MANGARH DHAM – HISTORY
News: PM
Modi calls for roadmap to develop Mangarh Dham as tribal destination
What's in the news?
● Prime
Minister Narendra Modi called for preparing a roadmap to develop Mangarh Dham
in Rajasthan’s Banswara district as a tribal destination with a prominent
identity at the global level.
● Mangarh
Dham, situated near the Rajasthan-Gujarat
border, is known for the massacre of tribals by the British Indian Army in
1913.
Key takeaways:
● Addressing
a public meeting at Mangardh Dham to mark the anniversary of the incident and
commemorate tribal leader and social reformer Govind Guru, Mr. Modi said the memorial raised at the place was a
symbol of bravery and sacrifice of tribals.
● He
said such an impactful event of the freedom struggle had not found its place in
the history books because of “unfortunate circumstances”.
● Mr.
Modi said since Mangarh Dham was a shared heritage of the people of Rajasthan,
Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, the Governments of the four States
could work together and prepare a roadmap to bring the memorial site on the
world map.
● He
said that the development of Mangarh Dham will make this area a place of
inspiration for the new generation.
Mangarh Dham incident:
● About
1,500 Bhil tribals and forest dwellers were killed at a hill in Mangarh on
November 17, 1913, when the British Indian Army opened fire on the protesters demanding abolition of the bonded labor
system and relaxation in heavy agricultural taxes imposed by the rulers of
princely states.
● The
tribals in the southern Rajasthan region were led by Govind Guru.
Go back to basics:
Janjatiya Guarav Diwas:
● Mr.
Modi affirmed that India’s past, history, present and future would not be
complete without the tribal community and said the nation would celebrate the Janjatiya Guarav Diwas on November 15 on
the birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda.
● He
said special museums dedicated to tribal freedom fighters were being
constructed across the country to take the history of tribal society to the
masses.