Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], November 15 (ANI): On a day that marks both Jharkhand’s birth as a state and the 151st birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda, Chief Minister Hemant Soren paid tribute to “Dharti Aba” on Sunday.
CM Soren called the occasion one of “pride, self-respect and resolve for us” in a post on X, remembering those who gave everything to defend the land.
“It reminds us of the struggles, sacrifices and martyrdom of those brave ancestors and martyrs who gave their all to protect water, forests, land, rights and identity,” he wrote.
He recalled the names of tribal heroes, from Birsa Munda and Baba Tilka Manjhi to Sidho-Kanhu, Phulo-Jhano, Nilambar-Pitambar and Sheikh Bhikhari, describing their battles as the state’s identity, heritage and inspiration. Soren said the creation of Jharkhand itself was the fruit of that same sacrifice.
“The dream of a separate Jharkhand state was realized through the struggles, sacrifices and martyrdom of many revolutionaries. The leadership, struggles and contributions of Baba Dishom Guru Shibu Soren, martyrs Nirmal Mahato and Vinod Bihari Mahato, and countless movement activists are an invaluable legacy of Jharkhand’s history. Their struggles taught us to fight for our identity, rights and self-respect. The truest tribute to our ancestors is to make the Jharkhand they dreamed of a reality. With this resolve, the state government continues to work. We are making sustained efforts to strengthen education, healthcare, employment, social security, the rights of women, farmers and workers, and the local economy,” he said.
https://x.com/HemantSorenJMM/status/2121811777751339379
Turning from history to the present, he said honouring the past means delivering on it. He placed the state’s youth at the centre of that vision.
“Our young people are Jharkhand’s greatest strength. Their dreams, talent and fresh thinking are the foundation of the state’s bright future. Our goal is to turn their energy and potential into the state’s strength and prosperity by providing them with better education, skills, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. Let us resolve on this State Foundation Day to preserve the legacy of our brave ancestors, our culture and our identity, and to play our part in building a prosperous, strong and just Jharkhand. Our ancestors’ struggles are our heritage, our young people’s dreams are our strength, and a prosperous Jharkhand is our resolve,” he said.
Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar on November 15, 2000, a date which coincides with Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary.
Birsa Munda, who belonged to the Munda tribe, was born on November 15 in 1875. During British rule in the late 19th century, he spearheaded an Indian tribal religious Millenarian movement across the tribal belt of modern-day Bihar and Jharkhand.
President Draupadi Murmu also extended her wishes on the occasion, calling it a land full of divine figures with a distinct identity which is rooted in its tribal culture and traditions.
“On the occasion of Jharkhand State Foundation Day, my heartfelt best wishes to all the residents of the state. This land, home to divine figures such as Dharti Aba Bhagwan Birsa Munda and great heroes such as Sidho-Kanhu, has a distinctive identity rooted in its rich tribal culture, vibrant folk traditions, and natural and mineral wealth. I hope that Jharkhand’s hardworking and talented residents, cherishing their rich heritage, will take the state to new heights of development and prosperity,” she said on X.
On the occasion, President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid floral tributes to tribal icon ‘Dharti Aaba’ Birsa Munda at the Parliament complex in New Delhi.
Accompanying them were Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The event featured traditional tribal dance performances, highlighting the region’s deep-rooted tribal and folk culture. (ANI)
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