
on the 15 of November, our
commemorate 75 years of its tribal heroes, including Sidhu-
country will celebrate the Independence and the glorious Kanhu, Poto Ho, Telanga Kharia,
Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas. Last history of its people, culture, and Gaya Munda, Jatra Tana Bhagat
year on the occasion of the achievements. The fight against and Diva-Kisun in this museum
colonial rule in India constitutes a and their stories have also been
birth anniversary of Bhagwan
unique narrative which is replete explained in detail.
Birsa Munda, I had the privilege with variegated stories of valour, The inauguration of the
of inaugurating the Bhagwan bravery, dedication, and sacrifice Tribal Freedom Fighter Museum
Birsa Munda Museum in Ranchi. across the length and breadth in Ranchi was just the beginning.
of the subcontinent. If we look The Ministry of Tribal Affairs
I would like to urge the youth
at that period of our freedom is developing 10 more such
that whenever they get time,
struggle, there was hardly any museums (in Gujarat, Andhra
they must visit it. moment when there was no Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala,
tribal resistance in different parts Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, land, eviction from their land,
-Prime Minister Narendra Modi
of the country. Be it the Munda Manipur, Mizoram and Goa), annulment of the traditional legal
(in his ‘Mann ki Baat’ address)
movement under the leadership dedicated to the contributions and social rights and customs,
of Birsa Munda, or the Santhal of the tribal people in India to enhancement of rent, and
struggle, the Khasi and the Ahom the freedom struggle, across the feudal and semi-feudal form of
resistances in the Northeast or the country. These museums will trace ownership. Birsa Munda fought
Bhil struggle, the tribal sons and their history along the trails along bravely against the exploitation
daughters of India challenged the which the tribal people in hills and of the British colonial system and
British rule in every period. forests fought for their right to live spearheaded movement against
In the ongoing ‘Amrit and will. They will also preserve British oppression giving a call
An unbiased observer can and promote songs, music, art-
Mahotsav’, the country is reviving for ‘Ulgulan’ (Revolution). Often
easily note that when the countless such pages of history, skills, handicrafts and crafts referred to as ‘Dharti Aaba’, he
Prime Minister discusses which were forgotten in the past passed down from generation was against the ideology that
another key central element decades. One of the prime focuses to generation. These museums wanted to erase the identity of
of his basic approach to of the Government has been will also demonstrate the way India’s tribal society. He knew that
managing the affairs of the to bring alive stories of unsung tribal people in the present time attacking diversity in the name
heroes whose sacrifices have act as the custodians of the of modernity, tampering with
country, that is ‘Sabka Saath
made freedom a reality for us. biological and cultural diversity ancient identity and nature was
Sabka Vikas’ the tribals are of the country and have helped
With the idea of bringing forth not the way for the welfare of the
an important part of this such stories, the Government in nation-building in their own society, and thus encouraged the
overall scheme. declared 15 th November as unique way. tribals to understand their cultural
‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’ to The battle that the tribes roots and importance of unity.
-Prof. Raghuvendra Tanwar
th
commemorate the 146 birth were fighting was primarily What Birsa Munda had started
Chairman, Indian Council of against their exploitation in the resulted in the introduction of
anniversary of Birsa Munda in
Historical Research 2021. To mark the occasion, the form of encroachment on their laws to preserve the land rights
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