New Delhi
Inaugurating the 15-day mega National Tribal Festival at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium here, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said events like Aadi Mahotsav have become movements and are presenting a grand picture of India’s tribal heritage during the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
He said that the Aadi Mahotsav represents a picture of the diversity and magnificence of India standing together shoulder to shoulder. “The Aadi Mahotsav is like an infinite sky where the diversity of India is projected like the colours of a rainbow”, the Prime Minister remarked.
Drawing a parallel with the colours of a rainbow coming together, the Prime Minister said that the nation’s magnificence also comes to the fore when its infinite diversities are threaded into the string of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshta Bharat’ and that is when India provides guidance to the entire world.
“I feel India’s diversity and its grandness have come together and are standing tall today, highlighting its tradition. The government is making efforts to reach out to the people who have been unreached for a long time,” Modi said.
Upon arriving at the venue, the Prime Minister paid floral tributes to Bhagwan Birsa Munda and accompanied by Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda took a walk-through of the stalls at the exhibition.
The PM said what was considered remote, now, the government is going there on its own and bringing the remote and neglected into the mainstream. Events like Aadi Mahotsav have become a movement in the country and he himself participates in many of them, he pointed out.
“Welfare of tribal society is also a matter of personal relationship and emotions for me. I have seen your traditions closely, lived them and learnt from them,” said the Prime Minister, remembering his close association with the tribal communities during his days as a social worker.
He recalled spending important years of his life in the tribal belt of Umargam to Ambaji in Gujarat. Modi said tribal life has taught me a great deal about the country and its traditions.
While he informed that the tribal products find a place of pride in his gifts to foreign dignitaries, tribal tradition is presented by India as an integral part of Indian pride and heritage on global platforms.
He said, India conveys solutions to problems like global warming and climate change in the tribal way of life and emphasized the tribal community of India has a lot to inspire and teach with regard to sustainable development.
The PM highlighted the efforts of the government in promoting tribal products and asked the people, especially, those in Delhi/NCR to come in large numbers to the Aadi Mahotsav, see for themselves what India’s jungles are producing and also ensure the stocks of those who have put up stalls at venue are sold out.
He underlined tribal products should reach the maximum market and their recognition and demand should increase. Giving the example of bamboo, the Prime Minister noted that the previous government had prohibited the harvest and use of bamboo but it was the present government that included bamboo in the category of grass and abolished the prohibition.
Reflecting on this year’s Budget, the Prime Minister informed that PM Visvakarma Yojna has been introduced for traditional craftsmen where economical assistance will be provided apart from skill development and support in marketing their products.
“Tribal children, be they in any corner of the country, their education and their future is my priority,” the PM said. Pointing out the hardships faced by the tribal youth due to the language barrier, he threw light on the New Educational Policy where youth can opt to study in their mother tongues.
Highlighting the journey of the tribal society in the last 8-9 years, Modi said this is the first time in 75 years of India’s independence that the leadership of the country is in the hands of a tribal woman who is making India proud at the highest office in the form of President. He said that tribal history is getting much-deserved recognition in the country for the first time.
He also showcased that the nation has finally taken the step in the Amrit Mahotsav to bring these forgotten chapters of the past to the fore and said, “For the first time, the country has started celebrating Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas on the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda”.
Recalling the opportunity to inaugurate the museum dedicated to Bhagwan Birsa Munda in Ranchi, Jharkhand, he also noted that museums related to tribal freedom fighters are coming up in various states.
Even though it is happening for the first time, the Prime Minister said that its impression will be visible for many generations to come and will provide inspiration and give direction to the country for many centuries.
“We have to protect our past, take our sense of duty to the peak in the present, and make our dreams come true for the future”, the Prime Minister remarked as he stated that events like Aadi Mahotsav are a strong medium to take this resolution forward. He emphasized that the campaign should become a mass movement and stressed organizing such events in different states.
The Aadi Mahotsav, which celebrates the spirit of tribal culture, crafts, cuisine, commerce and traditional art, is an annual initiative of the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation Limited (TRIFED) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. It is being organised from 16 to 27 February at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi.
The programme will showcase the rich and diverse heritage of tribes from across the country in over 200 stalls at the venue. Around 1000 tribal artisans will participate in the Mahotsav.
Since 2023 is being celebrated as the International Year of Millets, along with usual attractions like handicrafts, handloom, pottery, and jewellery among others, a special focus in the Mahotsav will be on showcasing Shree Anna grown by tribals.
