On Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, Throwback At PM Modi’s Journey With Tribal Communities – News18

Last Updated:November 15, 2024, 16:13 IST

Modi Archive, a popular social media handle on X, shared instances of the prime minister’s close and personal interaction with tribal communities, elaborating how the experiences helped him understand the latter’s struggles

Narendra Modi’s early years were marked by extensive travels on foot, bicycle, and motorcycle through remote tribal areas. (X @modiarchive)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tribal outreach and efforts to uplift the community are no secret. On Friday, the prime minister paid tributes to Bhagwan Birsa Munda on his birth anniversary, which is commemorated as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas and celebrated on November 15 since 2021 to honour the sacrifices of tribal freedom fighters.

In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said that during his visit, Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth over Rs 6,640 crore aimed at uplifting tribal communities and improving infrastructure in rural and remote areas of the region.

Meanwhile, Modi Archive, a popular social media handle on X, shared instances of the prime minister’s close and personal interaction with tribal communities, elaborating how the experiences helped him understand the struggles of tribal communities and inspired him to work for their inclusive growth.

“Narendra Modi’s early years were marked by extensive travels on foot, bicycle, and motorcycle through remote tribal areas,” the handle said, listing several incidents of his experiences with the tribal communities across the country.

A CHILD’S HUNGER

PM Modi once visited the hut of a Swayamsevak who lived with his wife and young son. The Swayamsevak’s wife offered him half a bajra roti with a bowl of milk in a gesture of hospitality. Modi noticed the child’s gaze was fixed intently on the milk and quickly understood his craving. Having already had his breakfast, Modi ate just the roti with water, leaving the milk untouched. The child eagerly drank it all in one go, a sight that moved Modi to tears. In that moment, he realised the deep reality of poverty and hunger in his country.

12 DAYS, 50 BOOKS

A young Modi once gave a speech so impactful that businessmen offered blank cheques for tribal welfare.

In the early 1980s, as the foundation of the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram was being laid in Ahmedabad, a fundraiser was planned to support tribal welfare. Invitations went out to the city’s influential business community, urging them to contribute.

Among the speakers was a young Narendra Modi, who took the stage and delivered a powerful 90-minute speech on the importance of tribal development. Speaking with a passion and conviction that touched every heart in the room, Narendra Modi’s words were so moving that many businessmen offered blank cheques as donations, fully trusting his vision.

In just 12 days, Modi had immersed himself in over 50 books on tribal challenges, equipping himself to articulate these issues well.

MARUTI KI PRAN PRATISHTHA

In 1983, a journey to South Gujarat brought Modi face-to-face with the plight of tribals in Dharampur. Their struggles inspired him to pen a heartfelt poem “Maruti ki Pran Pratishtha”.

Narendra Modi, then in RSS, was invited to participate in the ‘pran pratishtha’ of a Hanuman temple in South Gujarat. The drive was long, and no soul was in sight for kilometres at a stretch. On his way to the village, he noticed the tribals of Dharampur who were surviving on measly resources. Their bodies had turned black. Witnessing this scene for the first time in his life, Modi was deeply affected. On his way home, he wrote a poem titled “Maruti ki Pran Pratishtha” about the state of the tribals and their struggles.

In Dharampur, several Hanuman temples, including Bhava Bhairav Temple, Panwa Hanuman Temple, Badi Faliya, and other local temples, are worshipped by the tribal community to date.

It is known that Narendra Modi used to visit the Dharampur forest along with his ‘Vanbandhu’ friends, where they would install idols of Bhagwaan Hanuman and build small temples.

WHY IS BHARAT NOT PROGRESSING?

In a powerful speech from 1985, Modi questioned why India, rich in resources, was still grappling with poverty and underdevelopment after 38 years of Independence. Highlighting the challenges of tribal and marginalised communities, he called for introspection and action.

“We have a rich manpower resource. We are not behind in natural resources as well. Despite all efforts, the question repeatedly arises in our minds: Why is our country not progressing? Why are we unable to stand with pride before the world? Once, we attributed this condition to the lack of independence, believing that our suffering was due to colonial rule. But now, even with freedom, our challenges persist 38 years later too.”

LESSONS FROM SHABRI AND SHRI RAM

Inclusivity and equality have been timeless virtues and what better way to emphasise it than through our cultural examples, Modi thought.

In an audio recording from 2000, Modi discusses social inclusivity, using the story of Lord Ram, specifically mentioning the Vanar Sena and Mata Shabari. Even today, Narendra Modi’s message on social inclusivity using cultural heritage remains consistent.

“Society exists amidst high and low differences and is governed by the values of the untouchables and the touchables. Therefore, there is a specific need not to teach the Ram-Bhakti of Shabri, but the Shabri-Bhakti of Shri Ram.”