Tribal Delegation Advocates for Separate Bhil State in Meeting with President, PM

A delegation plans to meet President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to propose a separate state for the Bhil community, according to MP Rajkumar Roat. He addressed a rally at Mangarh Dham in Rajasthan's Banswara district on Thursday. A significant number of Bhil tribe members from neighbouring states, including Gujarat and Rajasthan, attended the public meeting at this revered site.

The Bhartiya Adivasi Party (BAP) is vigorously advocating for the creation of a Bhil state. Newly elected MP Roat emphasised that this demand has been long-standing and is being pursued with full force by the BAP. "The demand for Bhil Pradesh is not new. The BAP is raising this demand strongly," he stated during the rally.

Proposal for Bhil State

Following the rally, a delegation will present the proposal to both the president and the prime minister. Roat also mentioned his intention to bring up the issue in the Lok Sabha. The tribal community seeks to create a Bhil state by merging 49 districts from Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.

Umesh Meena, BAP MLA from Aspur, and Dhariyawad MLA Thawarchand Bhil attended the Rajasthan Assembly on Thursday wearing T-shirts with slogans demanding a Bhil state. This act symbolised their support for the cause and highlighted the ongoing struggle for recognition.

Historical Context

Roat later posted on X about the historical significance of Mangarh Dham. He noted that more than 1,500 tribals sacrificed their lives there in 1913, not just for the Bhakti movement but also for the demand of a Bhil province. This historical context underscores the deep-rooted nature of their demand.

Tribal activist Menka Damor spoke at the rally, asserting that tribals are not Hindus and urging tribal women to refrain from wearing mangalsutra or applying sindoor vermilion. "I neither wear mangalsutra nor apply sindoor. I also do not observe any vrat fast," she said, highlighting cultural differences between tribals and Hindus.

Damor criticised the use of schools as places of worship, stating that educational institutions should remain secular. "Our schools have been made the home of gods and goddesses. It is a temple of education; there should not be any festival there," she remarked.

The rally at Mangarh Dham brought together tribal leaders and community members to advocate for their long-standing demand for a separate Bhil state. The delegation's upcoming meetings with top government officials aim to further this cause and seek official recognition.

The event highlighted both historical sacrifices and contemporary issues faced by the Bhil community. The push for a separate state continues to gain momentum with strong backing from tribal leaders and political representatives.

The conclusion of this gathering marks another step in their ongoing struggle for autonomy and recognition within India's diverse socio-political landscape.