Raipur, 20 November 2025.
President Droupadi Murmu visited Surguja district on the occasion of Tribal Pride Day 2025, where she participated as the Chief Guest in a grand programme held at the PG College Ground on 20 November. The event was attended by Governor Ramen Deka, Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai, Union Ministers Durga Das Uike and Tokhan Sahu, State Ministers, MPs, MLAs, and senior public representatives.
President Meets Tribal Chiefs, PVTG Representatives, and Families of Tribal Freedom Fighters
During the programme, President Murmu interacted with prominent tribal community leaders, chiefs of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), individuals who have significantly contributed to tribal upliftment, and families of tribal freedom fighters. She also posed for a group photograph with them.
President Murmu honoured the families of several tribal heroes who contributed to India’s freedom struggle. These included descendants of:
Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh, leader of the Sonakhan rebellion,
His commander from the same movement,
Shaheed Gend Singh of the Paral Kot uprising,
Sukdev Pater of the Jhanda Satyagraha,
Bantu Dhurwa of the Bhumkal rebellion,
Shaheed Ramdheen God of the Jungle Satyagraha,
Freedom fighters Rajnaath Bhagat and Majhi Ram Gond.
Interaction with Members of Various Tribal Communities
The President also held cordial interactions with:
Rajesh Birhor (Birhor tribe)
Ramji Dhruv (Abujhmadia tribe)
Etwari Ram Machhiya (Baiga tribe)
Jogiram (Pahadi Korwa tribe)
Mangal Oraon (Oraon tribe)
Dhanram Nagesh (Nagesia tribe)
Veer Singh Khairwar (Khairwar tribe)
Sanjay Singh (Kanwar tribe)
Lakku Ram Nagvanshi (Nagvanshi community)
Dhaniram Shori (Muria tribe)
Mohan Singh (Gond tribe)
Vinod Kumar Pando (Pando tribe)
D.N. Cherwa (Cherwa community)
She inquired about their well-being and expressed her appreciation for their cultural heritage and contributions.
President Meets Pando Tribe’s Basant Pando; Recollects Historic Association
A particularly emotional moment occurred when President Murmu met Basant Pando of the Pando tribe. She inquired about his well-being and honoured him with a shawl.
Basant Pando shared a historic memory with the President:
He was 8 years old in 1952 when India’s first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad visited Ambikapur. Dr. Prasad adopted him symbolically and gave him his name. Since then, the Pando tribe has been known as the “Adopted Children of the President.”
President Murmu warmly told him:
“You are like a son to me as well.”
