FOC
?The name of Gond Janjati rulers figures in the front line of those who sacrificed their lives in the freedom struggle of 1857. The sacrifice of the Janjati freedom fighters needs to be adopted by others,? said Ishwardas Rohani, Speaker, Madhya Pradesh Assembly. He was speaking at a function organised in Jabalpur by Vanswar, a research journal of Van Sahitya Akadami, to celebrate the 148th Balidan Divas of King of Gondwana, Shankar Shah and his son. Smt. Rina Gujaral, member, Madhya Pradesh Commission for Women, Smt. Chitratai Dhok, senior social worker, were also present at the function. Prof. Hari Bhatnagar, director, Rashtriya Lalit Kala Akademi presided over the function. Prizes to the participants in the Shahid Shankar Shah Memorial art competition were also distributed. The second part of the special issue of Vanswar focusing essentially on Gond culture, was also released by Shri Rohaniji.
It is to be mentioned that King of Gondwana, Raghunath Shah and his son were shot down by cannonbolts by the British government. The site where they became martyrs was discovered in 1996 and the then RSS Sarsanghchalak, Prof. Rajendra Singh had inaugurated a plaque. Now it has become a place of faith for the Janjati people of the region.
