ITANAGAR, Nov 10: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ST Morcha, Arunachal Pradesh, will celebrate Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas (Tribal Pride Day) across the state from November 11 to 15 to commemorate the 151st birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
Birsa Munda, a tribal freedom fighter belonging to the Munda tribe of present-day Jharkhand, was born on November 15, 1875, at Ulihatu village in Khunti district. Popularly known as Dharti Aaba (Father of the Earth), he is revered as Bhagwan by several tribal communities.
He led a major tribal uprising against British colonial rule, popularly known as Ulgulan or the Great Tumult. Birsa began mobilising the Munda community against British rule in 1894 and established an independent Munda Raj in 1895. He was arrested by British forces in March 1900 and died in Ranchi Jail on June 9, 1900, at the age of 25. His death was officially attributed to cholera.
A five-member committee has been constituted to oversee the five-day celebration. BJP ST Morcha state general secretary Techi Nakap Tara has been appointed as the convener, while vice-president Sinai Wangsa and secretary Yana Bagal will serve as co-conveners. Tacho Yangda and Lukra Kena are the other members of the committee.
As part of the celebrations, various activities, including indigenous tribal games and sports, traditional cultural presentations at Nyubu Nyegam Yvrko, Rang, in East Kameng district, and felicitation of prominent tribal personalities, will be organised.