Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Saturday emphasised the need to preserve and promote India’s tribal heritage, stating that tribal histories have long remained underrepresented in mainstream narratives despite their significant contributions to the country’s cultural and freedom struggle legacy.
Addressing a national seminar on “Bhagwan Shri Birsa Munda, Cultural Renaissance in Tribal India and His Representation in Museums” at the India International Centre, Gupta said Birsa Munda was not merely a freedom fighter but a symbol of self-respect, cultural identity and social awakening.
The seminar, organised by the Museums Association of India, brought together museum professionals, historians, archaeologists, scholars and researchers to discuss Birsa Munda’s legacy and the role of museums in preserving tribal heritage.
Gupta said Birsa Munda’s movement represented resistance against colonial rule as well as an effort to protect indigenous traditions, cultural identity and tribal institutions. He noted that the tribal leader inspired confidence and self-belief among tribal communities at a time when they faced economic exploitation and social disruption.
Highlighting the richness of India’s tribal heritage, the Speaker said tribal communities possess a vast legacy of oral traditions, folk arts, music, ecological knowledge and social practices that continue to enrich the country’s cultural landscape. He said tribal communities had historically acted as custodians of forests, biodiversity and sustainable lifestyles, making their knowledge systems relevant even today.
Observing that many tribal histories and freedom struggles remained insufficiently acknowledged for decades, Gupta welcomed initiatives such as the commemoration of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas and efforts to document tribal heritage, describing them as important steps towards building a more inclusive understanding of India’s past.
Underscoring the role of museums, Gupta said they serve as custodians of collective memory and play a crucial role in shaping how future generations understand history. He stressed that museums should go beyond displaying artefacts and meaningfully represent the experiences, aspirations and contributions of tribal communities.
“The stories museums choose to tell shape how future generations understand their nation, their history and themselves," he said.
Gupta also urged museums, archives and cultural institutions to develop exhibitions, oral history projects and other public engagement initiatives centred on the life and legacy of Birsa Munda and tribal communities.
Referring to India’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, he said economic progress must be accompanied by cultural confidence and historical awareness, adding that preserving cultural heritage is essential for strengthening national identity and unity.
