Kashipur Michel Madhusudan Mahavidyalay, Kashipur, Puruliya organized two days National Seminar on “Tha Saga of Unsung Tribal Heroes of Freedom Movement of India Projected in History, Literature and Print Media” funded by ICSSR, New delhi on 28 and 29 March, 2023. Dr. Sushil Sarkar, Assistant Professor and HoD, Department of English was convenor of the seminar. The guests of the seminar were welcomed and led to the auditorium by the artist- students of Santal tribe who performed their traditional Lagare dance to honour guests. Shri Soumen Beltheria, and other guests inaugurated the freedom fighters portrait exhibition by cutting ribon.
In the inaugurated ceremony held on 28.03.2023 at 11.00 am in the auditorium of the college, Dr. Bibahsh Kant Mandal, Principal of KMMM, Sri Soumen Beltharia, President of GB, KMMM, Dr. Santosh Kumar Sonker, Associate Professor of Department of English and F.L., Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarakantak, Dr. Bhupendra Sullere, Assistant Professor, Atal Bihari Bajpayee Hindi University, Bhopal, Dr. Abhay Leonard Ekka, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Central University of South Bihar, Bodhagaya, Dr. Sushil Sarkar, Convenor of the Seminar and Dr. Krishnendu Das, Assistant Professors, Department of English, KMMM were present on the dais.
The seminar was inaugurated with lighting lamp by the dignitaries. Principal of the college delivered welcome speech. In his inaugural adress, Sri Soumen Beltheria, President GB, KMM Mahavidyalay said that Tribals were first to resist British rule in India. We should commemorate their sacrifice for the nation by giving them an adequate place in the history. Souvenir of the seminar was released by the dignitaries.
Dr. Santosh Kumar Sonker, Associate Professor, Department of English and Foreign Languages, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarakantak, Madhya Pradesh delivered Key Note Adress in which he highlighted that freedom fight movement started with 1766 and Tilka Majhi was the first freedom fighter who was hanged in Bhagalpur. Tribal movements against British Raj was national in nature because of the unique way of communication and fighting with traditional weapons. They extended support to 1857 movements but they rarely got support from Feudal Lords and others when they were fighting against British Raj.Tribals oral songs still contain the history of freedom fight and it should be studied for writing inclusive history of India.
The real tribute to the tribal freedom fighters will be inclusion of their movement in the syllabus of education system from the first to PG standards. Dr. Bhupendra Sullere, Assistant Professor, Department of JMC, ABBHU, Bhopal chaired a session and presented his talk on the Role of Media and Freedom Fight Movement of Tribals in India.
After inaugural ceremony 5 plenary sessions of two technical sessions were organized on the first as well as second day in which issues related to the tribal freedom fight movements were deliberated by experts and scholars. The seminar ended with the valedictory speech by Dr. Suvranshu Pan, Co-ordinator, IQAC, KMMm. In the end Dr. Sushil Sarkar presented vote of thanks to guests and members of organizing committee of the seminar.
