Rs 150-Coin To Mark Birsa Munda's Birth Anniversary: Why It May Pay Off In Jharkhand Polls

The Modi government's celebration of the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda is part of the tribal outreach amid Jharkhand polls

The Modi government's celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda is part of the tribal outreach amid Jharkhand polls.

To mark the occasion, the finance ministry will be issuing a commemorative Rs-150 silver coin to honour the iconic tribal freedom fighter.

In addition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend an event on the day, which has now been declared as ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Divas’, in Jamui, Bihar.

The slew of measures taken by the Modi government to celebrate the birth anniversary of Munda reflect the political significance of this outreach in the context of the ongoing assembly elections in Jharkhand.

“This tribute, which has been part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) strategy to resonate with tribal communities across states, positions Munda as a unifying figure of resistance and freedom for a key electorate base in the state,” said a senior BJP leader, who is part of BJP's national executive committee.

भगवान बिरसा मुंडा की 150वीं जयंती आ रही है। आइए, इस अवसर पर हम समाज में सबको साथ लेकर चलने का संकल्प दोहराएं। pic.twitter.com/uWomVfk4uJ

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 15, 2024

WOOING TRIBAL COMMUNITIES

The efforts taken by the government to celebrate the birth anniversary of the iconic tribal hero also signals a push to connect with Jharkhand's substantial tribal population, where Munda is revered as a freedom fighter and a symbol of tribal resistance, he added.

Jharkhand has turned into a vital battleground for the BJP, and honouring Munda is a calculated move to resonate with tribal communities. This gesture comes alongside other policy promises from the BJP, including a promised review of a long-pending demand for ‘Sarna Religious Code’ by the tribal community, job creation, financial support for women, and tribal welfare schemes such as the ‘Gogo Didi’ programme, which pledges monthly financial assistance to women. These promises aim to solidify support among tribal voters, a group crucial to BJP's success in the region.

Jharkhand is a state filled with promise and is home to dynamic people. It is the land of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. I’m glad that we have got the opportunity to work for its progress in the last decade.

https://t.co/2k1Zn4HIZk

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 3, 2024

THE SILVER COIN, LINING

After a clean sweep in Chhattisgarh, the BJP is now pushing to get its erstwhile support base – the tribals in Jharkhand — back. Apart from a tribal community-centric manifesto, the party is now trying to create a legacy of Munda, worshipped by the community as their hero.

The finance ministry notification, accessed by News18, stated that it will be issuing a special silver coin to honour the “legendary tribal freedom fighter and symbol of indigenous pride”. Minted with pure silver, the coin features distinct designs on both sides, celebrating Munda's legacy in a significant, lasting tribute, the notification added.

As stated in the notification, the ministry has formalised the issuance of this coin under the Coinage Act, 2011. The coin, crafted in pure 99.9% silver, has a diameter of 44 millimetres and includes 200 serrations, giving it a unique and distinguished look.

On the obverse side, the coin showcases India's national emblem, the Lion Capital of the Ashoka Pillar, with ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed below, flanked by ‘Bharat’ in Devanagari on the left and ‘India’ in English on the right. It also displays the rupee symbol and the coin's denomination of 150.

The reverse side of the coin features an image of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, with the year 2024 engraved below. Encircling the portrait, the upper periphery of the coin bears the phrase ‘Bhagwan Birsha Munda Ji 150th Jayanti’ in Devanagiri, while ‘150th Birth Anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda Ji’ is inscribed on the lower periphery.