Pro. SP Singh Baghel called for recording tribal traditions to protect India’s legacy; Urged tribal communities to give priority to education
In collaboration with the Government of Jharkhand, the Panchayati Raj Ministry organized a special program in New Delhi today in a conjunction with Sirhul Mahotsav 2025 under the “Our Tradition, Our Heritage” program, it is an important step towards celebrating India’s indigenous heritage. A tribal heritage was celebrated at the national level in this program organized to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Lord Birsa Munda. It was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Professor SP Singh Baghel and Union Minister of State for Defense Shri Sanjay Seth in the presence of Mr. Vivek Bhardwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Mr. Sushil Kumar Lohani and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj Ministry and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and more than 560 tribal representatives of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Jharkhand.
Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Prof. SP Singh Baghel, in his address, emphasized the importance of conservation of India’s tribal culture, including his local language, music, food and traditions that define his rich heritage. He said that recording and documentation of “folk language, gausha, food, music” is mandatory to keep the country’s legacy alive for future generations. Remembering his might and sacrifice in the 150th birth anniversary year of Lord Birsa Munda, Prof. Baghel accepted the invaluable contribution of tribal communities in the struggle against British colonialism, especially in the fight for the conservation of essential resources such as “water-forest-land”. He highlighted how tribals, natives play an important role in environmental protection, being indigenous people. Pro. Baghel said that the efforts of the tribals to protect the environment are not only part of their legacy, but are important for the overall ecological health of the Earth. He appreciated the deepening of the community’s land and environment, which has enabled them to preserve natural resources from generations. Professor Baghel said, “If we had learned values like respect for nature from tribal lifestyle, then problems like global warming, ecological imbalance and ozone erosion are not so serious.” He urged tribal communities to give priority to their children’s education, as it is the cornerstone of social uplift and progress.
Union Minister of State for Defense, Shri Sanjay Seth, while addressing the “our tradition our heritage” program, highlighted the inspiring heritage of Lord Birsa Munda and appreciated the cultural awareness of the tribal groups of Jharkhand, which has made a huge contribution to the rich cultural traditions of India. Referring to the tribal museum in Ranchi, built at the place where Lord Birsa Munda was imprisoned during British rule, he said that the museum serves as the center of inspiration for future generations. The Union Minister of State said, “Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji inspires us to connect heritage with development. Sarhul Utsav held in New Delhi, taking this vision, gave a strong message to the nation- conserve water, forest and land. The contribution of the tribal community in preserving the civilized values of India is unique. Sirhul is unique. will be.
Mr. Vivek Bhardwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, emphasized the importance of preserving the rich tribal cultural heritage which became the backbone of diverse traditions of India. He said, “Our tribal songs, music, folklore and traditions are invaluable treasures. If we do not keep them safe then there is a danger of their disappearance over time. Protecting and nurturing these cultural heritage for future generations is not only our duty, but also our deep responsibility.” Mr. Bhardwaj told that more than 3,000 villages of Jharkhand
The program also included lively cultural performances, including the traditional Mundari dance and Munda tribal stories of the Santhali community. Along with this, there were important discussions on the role of gram sabhas in heritage conservation, government initiative for indigenous traditions and the insight of tribal leaders on governance and cultural protection at the ground level.
