People of Jharkhand, including who’s who of the State today paid rich tributes to freedom fighter and tribal leader Bhagwan Birsa Munda on his death anniversary here on Saturday. Chief Minister Raghubar Das paid tributes to Birsa Munda in Jamshedpur, while Governor Droupadi Murmu, former CM Arjun Munda and JMM Chief Shibu Soren paid tributes to the legend at his mausoleum in the Capital City.

The CM went to Birsanagar Sunday Market and paid floral tributes at the statue of the great leader. Das said that Birsa Munda was a revolutionary tribal leader who died fighting for the cause of the people. On the occasion, DC Amit Kumar and SSP Anup Birtharay also paid their respect.

Several other social organisations also observed the day. Social Naman-Shaheedon Ke Sapno Ko organised a function at Sakchi. Founder Amarpreet Singh Kale remembered the leader and said that the country cannot forget Munda’s contribution in freedom struggle.

Raju Murmu of Birsa Munda Society said the Scheduled Tribe and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Rights) Act of 2006 had its genesis in the struggle of Birsa Munda.

He was the source of inspiration for the tribal people to continue their agitation for ‘self-rule’ and ‘scheduled area’ status across the country, except Jammu and Kashmir, Raju said. Ramdev Manjhi described Birsa Munda as a symbol of adivasis' fight for justice.

He said that upper castes always dominated the adivasis and exploited them. If the Government delayed the implementation of the Act, they would have to resort to legal remedies, he added.

Srikanth of the Development Through Education organisation, recalled how Birsa Munda became a revolutionary after seeing the sufferings of his people at the hands of the British. Munda advocated the idea that the land inhabited by the adivasis belonged to them, he said.

State pays tributes to Birsa Munda