Speech of DR. HARI BABU KAMBHAMPATI, HON’BLE GOVERNOR OF MIZORAM On the occasion of Foundation Days of Uttarakhand and Jharkhand At Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan On 15th November, 2023
Dear friends,
I welcome all of you at the Raj Bhavan as we commemorate the Foundation Days of the States of Uttarakhand and Jharkhand.
Incidentally, today is also celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, in recognition of freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda on his birth anniversary.
Birsa Munda, born on 15th November 1875, was a member of the Munda Tribe of the Chhota Nagpur Plateau. He was an Indian freedom fighter, religious leader, and folk hero.
He spearheaded a tribal movement against British rule across the tribal belt of modern-day Jharkhand and Bihar. He passed away as a British prisoner in 1900, at only 25 years of age.
His struggle ultimately forced the colonial officials to introduce laws protecting the land rights of the tribals.
As a tribute to his valuable sacrifice, the Union Government has decided to observe 15th November as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, to remember the contribution of tribal freedom fighters across the country.
Today, we are gathered here to commemorate the foundation days of Uttarakhand and Jharkhand.
Although the foundation day of Uttarakhand falls on 9th November, we have decided to club together with Jharkhand due to convenience.
The three states of Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand were formed in the year 2000 after years of popular struggle.
The fact that these three states were established peacefully was due to the statesmanship of then Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji. At that time, the ruling governments in the respective states were not in favour of the formation of these new states, in spite of popular demand. However, credit goes to Vajpayeeji for being a great consensus-builder, and managing to form these states without any major disturbance.
The State of Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh on 9th November 2000, after years of widespread movement across the region.
The State of Jharkhand was founded on 15th November 2000, honouring the birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
As part of the Ek Bharat – Shreshtha Bharat programme, we are celebrating the foundation days of different states to promote national integration.
On this happy occasion, I convey my heartiest wishes to all the people of Uttarakhand and Jharkhand.
I convey my special greetings to those who have gathered here.
It is my desire that you will have valuable cultural exchange with the locals during your stay in Mizoram.
I urge all of you to continue to give your best as we march forward as a Nation in the spirit of unity.
Thank you.
Jai Hind.
