Ranchi, Jan. 24: Like guru, like disciple.

To promote tribal art and culture, Belgian priest Father Peter Paul Banfal had, in 2006, built a tribal museum in Gumla.

Four years down the line, his once able apprentice and now Bishunpur legislator, Chamra Linda, has offered Rs 40 lakh from his MLA area development fund for an annexe.

The Adivasi Chatra Sangh leader, a first-time MLA, said he wanted to allocate his first grant to the Adivasi Museum as a mark of respect for his teacher and to promote the art and culture of the tribal community to which he belongs. “I want to donate for the noble cause that will help preserve tribal art and culture in the state,” he said when asked why he wanted to mark funds for extension work of the museum.

Linda was a student of St Ignatius High School, Gumla, from 1979 to 1985, when Father Banfal, who later rustled up funds to commission the museum, was its principal. The leader was highly influenced by the Belgian priest’s selfless ways.

Father Banfal started work on the museum building in 1996. On a December day 10 years later, chief minister Shibu Soren, then in the capacity of JMM president and a revered tribal leader, inaugurated the building. Soren had even promised government funds for extension work, but the aid never really came.

“Soon after Linda became MLA, he went to Father Banfal to pay his respects. He also requested permission to make a donation for the noble cause,” said Dillip Toppo, a member of Sangeet Natak Academy and also Linda’s classmate.

Toppo said the priest had always had a dream to add more wings to the museum to preserve archaeological evidence on tribal life, but could not do so in the absence of funds.

Gumla deputy development commissioner Gauri Shankar Prasad said he had received a funds recommendation from the Bishunpur MLA. “I am examining the recommendation,” he said.

At present, the museum houses cultural symbols of various tribal communities like Oraons, Mundas, Kharias, Hos and Santhals. “The extension will house archaeological proof on tribal life and culture,” Toppo, also an artist who is developing the annexe blueprint, said.