PM inaugurates Bhagwan Birsa Munda Memorial Park cum Freedom Fighter Museum at Ranchi on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas

New Delhi: Government of India has declared that the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda will be celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas. To mark the occasion, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated Bhagwan Birsa Munda Memorial Park cum Freedom Fighter Museum at Ranchi today via video conferencing. Governor of Jharkhand Shri Ramesh Bias; Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, Sh Arjun Munda; Union Minister of Culture, Tourism and DONER,Sh G. Kishan Reddy; Chief Minister of Jharkhand Sh Hemant Soren were among those present on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that in this Amrit Kaal of independence, the country has decided that the country will give a more meaningful and more grand identity to the tribal traditions of India and its valor stories. “For this, a historic decision has been taken that from today every year the country will celebrate 15th November i.e. the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda as ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’” said the Prime Minister while greeting the nation on this historic occasion.

The Prime Minister also paid tributes to Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, due to whose strong will the state of Jharkhand came into existence. “It was Atal ji who was the first to form a separate tribal ministry in the government of the country and linked the tribal interests with the policies of the country”, Shri Modi added.

The Prime Minister congratulated the tribal society of the country, every citizen of India for Bhagwan Birsa Munda Smriti Udyan cum Freedom Fighter Museum. He said “this museum will become a living venue of our tribal culture full of diversity, depicting the contribution of tribal heroes and heroines in the freedom struggle.”

Talking about the vision of Bhagwan Birsa, the Prime Minister pointed out that Bhagwan Birsa knew that tampering with diversity, ancient identity and nature in the name of modernity is not the way for welfare of the society. At the same time, he was a supporter of modern education and had the courage to speak against the ills and inadequacies of his own society. The Prime Minister said the freedom struggle aimed at transferring the power of India, the power to make decisions for India in the hands of Indians. But at the same time, the fight for ‘Dharti Aaba’ – ‘धरती आबा’ was also against the thinking that wanted to erase the identity of India’s tribal society. The Prime Minister remarked that “Bhagwan Birsa lived for the society, sacrificed his life for his culture and his country. Therefore, he is still present in our faith, in our spirit as our God.” ‘Dharti Aaba did not stay on this earth for very long. But he wrote an entire history for the country in that short span of life and gave direction to the generations of India,’ the Prime Minister added.

On the occasion, the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Arjun Munda thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for inaugurating Bhagwan Birsa Munda Memorial Park cum Freedom Fighter Museum in Ranchi. Shri Munda also expressed his gratitude for declaring the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas. It is indeed a proud moment for the tribals of the country, the Minister added.

Shri Munda said that there are a large number of valiant tribal heroes who fought for their motherland. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has sanctioned ten freedom fighter museums to bring out the contribution of these brave warriors. These museums will cherish the memories of tribal freedom fighters from various States and regions, he added. Shri Arjun Munda further added that today on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, the whole of India is remembering how Lord Birsa Munda fought for land, freedom and right of self-determination. Along with this, by putting up a brave fight against the British, Bhagwan Birsa Munda showed the native power of the country; which finds its place in history. Shri Munda further added as we celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, it is our duty to make the dreams of those brave warriors come true who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country and due to whose sacrifices we are able to celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav today.

Shri Munda also thanked the Union Minister for Culture & Tourism Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Governor of Jharkhand, Chief Minister of Jharkhand and other Ministers and officials of various Ministries present on this occasion.

In his address Chief Minister of Jharkhand Shri Hemant Soren said that 15th November is definitely a historic day as today the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Memorial Park cum Freedom Fighter Museum has been inaugurated in the Old Jail Complex of Ranchi. This complex has got a new look due to the efforts of the Central and State Governments, he said. The Chief Minister also said that the Government has brought together various freedom fighters and leaders of the society under one roof and made this complex a historical symbol through which the coming generations will be made aware of the past.

Bhagwan Birsa Munda Memorial Park cum Freedom Fighter Museum has been built by Ministry of Tribal Affairs in association with the State Government of Jharkhand at the Old Central Jail in Ranchi, where Bhagwan Birsa Munda had sacrificed his life. It will serve as a tribute to his sacrifice for the nation and tribal communities. The museum will play an important role in preserving and promoting tribal culture and history. It will also demonstrate the way the tribals struggled for protecting their forests, land rights, their culture and would show their valour and sacrifices, vital for nation building.

Along with Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the museum will also highlight other tribal freedom fighters associated with different movements such as Shahid Budhu Bhagat, Sidhu-Kanhu, Nilambar-Pitambar, Diwa-Kisun, Telanga Khadiya, Gaya Munda, Jatra Bhagat, Poto H, Bhagirath Manjhi, Ganga Narayan Singh. The Museum project involves conservation of Old Jail; installation of 25ft statue of Bhagwan Birsa Munda and 9 ft statues of other freedom fighters of the region; museum curation and a light and sound show. The Museum aims to highlight the national character of Birsa Munda as iconic freedom fighter.

Memorial Park has been developed in neighbouring 25 acres and it will have a musical fountain, food court, children park, infinity pool, garden and other entertainment facilities.

Later Shri Arjun Munda and Shri G. Kishan Reddy also payed floral tributes and garlanded the statue of Birsa Munda at Birsa Munda Compex at his birth place of Ulihatu in Khunti district of Jharkhand.