Jharkhand Governor Droupadi Murmu Thursday said the Centre and the state government have begun works to protect tribal culture, tradition and spreading awareness about tribal icons so that the generations next will be able to know about them.
Speaking after the laying of foundation stone for renovation, protection and museum of old Birsa Munda Jail here, Murmu said that Birsa Munda and others had launched struggle against the British rule and "Birsa Munda has been given the status of Bhagavan."
An official release quoting the governor said that the Centre and the state governments began works to protect tribal culture, tradition and spreading awareness about tribal icons so that the generations next will be able to know about them.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Raghubar Das said that our forefathers had sacrificed to get freedom.
"We cannot repay their debt. But by building memorials and museums we can make efforts in taking their thoughts to the people. And todays programme is a phase in that regard," Das said.
Das said that there will be a statue of other heroes of the state along with Birsa Munda in the old Birsa Munda Jail premises.
The statue of Maharaja Madara Munda of Chhotanagpur will also be built here. Along with this, the site of Dumbariburu, where Birsa Munda was arrested and 400 people of tribal society were martyred, will also be restored, the chief minister said.
"We have added biography of Tana Bhagat to syllabus. In addition to this, postal stamp has been issued on the occasion of Sarhul and Karma festival to promote the tribal cultural heritage and traditions," Das said.
Highlighting the fight by the tribal society against the British since 1766, Das said the movement of Birsa Munda lasted from 1895 to 1900 before his martyrdom took place on June 9, 1900 in this jail.
"We will make such a museum that people around the world will visit Jharkhand. A statue of Birsa Munda will be made of 100 feet high. Also, there will be information about our martyr soldiers on the border. The history of the heroic sons of India, including Albert Ekka, will be set in the adjacent park. The height of the tower will be 150 feet in the park. It will be known as Birsa Munda."
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Jual Oraon said that the erstwhile Atal Bihari Vajpayee government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi worked for the all-round development of tribal society.
"As the Minister of Tribal Affairs, I have been given the responsibility of this department. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the work of developing and restoring the villages of martyred is being done," the release said quoting Oraon.
He said that overall development of the village of martyrs is the priority of the Centre and the state governments.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
