Preparations have intensified for President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Khunti and Ulihatu on November 15, which coincides with the Statehood function and birth anniversary of freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda. The State Government and Khunti district administration has started the work on war footing making last minute preparations of any President visit to Khunti. Droupadi Murmu had visited Ulihatu but in the capacity of Governor of State.
Police are gearing up to ensure watertight security for President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Ranchi and Khunti on November 15. On November 08, Chief Secretary Sukhdev Singh and State Director General Of Police (DGP) Neeraj Sinha and other officials took stock of preparations for the President's visit to Khunti.
The two senior officials visited Birsa ground where the Country’s first person will address a gathering at women cum tribal women self-help group conference. The senior officials later also inspected the construction of helipads at Simbukel and Ulihatu. At Ulihatu the two senior officials also inspected the preparations at Birsa Oda at Ulihatu.
A number of instructions were given to Khunti Deputy Commissioner Shashi Ranjan in this connection. Instructions were issued to make the village beautiful with proper security arrangements.
The monument which is in remembrance of Birsa Munda will be decorated beautifully. New tiles and marbles are fitted giving a fresh look. The house of Birsa Munda is also being given new touch with walls of the house decorated with pictures of Birsa Munda.
Born on 15 November 1875 in Ulihatu in Bengal Presidency, now in the Khunti district of Jharkhand, Birsa Munda was named after that day according to the then prevalent Munda custom. He received his early education at Salga under the guidance of his teacher Jaipal Nag.
The young tribal revolutionary’s life and legacy continue to be celebrated even today, particularly in the tribal regions of Bihar, Jharkhand and even parts of Karnataka and Odisha. The entire state of Jharkhand has memorials named after him such as Birsa Munda Airport Ranchi, Birsa Institute of Technology Sindri, Birsa Munda Tribal University, Birsa Agricultural University, Birsa College Khunti, Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium, and even Birsa Munda Central Jail. He is the only tribal leader whose portrait hangs in the Central Hall of Parliament. The portrait, which was unveiled by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Dr Balram Jakhar on 16 October 1989, was commissioned by the Birsa Munda statue committee, Rourkela.
Last year Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a museum in Ranchi in the memory of revered tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda via video-conferencing.
The President is scheduled to take part in the state’s foundation day celebrations at Morhabadi ground and also visit the birthplace of Birsa Munda in Ulihatu village in Khunti district.
Security has also been beefed up in Ranchi city. Police said all the police stations have been asked to keep vigil on hotels and verify the antecedent of strangers. Measures to sanitise the paths used by the President have begun.
