Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan is scheduled to visit Bihar on Saturday to participate in the 3rd Convocation of Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Motihari. Additionally, during his trip, he will also visit the Bhitiharwa Gandhi Ashram in West Champaran, as per an official statement released on Friday. Last month, the Vice President paid a visit to Ulihatu, the ancestral village of tribal leader Birsa Munda in Jharkhand’s Khunti district, where he honored Munda’s memory by offering floral tributes at his statue and engaging with his descendants and family members.
Describing the experience as deeply moving, the Vice President emphasized the enduring influence of Birsa Munda’s life on the youth of the nation, noting that Munda’s sacrifices had a significant impact on India’s freedom movement. He expressed that this visit marked his first to the revered birthplace of ‘Dharti Aaba’ since assuming office. Recalling a previous visit to Ulihatu during his tenure as Jharkhand Governor, he reiterated the importance of Munda’s legacy in guiding future generations.
The Vice President commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to designate November 15 as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas in 2021, in honor of Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary, as a step towards raising national awareness of tribal heritage. He also highlighted the PM-JANMAN scheme, aimed at safeguarding and empowering Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), underscoring the government’s commitment to inclusive development. Stressing the significance of acknowledging the contributions and struggles of tribal freedom fighters during the ‘Amrit Kaal’, he emphasized that this recognition symbolizes the realization of the rights and dignity for which Birsa Munda fought.
During his visit, the Vice President engaged with local villagers and received a traditional ‘Johar’ welcome. The visit attracted enthusiastic crowds in Ulihatu and neighboring areas who gathered to greet him. Notably, stringent security measures were in place throughout the visit, with the presence of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar, and state minister Irfan Ansari at the event.
