15-Nov-2021: PM inaugurates Bhagwan Birsa Munda Memorial Park cum Freedom Fighter Museum at Ranchi on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas
Government of India has declared that the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda will be celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas. To mark the occasion, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated Bhagwan Birsa Munda Memorial Park cum Freedom Fighter Museum at Ranchi today via video conferencing. Governor of Jharkhand Shri Ramesh Bias; Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, Sh Arjun Munda; Union Minister of Culture, Tourism and DONER, Sh G. Kishan Reddy; Chief Minister of Jharkhand Sh Hemant Soren were among those present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that in this Amrit Kaal of independence, the country has decided that the country will give a more meaningful and more grand identity to the tribal traditions of India and its valor stories. “For this, a historic decision has been taken that from today every year the country will celebrate 15th November i.e. the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda as ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’” said the Prime Minister while greeting the nation on this historic occasion.
The Prime Minister also paid tributes to Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, due to whose strong will the state of Jharkhand came into existence. “It was Atal ji who was the first to form a separate tribal ministry in the government of the country and linked the tribal interests with the policies of the country”, Shri Modi added.
The Prime Minister congratulated the tribal society of the country, every citizen of India for Bhagwan Birsa Munda Smriti Udyan cum Freedom Fighter Museum. He said “this museum will become a living venue of our tribal culture full of diversity, depicting the contribution of tribal heroes and heroines in the freedom struggle.”
Talking about the vision of Bhagwan Birsa, the Prime Minister pointed out that Bhagwan Birsa knew that tampering with diversity, ancient identity and nature in the name of modernity is not the way for welfare of the society. At the same time, he was a supporter of modern education and had the courage to speak against the ills and inadequacies of his own society. The Prime Minister said the freedom struggle aimed at transferring the power of India, the power to make decisions for India in the hands of Indians. But at the same time, the fight for ‘Dharti Aaba’ - 'धरती आबा' was also against the thinking that wanted to erase the identity of India's tribal society. The Prime Minister remarked that “Bhagwan Birsa lived for the society, sacrificed his life for his culture and his country. Therefore, he is still present in our faith, in our spirit as our God.” ‘Dharti Aaba did not stay on this earth for very long. But he wrote an entire history for the country in that short span of life and gave direction to the generations of India,’ the Prime Minister added.
On the occasion, the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Arjun Munda thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for inaugurating Bhagwan Birsa Munda Memorial Park cum Freedom Fighter Museum in Ranchi. Shri Munda also expressed his gratitude for declaring the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas. It is indeed a proud moment for the tribals of the country, the Minister added.
Shri Munda said that there are a large number of valiant tribal heroes who fought for their motherland. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has sanctioned ten freedom fighter museums to bring out the contribution of these brave warriors. These museums will cherish the memories of tribal freedom fighters from various States and regions, he added. Shri Arjun Munda further added that today on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, the whole of India is remembering how Lord Birsa Munda fought for land, freedom and right of self-determination. Along with this, by putting up a brave fight against the British, Bhagwan Birsa Munda showed the native power of the country; which finds its place in history. Shri Munda further added as we celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, it is our duty to make the dreams of those brave warriors come true who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country and due to whose sacrifices we are able to celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav today.
Shri Munda also thanked the Union Minister for Culture & Tourism Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Governor of Jharkhand, Chief Minister of Jharkhand and other Ministers and officials of various Ministries present on this occasion.
In his address Chief Minister of Jharkhand Shri Hemant Soren said that 15th November is definitely a historic day as today the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Memorial Park cum Freedom Fighter Museum has been inaugurated in the Old Jail Complex of Ranchi. This complex has got a new look due to the efforts of the Central and State Governments, he said. The Chief Minister also said that the Government has brought together various freedom fighters and leaders of the society under one roof and made this complex a historical symbol through which the coming generations will be made aware of the past.
Bhagwan Birsa Munda Memorial Park cum Freedom Fighter Museum has been built by Ministry of Tribal Affairs in association with the State Government of Jharkhand at the Old Central Jail in Ranchi, where Bhagwan Birsa Munda had sacrificed his life. It will serve as a tribute to his sacrifice for the nation and tribal communities. The museum will play an important role in preserving and promoting tribal culture and history. It will also demonstrate the way the tribals struggled for protecting their forests, land rights, their culture and would show their valour and sacrifices, vital for nation building.
Along with Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the museum will also highlight other tribal freedom fighters associated with different movements such as Shahid Budhu Bhagat, Sidhu-Kanhu, Nilambar-Pitambar, Diwa-Kisun, Telanga Khadiya, Gaya Munda, Jatra Bhagat, Poto H, Bhagirath Manjhi, Ganga Narayan Singh. The Museum project involves conservation of Old Jail; installation of 25ft statue of Bhagwan Birsa Munda and 9 ft statues of other freedom fighters of the region; museum curation and a light and sound show. The Museum aims to highlight the national character of Birsa Munda as iconic freedom fighter.
Memorial Park has been developed in neighbouring 25 acres and it will have a musical fountain, food court, children park, infinity pool, garden and other entertainment facilities.
Later Shri Arjun Munda and Shri G. Kishan Reddy also payed floral tributes and garlanded the statue of Birsa Munda at Birsa Munda Compex at his birth place of Ulihatu in Khunti district of Jharkhand.
8-Nov-2021: PM expresses happiness over Srinagar joins UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed happiness over Srinagar joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) with a special mention for its craft and folk art.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said;
"Delighted that beautiful Srinagar joins the @UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) with a special mention for its craft and folk art. It is a fitting recognition for the vibrant cultural ethos of Srinagar. Congratulations to the people of Jammu and Kashmir."
14-Dec-2019: Hanoi joins UNESCO Creative Cities Network
The government of Hanoi held a ceremony on December 13 to formally announce that the Vietnamese capital city is joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).
As the capital city of Vietnam, home to 7.9 million people, Hanoi has a multi-layered culture with creativity at its heart. The city is embracing a new economic and urban development model driven by creative design, which honors both its youthful population, its craft heritage and the growth of technology. Every year, Hanoi sees some 5,000 new graduates within design and technology fields - with an increasing number of initiatives fostering youth talent. In 2018, Hanoi’s creative industries contributed around $US 1.49 billion to its Gross Regional Domestic Product, accounting for 3.7 per cent.
Hanoi hosts the Annual Conference on Investment & Development Cooperation; VietBuild Hanoi invites creative designers from 18 countries to exhibit examples of smart tech, architecture and infrastructure, whilst the international art exhibition ‘Hanoi March Connecting’ puts the spotlight on creative practice, and, in particular, Hanoi’s schools of art and design. The Hanoi Festival of Creative Design, an annual event, encompasses a series of activities for industry professionals and the public, highlighting the innovations in creative design from within Hanoi and across the globe.
The city is investing $US 1.2 billion in socio-cultural development, with numerous projects supporting design events including the Vietnam Festival of Media and Design presented by RMIT in collaboration with UNESCO and VICAS; and film events like Hanoi International Film Festival; as well as creative design events from museums, galleries and cultural spaces. An equally important priority is using design to promote and protect Hanoi’s cultural heritage. This will be achieved by creating collaborations between contemporary designers and artisans to develop products for new markets, enhancing branding, and developing a contemporary approach to display and curation.
As a Creative City of Design, Hanoi envisages:
- embracing sustainable development informed by empathic design and innovation in order to benefit society;
- supporting a network of creative spaces that foster future creative talent in the fields of design and technology;
- creating an ambitious programme of creative events that will advance and protect Hanoi’s cultural heritage;
- participating in projects and strategies within the UCCN, to promote creative design thinking and sustainable urban development;
- exchanging knowledge with Creative Cities of Design and promoting design and innovation across Southeast Asia; and
- developing a creative educational framework to develop graduates with skills for the new economy.
9-Nov-2017: Chennai included in UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network for Contribution in Music.
Chennai has been included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for its rich musical tradition. Including Chennai, a total of 64 cities from 44 countries have joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Jaipur and Varanasi are the other Indian cities that feature on the list.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was created in 2004 to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development.
The 180 cities which currently make up this network work together towards a common objective: placing creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their development plans at the local level and cooperating actively at the international level. The Network covers seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Arts, Media Arts, Film, Design, Gastronomy, Literature and Music.
1-Sep-2021: PM releases a special commemorative coin on the occasion of 125th Birth Anniversary of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Ji
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi released a special commemorative coin on the occasion of the 125th Birth Anniversary of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Ji today via video conference. Union Minister For Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Shri G Kishan Reddy, among others, was present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister mentioned the happy coincidence of Janmashtami day before and the 125th birth anniversary of Srila Prabhupada ji. ‘It is like achieving happiness and contentment of sadhana together. He also noted that the occasion is taking place amidst the celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. This is how millions of followers of Srila Prabhupada Swami and millions of Krishna devotees all over the world are experiencing today’, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister noted the supernatural devotion of Prabhupada Swami for Lord Krishna and said that he was also a great devotee of Bharat. He fought in the freedom struggle of the country. He had refused to take his diploma from Scottish College in support of the non-cooperation movement, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said our knowledge of yoga spread all over the world and sustainable lifestyle of India, science like Ayurveda are spread all over the world. It is our resolve that the whole world should benefit from it, Shri Modi said. The Prime Minister said whenever we go to any other country, and when people meet there saying 'Hare Krishna', we feel a sense of belonging and pride. The Prime Minister said that the same feeling will be there when Make in India products get the same affinity. We can learn a lot from ISKCON in this regard
The Prime Minister said that in the times of slavery, Bhakti kept the spirit of India alive. He said today scholars assess that if there was no social revolution of the Bhakti period, it would have been difficult to imagine the status and form of India. Bhakti connected the creature with God by removing the discrimination of faith, social hierarchies and privileges. Even in those difficult times, saints like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who tied the society with the spirit of devotion and gave the mantra of 'Faith to Confidence'.
The Prime Minister said at one time, if a sage like Swami Vivekananda came who took Vedanta to the west, then Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON took up this great task when the time of taking Bhakti Yoga to the world came. He connected Bhakti Vedanta with the consciousness of the world, said the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister said today there are hundreds of ISKCON temples in different countries of the world and many Gurukuls are keeping Indian culture alive. ISKCON has disseminated to the world that for India, faith means zeal, enthusiasm, and gaiety and faith in humanity. Shri Modi highlighted the service work of ISKCON during earthquake in Kutch, Uttarakhand tragedy, cyclones in Odisha and Bengal. The Prime Minister also praised the efforts of ISKCON during the pandemic.