Page 66 - Mann Ki Baat, October 2022

of the tribals. In 1908, the colonial
Government introduced the ‘Tribal Freedom Fighters are Being
Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, which
prohibited the transfer of tribal Recognised Across the Country’
land to non-tribals. A similar socio-
economic and political battle
was fought in Dungarpur and
India’s tribal community achievements and martyrdom
Banswara regions of Rajasthan by
has had an important role to started gaining recognition
the Bhil tribe. The main grievance of
the Bhils was against the bonded play in the country’s freedom across the country. His statue was
labour system of the British Raj movement. With ‘Azadi Ka Amrit installed at the crossroads in the
which was implemented by the
Mahotsav’, we are not only industrial city of Rourkela, Odisha.
princely states. Before the British,
celebrating and commemorating His portrait and statue were also
the Bhils were enjoying absolute
forest rights. The first Bhil agitation 75 years of Independence and installed in the Parliament House.
in Rajasthan in 1883, also known as the glorious history of its people, Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary
the ‘Bhagat Movement', was led by might and united the people of culture, and achievements but on 15 th November is being
Guru Govind Giri. The revolutionary their respective tribes against celebrated all over the country
also wrote poems to awaken the the same. The tribal resistances also recognizing the unsung
Bhils to fight for their rights. acted as a precursor to the idea of heroes that fought tirelessly for as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas. The
These movements in various ‘swaraj’ in the national liberation our freedom. A major focus has tribal community from across
pockets of the country eventually movement. been on the tribal resistances and the country has played a major
fuelled the freedom movement The tribal museums that role in the freedom struggle. Their
in the entire Indian subcontinent. are being developed across the leaders, whom the Government
Tilka Manjhi, Budhu Bhagat, U. Tirot country, while acknowledging the aims to honour through various revolutionaries are now being
Sing, Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu, contribution of the tribal leaders, initiatives like Janjatiya Gaurav recognised and Tribal Freedom
Rani Gaidinliu — these are some will also become doorways to Diwas and establishment of Tribal Fighters museums are being
of the several names that resisted remotely experience the various Freedom Fighters museums built almost everywhere. TRIs of
colonial oppression with all their episodes and periods of the tribal
history. The Ministry of Culture across the country. each State have been given the
has released a comic book Our Doordarshan team talked responsibility to find out about
on stories of 20 tribal freedom to Dr. Ranendra, Director, Tribal the unsung heroes of their State
fighters, which include Tilka
Research Institute (TRI), Ranchi who have not yet been identified.
Manjhi, Thalakkal Chanthu, Ramji
Gond, Tantiya Bhil, Birsa Munda, about these initiatives. Eighty-five freedom fighters like
Malati Mem, and Helen Lepcha. “The outlook towards the Bhagwan Birsa Munda are being
On November 1, 2022, the Prime tribal communities of India highlighted across the country on
Prime Minister attended a public changed after the thesis whom books should be published
programme ‘Mangarh Dham ki
Gaurav Gatha’ at Mangarh Hill, published by Kumar Suresh that should be included in the
Banswara, Rajasthan, to pay Singh on Birsa Munda. Munda’s curriculum.”
homage to the sacrifices of the
unsung tribal heroes and martyrs
of the freedom struggle. All such
steps and initiatives are bound
to expand the understanding of
the freedom movement, for the
younger generations and adults
alike.

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