New Delhi : To celebrate and honour the glorious tribal culture and their contribution to national development, Department of Commerce and Business Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, observed the ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’ with full spirit and fervours to commemorate Birth Anniversary of tribal freedom fighter on November 14, 2024.
Celebration pays tribute to the invaluable contributions of tribal leaders and acknowledges the rich cultural heritage of India's tribal communities. The event highlighted the legacy of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, an iconic freedom fighter and social reformer who is revered for his leadership in the tribal uprisings against colonial oppression.
The event was graced by the presence of Prof. Mohd. Muslim Khan, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, as Chief Guest. In his inaugural address, he said as the name suggests, Janjatiya Gaurav Divas is also a day to celebrate and take pride in the rich tribal culture and heritage of our country. He added that the contribution of Bhagwan Birsa Munda taking up the cause of Adivasis against British Raj penetrating into the deep jungles of Central and Eastern India, disrupting the tribals who had been living in harmony with nature and natural resources. He fought against Britishers feudal Jamindari system in Chhota Nagpur region, destroying tribal community and resources. He continued that contribution of Birsa Munda and other Janjati freedom fighters against Britisher’s will always be cherished and admired.
The keynote speaker for the event was Dr. Arvind Kumar from the Centre for the Study of Social Inclusion, JMI. Dr. Kumar delivered an insightful lecture focusing on the life and legacy of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. He highlighted the status of the tribal community during the British rule in India. He emphasized the role of Birsa Munda during the freedom struggle and how he used moral values and principles to win over people's confidence and support in order to put an end to the oppressors and spread social awareness to empower the tribal community.
Addressing the gathering , he added a quote of Birsa Munda “Abua raj setar jana, maharani raj tundu jana (meaning: Let the Kingdom of the Queen be ended and our kingdom be established). He added that they are waiting for us to be civilized and we are waiting for them to be human. He emphasised the importance of getting out of the parasitic mindset. He urged the youths to realize the contribution of the freedom fighters and nation builders. In addition, he called on the youth to feel pride in the Indian culture and rich heritage of the country and asked the students to further build on their legacy for the prosperity of our country.
Head, Department of Commerce and Business Studies, Prof. Devendra Kumar Dhusia addressed the gathering, shedding light on why the tribal people affectionately referred to Birsa Munda as "Bhagwan" (God) and his contribution for tribal’s which make him God for them.
The vote of thanks was given Prof. NUK Sherwani , He expressed gratitude to the eminent speaker for sparing his valuable time from his busy schedule and provided a platform for knowledge exchange. Large number of faculty members, Staff and students were present including Prof. M K Nabi, Dr. Mohd. Atif, Dr. Izhar Ahmed, Dr. Vivek, Dr. Sarah Ahtesham, Dr. Sabiha Khan, Dr Zeenat Hasnain and Ms. Dipty Khanna. Program was hosted by Dr. Zofal Hassan.
