Unity in diversity defines India’s core identity, Odisha Governor Braj Mohan Ram said on Sunday while celebrating Jharkhand State Foundation Day and Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas at the New Abhishek Hall in Lok Bhavan, Bhubaneswar.
Addressing members of the Jharkhand community residing in Odisha, the Governor called for collective efforts to build an inclusive nation where every language is respected, every culture is valued, and every citizen enjoys equal opportunities for progress.
Paying rich tributes to legendary tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the Governor noted that his historic Ulgulan movement against British rule was not merely a struggle for independence, but a resolute fight to protect tribal identity, self-respect, and rights over Jal, Jungle, and Zameen (water, forest, and land).
Speaking with pride as a son of Jharkhand’s soil, Governor Ram lauded the state’s natural splendour—highlighting Netarhat, Hundru and Lodh waterfalls, Betla National Park, and the sacred Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar.
He underscored the deep historical, geographical, and tribal bonds uniting Odisha and Jharkhand, comparing Jharkhand’s reverence for nature with Odisha’s Jagannath culture of equality and universal brotherhood.
Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat initiative, the Governor commended Jharkhand natives for acting as a cultural bridge while contributing to Odisha’s development. Commissioner-cum-Secretary to the Governor Dr Rupa Roshan Sahoo delivered the welcome address, followed by experience-sharing by CRPF DIG Rabindra Kumar and vibrant cultural performances.
