Ulihatu, the ancestral home of the revered tribal leader Bhagwan Birsa Munda, buzzed with activity on Saturday, marking the 150th anniversary of his birth and the 25th anniversary of Jharkhand’s statehood. The air was filled with enthusiastic chants honoring ‘Dharti Aba’. A massive congregation of devotees, locals, and dignitaries from across the nation converged to offer floral tributes at the statue of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
Prominent figures present included Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Union Minister Jual Oram, MP Kalicharan Munda, former Union Minister Arjun Munda, and local legislators, alongside the state’s Chief Secretary.
Governor Radhakrishnan addressed the official ceremony, emphasizing the valor and historical contributions of tribal societies, particularly their sacrifices for national independence. He advocated for a monumental statue of Birsa Munda in Ulihatu, akin to the Statue of Liberty, and declared the village would be developed as an ‘Adarsh Gram’ and a tourist hotspot. He also stressed the importance of cultural pride.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren lauded Jharkhand as a land forged by the sacrifices of its heroes and reiterated the duty to fulfill their aspirations. He stated his government’s commitment to understanding and alleviating the hardships faced by all communities by actively reaching out to villages. Soren highlighted ambitious government schemes aimed at the holistic development of tribal and indigenous populations, underscoring their central role in the state’s progress. He pointed out that half of the government’s budget is allocated to the welfare of women and vulnerable groups. Characterizing his administration as village-centric, he assured that development initiatives would continue to penetrate every household. With Jharkhand now 25 years old, the Chief Minister expressed his vision of empowering the youth to drive the state’s growth and place it among India’s leading states.
Soren acknowledged the past struggles for essential services like education and healthcare and detailed the government’s efforts to improve these sectors and empower women. He outlined plans for significant future investments in sports, tourism, employment generation, and infrastructure, all aimed at fostering happiness and inclusive growth across Jharkhand. The ceremony concluded with widespread felicitations for State Foundation Day and deep reverence for Bhagwan Birsa Munda.