Relatives of freedom fighter Deba Soren pay homage at his ancestral land Ekladih. Picture by Srinivas

Ekladih village (East Singhbhum), Jan. 15: Descendants of freedom fighters Deba Soren and Kishan Murmu today donated land to a local trust for building an academic institution in honour of the unsung heroes.

About two acres has been donated to the Veer Deba Kishan Ashra (VDKA) to build a school and other academic institutions near the graveyard of the two freedom fighters.

Both freedom fighters had fought against the British by not paying land cess on behalf of villagers in the Seraikela-Kharsawan district.

Historian Digamber Hansda, patron of VDKA, said both the freedom fighters had fought against the Seraikela Kingdom in the larger interest of tribals.

“So far their bravery remained unrecognised. We plan to build a school and other institutions to honour them. Their descendants have handed over a plot of land to the trust,” said Hansda.

He added that the two had also opposed the activities of the Seraikela King who used to assault tribal women.

Debi Ram Soren, a descendent of Deba Soren, said the administration had failed to provide basic facilities like roads and drinking water in the village even in independent India.

“We have not been provided a Below Poverty Line (BPL) card and other benefits given to poor families. We work as daily wagers in the city,” Soren said.

According to descendants of the freedom fighters, the Seraikela King branded both the freedom fighters as “treacherous”.

Additional deputy commissioner Rakesh Kumar said that the block development officer would visit the village for taking appropriate action.

“The tribal-dominated Singhbhum region of Jharkhand has a unique history. Many freedom fighters had raised arms against the British, here. And these two freedom fighters might be among them,” Kumar said.