CM Samrat Choudhary pays tribute to Birsa Munda on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas
Synopsis
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, and Governor Syed Ata Hasnain jointly paid floral tributes to Birsa Munda on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, 15 November 2026, honouring the tribal icon's birth anniversary in Bihar.
Key Takeaways
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary offered pushpanjali at Birsa Munda's statue on 15 November 2026 .
BJP national president Nitin Nabin was present alongside the Chief Minister at the ceremony.
Gen. (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain also attended, lending constitutional weight to the event.
Janjatiya Gaurav Divas was declared a national observance in 2021 to honour tribal contributions to India's freedom struggle.
Birsa Munda, born 15 November 1875 , led the Ulgulan uprising against British colonial land exploitation in the Chota Nagpur region.
On the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda — the 19th-century tribal icon revered as Dharti Aaba (Father of the Earth) — Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary joined national and state dignitaries on 15 November 2026 to offer floral tributes at a statue of the legendary leader, marking Janjatiya Gaurav Divas with quiet solemnity.
CM Choudhary was joined at the tribute ceremony by BJP national president Nitin Nabin and Bihar Governor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain. Together they laid flowers — pushpanjali — at the statue, a gesture that carried both political and cultural weight on a day Bihar holds close.
Who was Dharti Aaba — and why Bihar remembers him every November
Birsa Munda, born on 15 November 1875 in the Chota Nagpur plateau, led the Ulgulan — the Great Tumult — a fierce uprising of the Munda tribal community against British colonial land appropriation and the zamindari system. Arrested in his mid-twenties, he died in British custody in 1900, yet his legend only grew. Today he stands as one of India's most celebrated pre-independence resistance figures, particularly among the country's tribal communities. The Government of India formally declared 15 November as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas in 2021 to institutionalise recognition of tribal contributions to India's freedom struggle, anchoring the date to Birsa Munda's birth anniversary. Since then, BJP-led state and central governments have marked the day with commemorations, scheme launches, and cultural events — a consistent effort to foreground indigenous heritage in the national calendar.Nitin Nabin and Governor Hasnain at the ceremony
The presence of BJP national president Nitin Nabin alongside the Chief Minister underscored the party's organisational emphasis on the occasion. Governor Syed Ata Hasnain — a decorated former military commander — attended in his constitutional capacity, lending an institutional gravity to the event that went beyond party lines. Bihar, home to a significant tribal population, has been a focal point of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas observances since the holiday's inception. For tribal communities across the state, the annual tribute is more than ceremony. Birsa Munda's rebellion was rooted in land rights — a question that remains alive in development policy debates today. Each November, the floral tribute at his statue is a small, visible reminder of how far that struggle echoes forward.Point of View
Allowing the party to simultaneously honour a genuine freedom fighter and consolidate outreach among Scheduled Tribe communities. Bihar's observance — with both the Chief Minister and the national party president present — signals that the state remains a priority ground for this messaging. The inclusion of Governor Hasnain in a constitutionally non-partisan role reinforces the event's attempt to transcend party boundaries. The annual commemoration also quietly keeps the question of tribal land rights and welfare in public view, even when no new policy is announced.
NationPress
15 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Janjatiya Gaurav Divas and when is it celebrated?
Janjatiya Gaurav Divas is a national observance celebrated every year on 15 November to honour tribal communities' contributions to India's freedom struggle. It was declared by the Government of India in 2021 , coinciding with the birth anniversary of tribal leader Birsa Munda .
Who was Birsa Munda and why is he called Dharti Aaba?
Birsa Munda was a 19th-century tribal leader from the Chota Nagpur plateau who led the Ulgulan uprising against British colonial land exploitation. He is revered as Dharti Aaba , meaning 'Father of the Earth,' for his role in defending tribal land rights and identity.
What did Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary do on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas 2026?
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary offered floral tributes at a statue of Birsa Munda on 15 November 2026 , alongside BJP national president Nitin Nabin and Bihar Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain .
Who is BJP national president Nitin Nabin?
Nitin Nabin is the national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He attended the Janjatiya Gaurav Divas tribute ceremony in Bihar alongside CM Samrat Choudhary on 15 November 2026 .
Why is 15 November significant for Bihar?
15 November marks the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda , one of the most revered tribal freedom fighters, who was born in the Chota Nagpur region in 1875 . The date is observed as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas across India, and Bihar — with its significant tribal population — holds special commemorations each year.
