Janjatiya Gaurav Divas

Context: 

India celebrated the 4^th annual Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on November 15th.

More on the News

• Every year on November 15th, Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas (National Tribal Pride Day) is celebrated to honour the contributions of these communities in India’s freedom struggle. 
• The day also marks the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, a tribal leader and freedom fighter.
• The Prime Minister unveiled a commemorative coin and postal stamp in honour of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.

Birsa Munda

Significant Movements 

Mundaism: 

• Origin: In the late 19th century, Birsa Munda founded a religious movement known as "Mundaism" or "Kisangism."  
• Objective: To revive traditional Munda customs and beliefs while uniting the Munda community against oppression.  
• Teachings: Birsa emphasized self-reliance, social justice, and resistance to oppression.  
• Preachings: He urged the Munda people to return to their traditional values and reject the influence of British colonialism and missionaries.

The Great Tumult Movement (Ulgulan):

• Region: Birsa’s movement, also called the ‘Ulgulan’ or Great Tumult, began in the Chotanagpur region of the Bengal Presidency (present-day Jharkhand).  
• Focus: It mobilized the Munda and Oraon tribal communities against forced labour, missionary activities, and colonial land seizures. 

Impact of Birsa Munda Revolt:  

• To amend the enactment of the ‘Chotanagpur Tenancy Act’ in 1908, which:  
  Restricted the transfer of tribal land to non-tribal individuals. 
  Recognized the customary rights of tribal communities over land, water, and forests.  
• Introduced the “Mundari Khuntkattidar” tenure, acknowledging the rights of the original Munda settlers over ancestral lands. 

Birsa Munda’s movements remain a cornerstone in the history of tribal resistance, advocating for justice and cultural preservation.

Exercise ‘SEA VIGIL-24’

Context: The Indian Navy is conducting the fourth edition of the ‘Pan-India’ Coastal Defence Exercise ‘Sea Vigil-24’.

Exercise ‘SEA VIGIL’

• The term ‘Sea Vigil’ is to activate the Coastal Security apparatus and assess the overarching Coastal Defence Mechanism across India.
• It was conceptualized in 2018 to validate and enhance maritime security since the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
• This year, National Security Council Secretariat officials will also be part of Indian Navy led CDSRE teams for the first time, along with personnel from State Marine Police, Coast Guard, Customs, Fisheries, etc.      
• It is a biennial exercise conducted by the Indian Navy in collaboration with the Indian Coast Guard to raise awareness amongst coastal communities about maritime security.
• Focus Area: To strengthen the security of coastal assets (ports, oil rigs, Single Point Moorings, Cable Landing Points) and critical coastal infrastructure.

Significance:

• It provides a holistic assessment of India’s maritime defence capabilities.
• It helps identify strengths and weaknesses in the current preparedness of maritime security agencies.
• It serves as a precursor to the Indian Navy’s biennial Theatre Level Readiness Operational Exercise (TROPEX).

SVASTIK

Context: Recently, the CSIR-NIScPR presented an overview of the SVASTIK initiative at the International Conference on Communication and Dissemination of Traditional Knowledge (CDTK-2024).

SVASTIK:

• The Scientifically Validated Traditional Knowledge (SVASTIK) initiative is coordinated by CSIR-NIScPR.
• It is a national program aimed at preserving and promoting the practice of appropriate traditions.
• It seeks to cultivate a scientific approach to validating traditions and to enhance public confidence in India’s traditional knowledge and practices.  
• SVASTIK has brought together research organizations, higher education institutions, experts, and NGOs to document and disseminate scientifically validated content on Indian traditional knowledge.
• The initiative was launched to effectively communicate this knowledge to society.  
• CSIR-NIScPR has shared engaging SVASTIK stories in 17 Indian languages through social media platforms.
• Furthermore, two SVASTIK publications provide authenticated accounts of traditional knowledge, inspiring young students to explore science within the framework of cultural heritage.