Ranchi: Ram Dayal Munda Tribal Welfare Research Institute in Morabadi observed the 79th birth anniversary of tribal ideologue, the late Ram Dayal Munda, on its campus on Thursday.

The institute, which was formerly known as Tribal Welfare Research Institute and later renamed by the state government after the music exponent, also kicked off a four-day event in his honour.

A statue of Padma Shri Ram Dayal Munda was also unveiled on the campus on Thursday during the inaugural ceremony in the presence of state social welfare minister Louise Marandi, welfare department secretary Himani Pande, TRI director Ranendra Kumar, Ranchi University pro-vice chancellor Kamini Kumar along with wife and son of late Ram Dayal Munda, Amita Munda and Gunjal Munda, respectively.

Several events and workshops stressing on the need to preserve tribal culture will also be held at the institute on all four days till August 26.

A seminar on the contribution of the tribal ideologue in the field of art and culture and his inclination towards nature, especially animals and discussions on Adi Dharmand Sarna Darshan was also held.

Following the seminar, a discussion throwing light on the poems written by Ram Dayal Munda was held in the presence institute director Ranendra Kumar.

In the coming days research papers on Ram Dayal Munda and various communities of Jharkhand will be presented. Besides, a workshop on Sohrai and Kohbar paintings will also be organised. A documentary on the life and work of the ace tribal scholar Nachi Se Banchi, directed by Megnath Bhattacharya, will be showcased on August 25.

Speaking on the occasion Louise Marandi lauded the immense contribution of Ram Dayal Munda in the field of art and culture. "His love for the state was always reflected in his personality. We would often see him roam around with a bansuri (flute) in his hand," she said.

Vice chancellor of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, Ranchi, Satyanarayan Munda, who was also present on the occasion, reminisced his days with the tribal ideologue. "Ram Dayal Munda was an institute in himself. I worked with him for around 15 years. There was so much to learn from him," he said, further encouraging current scholars, who are dealing with tribal communities, to bring the works of Ram Dayal Munda to the fore.

Welfare department secretary Himani Pande emphasised on promoting cultural traditions. "We need to go beyond the road maps prepared by Munda and fulfil all his dreams. It's important to discuss the problems faced by the tribal communities," she said.