Indian Tribal News Service
New Delhi
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday (November 22) said the Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum in memory of ‘Rani Maa’ (Rani Gaidinliu) will lead to more glory for Manipur and become a centre of attraction for all north east states even as it will instill a sense of patriotism in all.
Laying the foundation stone of the Museum, to be set up at Rani’s birthplace at Luangkao village in Imphal East, through video conferencing, Shah eulogized the valour and sacrifice of tribals saying it is they who have sacrificed the most in India’s freedom struggle. “Tribal museums across India will help unify the country. The urban population doesn’t know the sacrifices and history of STs hence the PM had announced setting up of 10 tribal freedom fighters museums,” he pointed out.
Touching a political cord as Manipur goes to polls in the coming months, Shah said the Biren Singh dispensation fulfilled all the three pre-poll promises of ‘no hartals, no bandhs and no blockades’. “The law and order is a big improvement, just like we had envisaged. Our five years of development outweighs 70 years of development under opposition with a sports univ coming up, a new vidhan sabha having been constructed besides, toilets, schools even on the hills and where people are getting free electricity and gas cylinders,” he said.
Outlining the aims behind the conduct of the ongoing ‘Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav’ across India, Shah said it is to remember the freedom fighters and martyrs whose sacrifices laid the foundation for a India to be now in a position of strength in the world under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Mahotsav also strives to ensure that the younger generation imbibes patriotism, he said adding the present and even the next generation will not have the opportunity to die for the country but can surely live for the nation.
He said while the PM announced celebrating November 15 as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas every year as a tribute to the tribals, he himself was honoured to the lay the foundation stone for Rani Maa Museum on the last day of the Janjatiya Gaurv Diwas
Paying his tribute to Rani Gaidinliu, Shah said, “You were not a queen by birth but were given given the title by the people. When government coronates it is forgotten after some time but when public does so it stays permanently.” Shah also recalled the contributions of Bhagwan Birsa Munda and other freedom fighters in India’s independence struggle.
He said despite being a small young girl, Rani Maa fought the world’s biggest empire. He highlighted how she portrayed her inherent strength by taking on the British by deciding not to pay house tax and undergo forcible labour.
Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda and the Manipur CM also participated in the event.
