Tribal dancers perform at Bhanja Bhavan in Rourkela on Sunday. Picture by Uttam Kumar Pal

Rourkela, June 2: Tribal people took part in a two-day event here to mark the golden jubilee celebrations of the Adibasi Socio-Educational and Cultural Association, which works for their development.

The event was concluded at Bhanja Bhavan here on Sunday. Many scholars, educationists and achievers from the tribal community residing in various parts of the country but mostly in Odisha and Jharkhand congregated at the event and shared their social, educational and cultural views and concerns.

The association, which was formed in January 1964, aims at working for the uplift of the tribals, protecting their social set up and cultural identity. It also help to bring the tribals to the mainstream of the society by providing them education in their mother tongue Santhali.

“Several tribal people who have achieved success in various fields came forward to praise the efforts of the association,” said association secretary Arjun Marandi.

Social worker Baidyanath Marandi, Sobhanath Beshra, former and current members of the association Jadumanu Beshra, Gangadhar Hansdah, Samay Chandra Murmu, Baidyanath Soren and Gopinath Majhi and retired Indian Railway Service officer U.N. Majhi discussed on issues such as “Santali language, literature movement and the role of the association” and “The past and present scenario of Santhali culture”.

“We have been working for the uplift of the tribals for the last 50 years and hope to be with them for many more years to come. We want the social structure of the tribals to be same as it has been for ages. We put our demands before the government through this association,” said president of the association Ramrai Majhi.