Modi Calls for Road Map to Develop Mangarh Dham as a Global Tribal Destination

26-08-2023

12:18 PM

1 min read

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for preparing a roadmap to develop Mangarh Dham in Rajasthan’s Banswara district as a tribal destination with a prominent identity at the global level.
Mangarh Dham, situated near the Rajasthan-Gujarat border, is known for massacre of tribals by the British Indian Army in 1913.

About Mangarh Massacre:

In November 1913, soldiers of the British Indian Army fired indiscriminately on Bhil protesters who were demanding the abolition of bonded labour.
Approximately 1,500 Bhil tribals and forest dwellers died in the incident which came to be known as the Mangarh massacre.
The movement was led by Guru Govindgiri who raised a front against local rulers who were forcing the Bhils into unpaid labour, to pay heavy taxes and high rates of land revenue.
According to the book 'A History of Rajasthan', Govindgiri's representatives submitted a charter of demands and a list of grievances against the Rajput States after which the British called upon the Bhils to leave Mangarh Hill before November 15, 1913.
When that didn't happen, the princely kingdoms of nearby Dungarpur, Banswara and Sunth pressured the colonial government who then sent in the Mewar Bhil Corps to attack the Mangarh Hill.
In 1952, an annual fair was instituted in Mangarh in memory of Guru Govindgiri and his disciples.

Bhils are considered as one of the oldest tribe in India.
Once they were the ruler in parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.
They are a cross section of great Munda race and a wild tribe of India.
Bhils could be identified as one of the Dravidian racial tribe of Western India and belong to Australoid group of tribes.
They speak a language of Dravidian origin. Bhils are Hindus by religion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a public meeting at Mangarh Dham to mark the anniversary of the Mangarh massacre and commemorate tribal leader and social reformer Guru Govindgiri.
- Mangarh Dham is located in Rajasthan’s Banswara district.
At the event, Prime Minister declared Mangarh Dham as a National Monument.
PM Modi said the memorial raised at the place was a symbol of bravery and sacrifice of tribals.
He said such an impactful event of the freedom struggle had not found its place in the history books because of “unfortunate circumstances”.
Modi said since Mangarh Dham was a shared heritage of the people of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, the governments of the four States could work together and prepare a roadmap to bring the memorial site on the world map.