A Special lecture was organized by Birsa Munda Research Chair and Tribal Advisory Council on the occasion of Birth Anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda on 15th November 2023. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has recognized this day as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas. The Chief Speaker of the day was Professor Mary G. Bage, Former Professor of Sociology, Utkal University. The meeting was presided by the senior functionaries of KISS-DU staff and students.
In the welcome address Professor Deepak Kumar Behera spoke about four qualities of life i.e. Life of struggle, Life of Sacrifice, Life of Determination and Life of Discipline. He urged everyone to reflect on these qualities in their life and remember the hard work of Birsa Munda. The Registrar of KISS-DU, Dr. Prashant Kumar Routray stressed on documentation part and creating a repository on the life and works of Bhagwan Birsa Munda to encourage scholars to pursue research on the legend: Bhagwan Birsa Munda. “It is important for the protection, preservation, promotion and research for the tribal community and tribal empowerment. It will infuse change the society”., he added.
The Director General of KISS-DU Dr. Kanhu Charan Mahali talked about the chivalry and how bravely Birsa Munda fought for the nation and especially for the tribal community.
The chief speaker Professor Mary G Bage talked about tribal terminology, struggle of tribal people, literacy, opportunity, sacrifice, language and culture. She encouraged to tribal youth not feel inferiority complex and be proud to be a tribal. She shared her life experiences and supported the same with examples and underscored the importance and need of conducting more research on Bhagwan Birsa Munda. “Tribal youths can give education to tribal people”., Professor Bage concluded.
Dr. Arpana Premi Lina Oraon, Research Chair Professor, Birsa Munda Research Chair, KISS-DU proposed a formal Vote of Thanks on the occasion.
