A “Santhali language Research Centre” would be set up at Baripada while Hadahadi on the outskirts of town would be developed into a tourist centre and renamed “Gurugram/Gurugaram”. The announcement was made by Union Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan here on Sunday.
He was attending Pandit Raghunath Murmu’s 114th birth anniversary celebration organised by the Adivasi Socio Education & Cultural Association (ASECA) at Hadhadi. He also offered floral tributes at the bust-size statue of Odisha’s first Santhal Minister late Sonaram Soren.
Pradhan said elaborate proposals would be given to the Union Culture Ministry to set up a Santhali language Research Centre at Baripada and also to rename Hadahadi after Guru Raghunath Murmu as “Gurugaram” and develop it into an attractive tourist centre as a fitting tribute to the legendary tribal leaders. Statues of other tribal leaders would also be installed there, he added.
Hadahadi, though not known to the outside world, has already been developed as place of tribal importance by the ASECA. An area of about five acres has been dedicated for this purpose.
It was at the behest of ASECA secretary Purna Chandra Hembram and ASECA Committee member Tapan Hembram that Union Minister Pradhan paid a visit to the place to take part in Raghunath Murmu Jayanti celebration.