M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, Nov 11: The Nilamber Pitamber University organised a symposium on the role of the tribal in the freedom struggle of India on Thursday at the YSN Mahila college wherein its professor in charge Dr Mohini Gupta made adequate arrangements for it.
On the occasion, Consultant for the National Commission for the Scheduled Tribes Ravishankar was present with Dr Raj Kishore Hansda, a civil society activist championing the cause of the tribal.
The symposium tried to explore the role of the tribal martyrs who laid down their lives for the freedom of India but many of them remain unsung, unknown and untalked about.
Sources said the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes is spearheading a drive to give the tribal martyrs their due recognition and place in the history of India.
The deliberation of the symposium so drew the attention of the vice-chancellor Dr Ram Lakhan Singh who taking a departure raised his point in the context of the conflict of interest between tribal and forest officials.
Ravishankar said, “This is very rare that the vice-chancellor asks a question in the symposium but the NPU VC set a healthy example.”
The deliberation focused on the rights of the forest dwellers and how the forest department and the forest dwellers just look at each other with more of suspicion than trust.
A senior teacher of the GLA college Dr Kailash Oraon was very instrumental in organizing the symposium. Registrar Dr Rakesh Kumar said this initiative in the context of the tribal was advanced by the NPU.
NPU spokesperson Dr K C Jha said that the modest gathering was apprised of the rights of the tribal and in event of any complaint or injustice or grievance this commission for scheduled tribes is there for them.
