Banswara, Rajasthan: On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the Mangarh Dham as a national monument during his address of the “Mangarh Dham ki Gaurav Gatha” in Rajasthan’s Banswara district. He said that India is incomplete without the contribution and sacrifice of the tribal community. Notably, the Mangarh Hills have a significant impact on the Bhil community and also on other tribal communities of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. 

The Prime Minister paid his tribute to Govind Guru, a well-known freedom fighter from the tribal community. In his speech, the PM said, “It is inspiring and pleasant for all of us to come to Mangarh Dham in the ‘Aazadi Amrit Mahotsav’. Mangarh Dham is a reflection of the tenacity, sacrifice, penance and patriotism of the tribal heroes. This is the common heritage of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Govind Guru was not the king of any princely state but he was the hero of lakhs of tribals. In his life he lost his family but never lost his courage.”

In another statement, the PM said that the Nov 17 massacre in Mangarh back in the year 1913 was one of the finest culmination of brutality during the British ruling era. “The British government had surrounded more than 1500 people on this hill of Mangarh, thinking of enslavement of the world. Unfortunately, the struggle and sacrifice of the tribal community didn’t get their rightful place in history written after independence. Today, the country is rectifying that decades-old mistake. India’s past, present and future are not complete without the tribal community,”, said the PM.

This was a part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav that is celebrated each year during the time of Independence Day. The PM and the government officials work towards celebrating the freedom fighters of the tribal community during the celebration.