While the Government machinery and the BJP were busy celebrating State Foundation Day at Morhabadi Ground in Ranchi, AJSU chief and former Deputy Chief Minister Sudesh Mahto was holding a ‘Birsa Jan Panchayat’ at Ulihatu, the birthplace of Bhagwan Birsa Munda in Tamar area on Tuesday.
Sudesh, on 17th foundation day of Jharkhand announced that a 150 feet high statue of Birsa Munda – ‘Statue of Ulgulaan’ -- at Ulihatu will be constructed soon. Mahto, while addressing a gathering of ‘Birsa Jan Panchayat’ at Ulihatu, also added that the decision was taken to keep legend of Bhawan Birsa across the State.
“At present, the 135 feet tall statue of lord Hanuman in Vijaywara is the highest in Country and if this statute gets completed before the ‘statue of unity’ of Sardar Ballabh Bhai Patel, it will be the tallest statue in India,” said Mahto. Remarkably, Bhagwan Birsa Munda had started
‘ulgulaan’ (uprising) against the British in Jharkhand, he added.
Biras Jan Panchayat was organized by AJSU Party, which was also attended by the descendants of Birsa Munda and Siddhu-Kanu along with thousands of ‘Birsayits’
(followers of Birsa Munda) in their traditional attires.
“Though, all the martyrs struggled for their land, descendants of Sido-Kanhu for the first time have come out to see Jharkhand of their dreams,” said Mahto. He also called Birsa Munda a movement rather than a person. If British Government could enact laws for the safety of tribals, then what was the need of confrontation with the emotions of those tribals, added Mahto.
“In spite of CNT and SPT Act, roads were constructed and HEC was set up in the State, then why there is a need to amend the law,” Mahto said.
Mahto sought help from each household in Jharkhand for raising the Statue of Ulgulaan and also made and appeal to every village to donate stones for it.
“People in the State are trying to suppress the values, thinking and struggle of
Birsa Munda…we will make it so tall that it will becomes immortal forever,” Sudesh said. We intend to draw a long line regarding the glorious history of Birsa Munda so that no one can dare to prove it insignificant in the future, he added.