Indian Tribal News Service
Bhopal/New Delhi : Asserting that it is for the first time after Independence that the art and culture of tribal society besides its contribution towards freedom struggle and nation-building are being proudly remembered and honoured, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said those who governed the nation for decades after Independence prioritised their selfish politics and kept the tribal society devoid of all facilities.
Meanwhile, in Delhi, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs stated that Sukhram Munda, the grandson of revered freedom fighter Birsa Munda, will on November 16 inaugurate the Aadi Mahotsav, a national festival to showcase tribal art, culture and cuisine, at Dilli Haat. Launched in 2017, Aadi Mahotsav is an attempt to familiarise people with the rich and diverse craft, culture of tribal communities across the country.
“Some people can’t believe that the tribal society had a big role in strengthening India’s culture. It’s because the nation was either never told about it or was kept in the dark and given very limited information on it. The culture and capability of people were ignored for decades despite the fact that they comprise around 10% of India’s population. Their issues, education and health meant nothing for them,” addressing the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas Mahasammelan in Bhopal.
Modi also inaugurated the redeveloped Rani Kamlapati Railway Station, named after the first Gond queen of Bhopal. The station was earlier known as Habibganj Railway Station. He outlined that his Government is developing place in 100 aspirational districts which remained backward during earlier regimes.
The PM also remembered notable historian and Padma Vibhushan Babasaheb Purandare. “I came to know this morning that he passed away. His contribution in taking the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to common people is priceless.”
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan lashed out at the Congress for questioning the conduct of the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas Mahasammelan and terming it a waste of money. “They (Congress) spend crores on hero-heroines, on events like IIFA. Rani Kamlapati was forgotten. Neither the Britishers nor Congress gave her an appropriate position in history. But PM Narendra Modi renamed Habibganj Railway Station after Rani Kamlapati,” he pointed out.
