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In a first, Bengal to host Hul Utsav at Junglemahal

The three-day festival, slated to begin June 30, will be the first such state-level programme organised in the formerly Maoist-dominated Junglemahal.

THE WEST Bengal government is set to organise a state-level ‘Hul Utsav’ at Jhargram in West Medinipur to commemorate the fight of the state’s tribal population, Santhals, against the British Raj in 1885.

The three-day festival, slated to begin June 30, will be the first such state-level programme organised in the formerly Maoist-dominated Junglemahal. West Medinipur has Bengal’s greatest concentration of tribal populations.

Officials said while the main event would be held at Kumud Kumari Institution in Jhargram, simultaneous programmes would be organised in all other districts, including Kolkata, the same day. “While all events will be of two-day duration, the one in Jhargram will be held for three days. Earlier, a programme used to be held only in Kolkata. But the state government has decided that it should be held away from the capital, in Jhargram, where Hul Ustav is a critical part of Junglemahal’s history,” said an official.

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The Hul Ustav commemorates the 1855 Santhal rebellion, which took place in eastern India against both the British and upper caste zamindari system. The rebellion was led by the four Murmu Brothers — Seedo, Kanhu, Chand and Bhairav — and was violently crushed by the British. A turning point for the Santhals, community leaders said holding an event in the district had been their long-standing demand.

“We have always demanded that the state-level function should be held in West Medinipur and not Kolkata. This is where our people live. We cling to our traditions. But in the past, whether it has been the British or the Indian government, our community has been largely ignored,” said Saibal Murmu, a community leader in Lalgarh, Jhargram.

Festive offer

The state-level programme would feature over 22 tribal art forms, including dance form such as Pata and Karam. Artists from four districts — Purulia, Bardhaman, Murshidabad and Nadia — would perform in the programme to be inaugurated at 4 pm on June 30. State Tribal Development Minister James Kujur and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Churamoni Mahata would be present.

The government is also looking to utilise this occasion to create awareness among Santhals about its different schemes. “State departments, such as MSME, panchayat and rural development, agriculture marketing and fisheries, will set up stalls at the event. Women from self-help-groups will also participate. Awareness will be spread about the facilities and schemes that can benefit the community,” said an official.

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When contacted, Jhargram MLA and former Tribal Affairs Minister Sukumar Hansda said: “It’s very important that such events are no longer Kolkata-centric and are focused around the issues and communities living in Jangalmahal. This is more than a celebration of an historic event, this is the celebration of a community’s identity.”

First uploaded on: 29-06-2016 at 06:20 IST
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