Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday, June 7, 2026, paid homage to celebrated folk poet Lakshman Masturia on his birth anniversary, honouring the poet's enduring contribution to the state's folk culture and literature.

Opening his tribute with the iconic line from Masturia's own verse — 'Mor sang chalav re, mor sang chalav ga' ('Walk with me, come walk with me') — Chief Minister Sai described the poet as an immortal voice of Chhattisgarh's folk traditions. He offered 'kotishaha naman' (countless salutations) to Masturia's memory.

Context

Lakshman Masturia is widely regarded as one of Chhattisgarh's most significant folk poets, composing in the Chhattisgarhi dialect on themes spanning social concerns, local traditions, and cultural values. His songs became a medium through which ordinary people connected with their own heritage, earning him a lasting place in the state's literary consciousness.

Chief Minister Sai's post noted that Masturia 'spread the folk traditions, social concerns, and cultural values of Chhattisgarh to every person through his songs and poetry' — a contribution he called 'eternally memorable and inspiring.'

Policy Backdrop

Since Chhattisgarh's formation as a separate state in 2000, successive governments have made the formal recognition of regional folk poets and dialects central to the state's identity-building effort. The celebration of figures like Masturia fits within a wider post-2000 pattern across Indian states of documenting and honouring intangible cultural heritage preserved in oral and folk literary forms.

Chief ministers across India routinely mark birth anniversaries of regional litterateurs on social media, using such occasions to reinforce the cultural distinctiveness of their states. Sai, a senior BJP leader, has continued this practice, frequently spotlighting Chhattisgarh's folk and tribal cultural figures in public communications.

Stakeholders and Impact

The tribute resonates most directly with Chhattisgarh's folk literary community, dialect poets, and cultural organisations that have worked to preserve Masturia's legacy. For the broader public, especially those from the Chhattisgarhi-speaking belt, Masturia's compositions remain part of living cultural memory rather than archived history.

Observers of state cultural policy note that official recognition of folk artists on such occasions can prompt institutional follow-through — including named awards, festivals, or documentation drives — though no specific announcement accompanied Sunday's post.

What's Next

State-level folk literature festivals and literary awards in Chhattisgarh are typically convened around mid-year, and Masturia's birth anniversary has in past years served as an occasion for cultural events honouring his legacy. Whether the government announces any new initiative — a fellowship, award, or festival — in his name in the coming weeks will be closely watched by the state's literary community.