Tribal culture is our identity, and its preservation is the responsibility of all of us: Finance Minister OP Choudhary
Raipur. A grand annual celebration and foundation day ceremony was held today at the Kalyan Ashram school premises on the occasion of the 73rd Foundation Day of the All India Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and the birth anniversary of its founder, Balasaheb Deshpande. Finance Minister O.P. Choudhary was the chief guest, while advocate Gajanan Asole of the Nagpur High Court and Shri Govind Narayan Singh, Secretary of the Devmangal Memorial Trust, were the special guests.
On this occasion, Finance Minister O.P. Choudhary extended his best wishes on the Foundation Day of Kalyan Ashram and paid tribute to its founder, Balasaheb Deshpande. He said that tribal culture is our identity, and preserving it is our collective responsibility. Balasaheb Deshpande’s contribution to the preservation of the culture, art, and lifestyle of the tribal community will always be remembered.
Minister Choudhary said that the tribal community has lived in harmony with nature for centuries. The worship of trees, mountains, rivers, Mother Earth, and the cow reflects their respect for nature. Today, tribal food habits, organic farming, and nutritious grains like Kodo and Kutki are being adopted globally, which proves the relevance of tribal traditions. He highlighted the contribution of the tribal community to the freedom struggle, stating that great heroes like Bhagwan Birsa Munda and Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh made the ultimate sacrifice for the country’s independence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accorded national honor to the contribution of the tribal community by declaring Bhagwan Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary as ‘Tribal Pride Day’.
The Finance Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the country is continuously progressing, and India’s economy has strengthened globally. Projects like the construction of the Ram Temple, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, and the Mahakal Lok have given new energy to India’s cultural heritage. Meanwhile, the tribal museum built in Nava Raipur under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai is presenting the tribal culture and the contributions of its great heroes in a vibrant manner. At the program, Subhash Barole, the organizing secretary of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Central Region, and Shri Yogesh Bapat, the General Secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, shed light on the activities of the Ashram, its role in preserving tribal culture, and the inspiring life of Balasaheb Deshpande.
