Babulal Marandi: ‘When I see that tribals believe in devi-devtas, I say call it a branch of Sanatana’

This (Yatra) will continue from today till January 26. And in particular, poor, Adivasis, deprived, the ones who need support… this programme will reach out to them. I think that is why Bhagwan Birsa Munda’s birthday has been chosen. It is also the Adivasi Gaurav Diwas. Tribals are the last in the race of development. Though I did not ask the PM (the reason for launching the Yatra here), Bhagwan Birsa Munda was a freedom fighter and a warrior and people here worship him like a god. This launch is happening in perhaps 200 places in the country today. This is a big thing. Earlier too, the PM had launched the Ayushman Yojana for providing healthcare for the poor from Jharkhand itself.

Q. What are the main issues concerning tribals in the state and the country?

The main issue is poverty. Development is the issue. Previous governments did not try to mainstream people who lived in forests for long, slightly away from mainstream society. Since the BJP government came to power, I say with confidence that under Atal (Bihari Vajpayee) ji and Modi ji, roads have reached remote villages. One pillar of development is roads; the means to travel from one place to another. The BJP government made roads reach villages. Before the BJP government, pre-2000, I recall struggle for access to kerosene oil in villages. Now no one even discusses this in villages. People have forgotten all that. Electricity has reached interior villages. Modi ji said in his speech that there were 18,000 villages where people had not seen power supply. But the BJP government ensured power reaches most interior villages. Since the Covid time, free foodgrain is being given. Houses are being constructed. Farmers are also getting Rs 2000 each in three instalments a year. These are all big things, right? So, empowerment in tribal society and others is now visible. You can see vehicles in tribal homes now.

Q. We hear talk about the Sarna religion as the Adivasi religion. So, are Adivasis Sarna or Hindu? Or is Sarna dharm a part of Hinduism?

See, there are Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs. If you see in reality, these are branches of Hinduism. There are moments of consciousness in society when these streams come up. Some people then say that we should be considered separate as an identity. This happens at many places in the country. In the Jharkhand-Chhattisgarh-Bengal border regions, we find some talk about Sarna. But in many other places, you won’t find that discussion. Such demands keep cropping up. But if you look at reality, their maximum attachment is for Sanatana. But Sanatana does not ask us to worship a particular god or goddess. There are 36 crore gods and goddesses. Those must be including even our local tribal deities. Christians have Jesus and Muslims have Mohammed Saheb. Those who consider themselves Sarna also offer pooja (worship) to many devi-devtas (gods and goddesses). This practice is found among Sanatanis. So, we can say they are closer to Sanatana only. Tomorrow if they become Christians or Muslims, they can’t consider Bhagwan Birsa Munda as Bhagwan. They can’t worship him then. But in Sanatana, that isn’t the case. For us, Ram, Krishna, Shankar – all are gods. There is no quarrel about such things. No one asks why you consider Ram as god or Krishna as god. Or who is better? We believe if Ram came in Treta, Krishna came in Dwapar. When I see that tribals believe in devi-devtas, I say call it a branch of Sanatana; it is linked to Sanatana. It is visibly close to it.

Q. Chief Minister Hemant Soren has said the central mining companies owe Rs 1.32 lakh crore to Jharkhand and that the Centre should pay the amount to the state. What’s your take?

I told Hemant Soren ji to kindly make the break-up of that public. If one makes such a claim, one has to say that in this year, this is my due; in the next year, this is my due… Then all those are added to calculate the total amount. But he (Soren) shows no break-up; he just cites a figure. He is doing his own politics; none in Jharkhand trusts his words on this. One day I read a statement from his party leader that Rs 35 lakh crore is due. What is the annual income of even the Government of India? So, their (JMM’s) figures make no sense.

Q. Soren also says there are 8 lakh eligible beneficiaries who are not getting benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana…

Lists were made in many places in, say, 2011. These have to be updated with Aadhar details; these have to be uploaded online. These people don’t get these things done. This Sankalp Yatra that the PM has flagged off today will also survey all these things. We need records. In the coming times, these details will provide great benefits to people. On November 1, the Centre wrote to the state government. The Jharkhand government sent a letter to its top officials on the 11th. Why this delay? The Yatra has started from the 15th. In nine districts, it has to reach two panchayats in each block. But officials were informed by the state government late. Top officials then sent letters to district collectors, who wrote to BDOs on November 13. They had to then inform the panchayats. It is so late. This means no information would have reached. This shows us the lack of intent of the state government to work. Then they will say the Centre is not cooperating. But if you don’t do your work on time, how will there be a positive outcome?

Q. What is the Maoist situation in the state now?

It has reduced compared to earlier times, but since Hemant Soren came to power, their activities are being noticed in some forest and tribal areas. Some presence is found around Palamu, etc. When the BJP was in power under Raghubar Das ji, we were thinking that Maoism was over. But the Soren government has been lax and there is some spike in it, but seen as a whole, the problem is not like it once was.

Q. What is the solution to the Maoist problem?

The way out is this. First, development is important. Employed young people don’t get misled. Then, modes of communication should be good. When there are no travels, they aren’t afraid and hold their meetings. When people are commuting, they fear arrival of police or reaction of common people. But even after these steps, if some people are bent on creating mischief, law enforcement should be strong.