Chhattisgarh Unveils Birsa Munda Statue, Celebrates Tribal Hero with Welfare Push

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has unveiled a statue of legendary tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda in Dondrahi village of Jashpur district, marking the commencement of local celebrations dedicated to the tribal icon's 150th birth anniversary and reaffirming the state's focus on tribal welfare and development.

Addressing a gathering in the Bagicha development block, Sai announced that the site of the newly installed statue would be known as "Birsa Munda Chowk" . The Chief Minister described Birsa Munda as a symbol of tribal pride, resistance and self-respect whose ideals continue to inspire generations.

Paying tribute to the freedom fighter, Sai said Birsa Munda devoted his life to fighting British colonial rule , social injustice and exploitation while defending tribal communities' rights over "Jal, Jungle and Jameen" — water, forests and land. "He sacrificed his life to safeguard tribal identity and self-respect. His ideals continue to inspire people to protect their rights, culture and traditions," he said.

Born on November 15, 1875 , in Ulihatu village in present-day Jharkhand, Birsa Munda emerged as one of India's most influential tribal leaders. Revered as "Dharti Aaba" (Father of the Earth) , he led the historic Ulgulan (Great Tumult) movement against exploitative colonial land policies, forced labour and the displacement of tribal communities in the Chotanagpur region. Though he died in Ranchi Jail in 1900 at the age of just 25, his struggle became a defining chapter in India's tribal resistance movement.

Sai noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had accorded national recognition to tribal heroes by declaring Birsa Munda's birth anniversary as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas . The Centre also commemorated his 150th birth anniversary through the nationwide observance of Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh , a year-long campaign celebrating tribal contributions to India's freedom struggle, culture and nation-building.

The Chief Minister announced development works worth ₹37 lakh , including the construction of a community hall, an open-air theatre and cultural stages in villages across the area. He said the Centre was implementing flagship initiatives such as PM-JANMAN and the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan , named after Birsa Munda's popular title, to ensure holistic development of tribal communities.

National General Secretary of the All India Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram Yogesh Bapat , Padma Shri awardee Jageshwar Yadav , local legislators and senior officials were present at the programme, which highlighted how Birsa Munda's enduring legacy continues to shape both public consciousness and contemporary tribal development policies across India.