Celebrating Tribes Of India With Janjatiya Gaurav Divas

Jan 13, 2022

10th November 2021 turned out to be a momentous day when the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi declared 15th November, as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (National Tribal Day).

The date also marks the birth anniversary of the legendary tribal freedom fighter, Birsa Munda. Revered as Bhagwan by the tribal communities across the country, he was known to have fought against the exploitative system of the British colonial government. It was a befitting gesture to observe Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on the birth anniversary of this iconic tribal leader. By doing that it also acknowledges the role and sacrifices made by the tribal freedom fighters, especially at a time when the country is in midst of a year-long celebration of 75 years of India’s Independence.

With the Janjatiya Gaurav Divas celebration, which is also a part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav initiative, the government acknowledged the struggles and sacrifices of unsung tribal heroes like Rani Gaidinliu, Rani Kamlapati, Maharaja Kulachandra and his band of Manipuri freedom fighters.

Rani Gaidinliu was a spiritual and political leader who belonged to the Rongmei tribe of Manipur. Born on 26 January 1915, at Nungkao village in the Tamenglong district of Manipur, she joined the freedom movement at the age of 13. She went on to spearhead the socio-political movement to drive out the British. Among the many tributes that were paid to her by the Union government includes a commemorative postage stamp in 1996 and Rs 100-commemorative coin in 2015 to mark her 100th birth anniversary. On 22nd November last year, the Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of the Rani Gaidinliu Tribal Freedom Fighters’ Museum at Nungkao village, Tamenglong district through a virtual conference.

On October 16, the Union government renamed Mount Harriet, an island peak in Andaman and Nicobar islands, to Mount Manipur. It was a tribute to the state of Manipur and its freedom fighters led by Maharaja Kulachandra during the revolution against the British in 1857 and 1891. The Central Government will also assist Manipur in establishing a memorial site at Mt Manipur.

Another unsung tribal freedom fighter whose sacrifice was acknowledged during the Janjatiya Gaurav Divas was Rani Kamlapati. The name of Bhopal’s Habibganj railway station was changed to Rani Kamlapati station to honour the memory and sacrifices made by the queen of the Gond community in the 18th century. The queen was the widow of Ginnorgarh’s chief, Gond ruler Nizam Shah. It is said that she avenged her husband’s death by killing Alam Shah, Nizam Shah’s nephew, who poisoned his uncle. Rani Kamlapati was known for her beauty and bravery. She also built the ASI-protected seven-storey monument Kamlapati Palace that overlooks Upper and Lower Lakes.

Besides paying tributes to unsung tribal heroes, the country also witnessed a week-long celebration of the tribes around the country in the first edition of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas. Called Janjatiya Gaurav Saptah, numerous cultural programmes and exhibitions were conducted across the length and breadth of the country with full zest. One such significant development was the launch of the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Memorial Park cum Freedom Fighter Museum in Ranchi, the first of the 10 museums sanctioned by the government as a tribute to tribal freedom fighters in different states.

Among the numerous initiatives that were held in different states, exhibitions with different themes were a major attraction, especially the national-level tribal craft melas, which showcased the tribal culture, food, and lifestyle. Some states also organized health camps and workshops, blood donation camps, webinars, and various competitions for the tribal communities. In the case of firsts, Jammu & Kashmir, too, participated in the Janjatiya Gaurav Saptah. Twenty districts from the state marked the week-long celebrations and showcased the rich cultural heritage of tribal communities; they also honoured the tribal citizens for their immense contribution in various fields. The week was also marked by interesting activities based on sports, tribal art and craft, symposium, and rangoli-making competitions for the tribal youth.