New Delhi

Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Saturday said tribal histories are not peripheral to India's story; they are integral to its civilisational journey.

Speaker Gupta, who was attending a national seminar on 'Bhagwan Shri Birsa Munda' at the India International Centre, called for greater recognition of tribal heritage.

"Bhagwan Shri Birsa Munda occupies a unique and inspiring place in India's history. He was not merely a freedom fighter but a symbol of self-respect, cultural identity and social awakening. His legacy reminds us that the protection of rights and the preservation of culture are inseparable," Gupta said.

Organised by the Museums Association of India, the seminar brought together museum professionals, historians, archaeologists, scholars and researchers to deliberate upon the enduring legacy of tribal leader Birsa Munda.

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Addressing the gathering, Gupta said Birsa Munda's movement represented not only resistance to colonial rule but also a determined effort to protect cultural identity, traditional institutions and indigenous ways of life.

He said the cultural renaissance associated with Birsa Munda lay in restoring tribal communities' confidence in their own history.