Kumar Bahukhandi
Basant Pando of Pando Tribe Felicitated at hands of President Murmu
Raipur: On the occasion of Tribal Pride Day 2025, President Droupadi Murmu visited Surguja district, and attended the programme held at PG College Ground as the Chief Guest. The event became a powerful moment of acknowledgement and gratitude towards the tribal communities who have shaped India’s freedom struggle and cultural legacy.
The programme was graced by Governor Ramen Deka, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Union Ministers of State Durga Das Uike and Tokhan Sahu, Minister, Department of Tribal Development, Agriculture Development and Farmers Welfare, Ramvichar Netam, In-charge Minister, Surguja district, and Minister, Finance and Commercial Tax Department, Omprakash Choudhary, Minister, Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments Department, Rajesh Agrawal, Minister, Forest and Climate Change, Transport, Cooperation and Parliamentary Affairs Kedar Kashyap, Minister, Public Health and Family Welfare, Medical Education, Backward Classes and Minorities Development, Twenty-Point Programme Implementation Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, Minister, Women and Child Development and Social Welfare Department, Laxmi Rajwade, Surguja MP Chintamani Maharaj, North Raipur MLA Purandar Mishra, Jagdalpur MLA Kiran Singh Deo, and Ambikapur Mayor Manjusha Bhagat were also present among other dignitaries.
During the programme, President Murmu interacted with the senior tribal leaders, leaders of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), individuals who have made exceptional contributions to tribal upliftment, and families of tribal freedom fighters. She also posed for group photographs with them as a gesture of warmth and respect.
President Murmu honoured the families of tribal heroes and freedom fighters who contributed significantly to India’s independence movement. She interacted with the relatives of the legendary Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh of the Sonakhan rebellion, his commander; the hero of the Palkot uprising, Shaheed Gend Singh; the Jhanda Satyagraha leader Sukhdev Pater; Bhumkal rebellion hero Bantu Dhurwa; and Jungle Satyagraha martyr Ramdheen Gond, along with the families of freedom fighters Rajnath Bhagat and Majhi Ram Gond.
President also met members of PVTG and other tribal communities: Rajesh Birhor of the Birhor tribe; Ramji Dhruv of the Abujhmadia tribe; Etwari Ram Machhiya of the Baiga tribe; and Jogiram of the Pahadi Korwa tribe. Moreover, she also interacted with Mangal Oraon of Oraon Tribe, Dhanram Nageshia of Nagesia Tribe, Veer Singh Khairwar of Khairwar Tribe, Sanjay Singh of Kanwar Tribe, Lakkuram Nagvanshi of Nagvanshi Tribe, Dhaniram Shori of Muria Tribe, Mohan Singh of Gond Tribe, Vinod Kumar Pando of Pando Tribe, and D.N. Cherwa of Cherwa Tribe.
President Meets Basant Pando of the Pando Tribe; Extends Special Honour with a Shawl
One of the most heartfelt moments of the programme came when President Droupadi Murmu met Basant Pando of the Pando tribe. She enquired about his well-being and felicitated him with a shawl.
During the interaction, Basant Pando recounted a cherished memory from 1952, when India’s first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, visited Ambikapur. He shared that he was merely eight years old when Dr. Prasad lovingly adopted him and did his “Naamkaran”. Following this, the Pando tribe came to be known as “Rashtrapati Ke Dattak Putr” (adopted sons of the President). President Murmu warmly told him, “You are like a son to me as well.”
