lalita, Ranjeet, Bhandhan and other Tana Bhagats – the ardent followers of Mahatma Gandhi’s principles residing in the interior pockets of Jharkhand – may not have got an opportunity to connect themselves with the world, if they had not received the radio sets from sponsorship of Khadi Board in association with Ministry of Textiles here on Monday.
All Tana Bhagats are keeping their fingers crossed with the hope that one day the world will get to know about them and their struggle through a radio programme. They also have a chance now to hear PM Narendra Modi discussing all vital issues covering different facets in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme broadcasted every Sunday touching lives of million residing across India.
Deprived even of basic amenities, as many as 40 Tana Bhagats from different districts of Jharkhand have collected the radio sets from Khadi Gram Udyog with a hope that their land issues will be sorted in BJP Government regime one day.
From weaving ‘Charkha’ to tuning into radio, it took several decades for all these Tana Bhagats residing in tribal land to gain some proper medium of communication yet many claimed that it is worth keeping only when their land issues is solved else for Tana Bhagat community members, spinning wheels and promoting Khadi are their basic priorities. Community members even opined that, they were the ‘backbone’ of freedom struggle and no Government can ever dare to deviate them from their idyllic irrespective of anything.
Making a living by just earning ` 1,500 per month, Ranjeet Tana Bhagat is reluctant to spend a nomadic life with his ancestors in Burmu block as his land has yet not been returned by the government. “I do not possess any materialistic things. We completely follow ‘Bapu’ ideals but so far no one has ever recognized our contribution. This medium will give us a fresh lease of life, as now we are atleast connected with the world,” said Ranjeet.
Similarly, lalita Tana Bhagat added, “If PM Modi fails to discuss our issue in the radio programme then the radio set given to us will be a mere ‘Dabba’ with no further utilization. We are fighting for our rights and demanding our share. I will tune into All India Radio regularly from now onwards for PM speech.”
There are approximately 20 thousand Tana Bhagats in Jharkhand as per the records available. Central Tasar Research and Training Institute in collaboration with Khadi Board, Jharkhand has distributed radio sets among the Tana Bhagats and has also written to PMO to discuss various issues of the community members present in minority in State, making the present government familiar with the community current situation.
“A letter highlighting the problems of the community members has been sent to PMO and they have accepted it. In the coming days, PM Modi will address the members of Tana Bhagat community in radio programme. However, as a sign of protest, a large fraction of Tana Bhagats residing in latehar district have not accepted the radio sets,” said, Director Tasar Research and Training Institute, Dr. AK Sinha.