Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Governor Droupadi Murmu paid floral tributes to freedom fighter and tribal hero Birsa Munda on the occasion of his birth anniversary and the 20th Statehood Day of Jharkhand on Sunday.

Recalling the contribution of Birsa Munda and other tribal heroes like Sidho Kanho and Nilamber Pitamber for the uplift of the tribal community and the people of Jharkhand at large, Hemant said that the residents of the state should never forget the sacrifices made by the tribal heroes of Jharkhand.

After garlanding a statue of Birsa Munda at Bhagwan Birsa Munda Samadhi Sthal in Kokar, Hemant also spoke about the Jharkhand movement, which led to the formation of Jharkhand, a mineral-rich state with around 27 percent tribal population and over 30 tribe groups, including vulnerable groups.

“Jharkhand was given a status of a separate state after years of struggle. We must never forget the sacrifices made to get a state we could call our own,” said Hemant. “We remember our heroes in almost every ceremony, so the younger generation can learn about their contribution and the feeling of patriotism and humanitarian values could be inculcated in them,” the chief minister added.

Jharkhand was carved out of erstwhile Bihar on November 15, 2000. Every year, the state celebrates this day with pomp and glory. However, no grand celebrations were organised this year in wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Guv Draupadi Murmu, CM Hemant Soren recalling Birsa Munda on his birth anniversary and 20th Statehood Day of Jharkhand on Sunday in Ranchi. Picture by Manob Chowdhary

“I congratulate all my fellow Jharkhandis on this auspicious day. We have come a long way since the formation of the state. It has already been 20 years, and I am sure that we will see prosperity, growth and holistic development in the days to come,” Hemant said.

Meanwhile, Governor Droupadi Murmu garlanded the statue of Birsa Munda amid the reverberating beats of tribal Mandar. Murmu said that the state was developing at a fast pace, and all the residents of the state should try and make Jharkhand a state that Dharti Aba Birsa Munda had dreamt of.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his wishes to the people of Jharkhand on the Statehood Day. Modi took to microblogging website Twitter and paid tribute to Birsa Munda, who is referred to as Bhagwan (God) in Jharkhand.

“He (Birsa Munda) was the true messiah of the poor. He struggled throughout his life for the welfare of the exploited and deprived. His contribution to the freedom movement and his efforts for social harmony will always inspire the countrymen,” Modi tweeted.

Born in 1875 in Ulihatu village of Ranchi district, Birsa Munda had challenged the British rule and is credited with mobilising the tribal people against the British empire. The freedom fighter died in British custody at an early age of 25 years and attained a folk hero status. His portrait hangs in the Indian Parliament Museum.