The inspiration for New India: The unsung martyrs of Mangarh

Source: The post is based on the article “The inspiration for New India: The unsung martyrs of Mangarh” published in the Indian Express on 17th November.

Syllabus: GS 1 – The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.

Relevance: About the Mangarh Massacre and relevance of tribal movements.

News: On November 17, 1913, Mangarh Massacre or Adivasi Jallianwala have occurred.

What is Mangarh Massacre, and who is Govind Guru?

Govind Guru demanded that the colonial state should reduce the revenue rate during famines and stop encroaching on the religious freedom of tribal communities and harming their culture.

How government is showcasing tribal movements?

-Mangarh Dham will be developed as a joint project of the governments of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. It will be a national memorial showcasing tribal legacy and their rich cultural heritage.

-The government is already setting up tribal museums in 10 states — Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, MP, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Kerala — to raise awareness about the sacrifices made by tribals during the freedom struggle.

What is the relevance of tribal movements in the country?

After 75 years of Independence, Prime Minister gave a call for Amrit Kaal’s “Panch Pran”. This involves removing traces of the colonial mindset, taking pride in our roots, inculcating unity and a sense of duty and improving the well-being of the nation. The role of tribal communities during the freedom struggle and nation-building inspires this endeavour.

The environment-friendly lifestyle of tribal communities and their zeal to protect nature offer valuable lessons to people from the elite class and developed countries.

How did tribal movements help India to achieve social justice?

India’s growth story was incomplete when the tribals were left behind. Droupadi Murmu taking over as the President of India is a landmark in the country’s history. At present, the Union Council of Ministers has eight tribal ministers.

The pro-poor welfare policies, people-centric measures, Eklavya Model residential schools, scholarship schemes for students and health schemes of the government have imparted a new meaning to the idea of social justice.