Ranchi/New Delhi
Celebrating the second Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas on Tuesday, President Droupadi Murmu visited Bhagwan Birsa Munda’s native place in Ulihatu village of Khunti district. She performed some of the traditional rituals while giving homage to the tribal legend and also interacted with his descendants.
One of Birsa Munda’s descendants, Sukhram Munda, played the lead role in greeting the President and helped her perform the rituals amidst tight security and presidential protocol.
Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda, who also happens to be the Khunti MP, Union Minister of State Annapurna Devi and Jharkhand Minister Joba Majhi were among the other prominent personalities who were present on the occasion.
Murmu landed at the Birsa Munda airport by an IAF aircraft at about 9.15 in the morning and was extended a warm reception by the Governor, CM and other senior functionaries of the state. Thereafter, she proceeded to Ulihatu in another IAF chopper. She proceeded to Jabalpur via Ranchi in the afternoon.
Incidentally, Murmu earlier happened to be the Jharkhand Governor. This was her maiden tour to Jharkhand after becoming the President. She is also the first President to go on a ‘pilgrimage’ to Birsa Munda’s birth place.
Greeting the citizens on the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, early in the day, she said the tribal communities have enriched the life of the nation with their arts, crafts and hardwork. Tribal communities made great contributions to the freedom struggle, she said.
“I bow down to all tribal freedom fighters and unsung heroes. Tribal people’s contribution to the nation’s journey since Independence is no less significant. My best wishes for their development and prosperity,” Murmu said.
“On Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, my greetings to fellow citizens, especially brothers and sisters of the tribal society! Tribal communities have enriched the life of the nation with their arts, crafts and hardwork. Their lifestyle offers the world lessons in nurturing nature,” the President tweeted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tributes to Birsa Munda. In a recorded video address, Modi cited a number of welfare programmes of the central government and said crores of tribal families have benefitted from them and their lives have become easier. Munda is not only an icon of the freedom struggle but also denotes the country’s spiritual and cultural energy, he said and also named Tilka Manjhi, Sidhu and Kanhu and Tana Bhagat among other leading tribal revolutionaries while paying his tributes to their struggle against foreign rulers.
The PM noted that his government had announced Munda’s birth anniversary as ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Divas’ and museums dedicated to tribal freedom fighters are being built across the country to recognise their contributions. India has to give shape to its future by learning from the grand tribal legacy and the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas will become an opportunity and medium for this, he said.
He expressed pride in the tribal heritage and said the resolve for the development of the community is part of the energy of ‘Panch Praan’, five pledges for the country outlined by him in his recent Independence Day speech.
Earlier, Murmu’s plans had included a two-day visit to Jharkhand involving landing at Deoghar airport on November 14 and performing Puja at Baidyanathdham Temple. She was to put up at the Raj Bhawan in Ranchi on November 14 and on November 15, apart from visiting Ulihatu, she was to participate in a fair organized by the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry at Birsa College grounds in Khunti and leading the Jharkhand Foundation Day celebrations at Morhabadi grounds in Ranchi.
The official machinery in Jharkhand had completed necessary preparations accordingly. But, her schedule was amended suddenly. Though it is officially not known what compelled the sudden amendments in President’s tour programme, it is widely perceived that she was advised against sharing the stage with Chief Minister Hemant Soren, embroiled in money laundering and mining lease scams.
After Murmu declined to lead the Foundation Day celebrations, Soren requested Governor Ramesh Bais to become the chief guest at Morhabadi Grounds. He also called on Bais at the Raj Bhavan on Tuesday with the request. But, Bais too refused to oblige.
Finally, JMM chief and Hemant’s father Shibu Soren became the chief guest at the 20th Statehood Day celebrations. Apart from elaborating the achievements of the state government on various fronts, several new announcements for the welfare and development of the State too were made.
Carved out of Bihar in 2000, Jharkhand marks its Foundation Day on November 15, which happens to be Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary, and is now also celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas.
