Participants at the Mundari Kavi Sammelan in Ranchi on Sunday. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Sept. 21: The tribal culture in Jharkhand is heading towards a renaissance.

A glimpse of the cultural rise was evident at a literary meet held today at Adim Jati Seva Mandal by the Munda Bhasha Parishad where the scholars of the community evaluated published works, recited poetry and outlined plans for the future.

If the plans work out properly, children of the community would learn about their state’s freedom fighters through comic books.

Prominent freedom fighters belonging to Munda community such as Birsa Munda, Gaya Munda, Donka Munda, Konta Munda, Manji Munda and Maki Munda would feature in the comics.

Visheswar Munda, a research Scholar of tribal and regional languages at Ranchi University, said that the comics would present the stories of spirited struggle of the community with the help of colourful pictures. “School students are eager to know the series of historical events that took place in our state. Unfortunately we have not been able to provide them an authentic version of our history,” said Munda.

Earlier the scholars evaluated different books written in Mundari language. They appreciated the efforts of Ram Dayal Munda and Kasinath Singh Munda for their efforts in promoting the tirbal literature. Ram Dayal’s Nawa Kaniko (collection of short stories) and Guiram received praise from the critics.

Compilations of Mundari poems were also evaluated on the occasion. Tasang Bah (yellow flower) by Kasinath Singh Munda, Sure Sangen by Dulay Chandra Munda and Isir and Selet by Ram Dayal Munda were among the accolades.

Later the artistes of the community staged a drama, Gandhi Katha written by Bhaiya Ram Munda.

The scholars informed that a cultural commentary on contemporary Munda culture was available in Dimension of Religion Magic and festivals of Indian Tribe—Munda. A Mundari-English dictionary having 600 entries was also ready for the students, the scholars added.

A poets’ meet was held during the concluding session of the meet in which Ram Dayal Munda threw light on the plight of traditional musical instrument, Dulia Nagara in verses. Birsa Hans, former principal of SS Memorial College recited a poem titled Singar Ras.

The scholars said that cultural rise of Mundas would contribute in the development of the state as the tribe had a significant population in the state and a history of providing leadership to the region in the hours of crisis.