The Land of Chhattisgarh Is a Witness to Tribal Bravery and Sacrifice: Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai

Chief Minister Attends the 201st Martyrdom Day and Tribute Ceremony of Shaheed Shiromani Gaind Singh Announcements Made for a Square, Statue Installation, and Social Centres in the Name of Shaheed Gaind Singh

Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai today attended the 201st Martyrdom Day and Tribute Ceremony of Shaheed Shiromani Gaind Singh, organised under the aegis of the All India Halba–Halbi Tribal Society at Science College Ground, Raipur. On this occasion, the Chief Minister paid homage to the great tribal hero and pioneer of the freedom struggle, Shaheed Gaind Singh, and remembered his supreme sacrifice.

During the programme, Chief Minister Shri Sai announced the naming of a square and installation of a statue in honour of Shaheed Gaind Singh in Naya Raipur, renovation of the community building of the society at Changorabhatha, and the construction of social centres of the Halba community in Deori (Balod district), Markatola, Danitola, Nagri, Dongargaon (Kanker district), and Bhanpuri and Karutola (Bastar district). An amount of Rs 10 lakh was announced for each location. In addition, the Chief Minister also announced the construction of a stage in village Kitur and renovation of the Shri Ram Temple in Chapka, Bastar.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said that the history of tribal society has been extremely glorious and rich. He stated that although the beginning of India’s freedom struggle is generally considered to be in 1857, tribal revolutions had begun resonating on the land of Chhattisgarh much earlier. Great revolutionary Shaheed Gaind Singh attained martyrdom in 1825 while fighting against British rule, and even during that period, the tribal society played a leading role in the struggle for freedom.

The Chief Minister said that not one or two, but a total of 14 tribal revolutions took place in Chhattisgarh, which shook the very foundations of British authority. This land has been home to great heroes such as Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh, Shaheed Gaind Singh, and Veer Gundadhur. Unfortunately, for a long time, these brave warriors and tribal leaders did not receive their rightful place in the pages of history. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has worked to give national recognition to the contributions of tribal heroes.

He further stated that a Tribal Museum based on the 14 tribal revolutions of Chhattisgarh has been constructed in Naya Raipur and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi himself. The museum presents illustrated details and in-depth information on all these revolutions. The Chief Minister urged citizens to visit the museum to better understand the contribution of tribal heroes to the land of sacrifice that is Chhattisgarh.

Chief Minister Shri Sai said that today, the highest constitutional post of the country is held by a daughter of the tribal society, President Smt. Droupadi Murmu, and the leadership of Chhattisgarh is also in the hands of a son of the tribal community. He recalled that former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna, the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, took historic decisions for the holistic development of tribal society. Under his leadership, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs was established, which today is guiding tribal development with a budget of several thousand crore rupees.

The Chief Minister said that the decision to celebrate the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda on 15 November as ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’ is historic. Through initiatives such as the Dharti Aaba Gram Utkarsh Yojana and the Prime Minister Janman Yojana, a new chapter of welfare for tribal society is being written. The state government is prioritising the provision of basic facilities such as roads, electricity, and drinking water in tribal-dominated areas. Chhattisgarh has also received national-level recognition for the effective implementation of these schemes.

He further said that our ancestors considered education as the core mantra of development. Chhattisgarh has made remarkable progress in the field of education, and today national-level institutions such as IIM, IIT, and AIIMS are functioning in the state. He appealed to intellectuals of the society to promote education, disseminate information about government schemes among the community, and make youth aware of their rights and goals.

The Chief Minister stated that for a long time, Naxalism remained the biggest obstacle to development in the Bastar region. However, with the resolve of the double-engine government and the indomitable courage of the security forces, this obstacle is being removed. A new stream of development is now flowing in this region, which had remained deprived of development for years.

On this occasion, Cabinet Minister Shri Tank Ram Verma said that Shaheed Gaind Singh was the first brave martyred tribal leader of Chhattisgarh, who sounded the bugle of revolt against British rule in 1824–25. He courageously fought against the plunder of resources and exploitation of tribals by the British. He stated that the contribution of Chhattisgarh’s tribal heroes to India’s freedom struggle has been unparalleled.

The programme was attended by Dr. Devendra Mahla, National President of the All India Halba–Halbi Tribal Society, General Secretary Shri Girvar Singh Thakur, Shri Mahesh Gagda, and a large number of distinguished members of the society.