The daylong programme was held at the Loko Bhaban in Dinajpur on July 3 to mark the 152th anniversary of "Santal Upsurge" against the British Raj and local landlords in Bihar, Orissa and Bengal.

Speakers at the programme also observed that despite their contribution to the struggle for independence, their ethnic identities are not constitutionally recognised, their rights to land are ignored and whether from plain lands or hills -- they are often marginalised.

Coordination of NGOs for Adivasi's (CNA), a network of 8 Dinajpur-based development organisations for empowerment of adivasis, organised the daylong programme.

A total of 50 adivasi Freedom Fighters from different ethnic communities of Dinajpur and Rangpur region were honoured at the event.

As the Freedom Fighters reach the venue, they were greeted with traditional dasai dance of Santals, a ritualistic dance usually performed during Durga Puja to evoking the goddess.

Litterateur Selina Hossain inaugurated the programme hoisting the national flag. In her inaugural speech she called for national recognition of adivasi Freedom Fighters. Terming the Liberation War as a "people's war", she said that the war was a continuation of movements for establishing rights like "Santal Hool", also known as "Santal Upsurge". Hossain regretted, "After 36 years of independence, their contribution is yet to be included in our mainstream history."

Speaking as the chief guest, human rights activist Sultana Kamal urged everyone to recognise the contribution of adivasi Freedom Fighters in order to get an objective understanding of the liberation war.

Pavel Partha, Nashun Marandi, Professor Ganesh Soren, Dipayon Khisa, Abul Kalam Azad, Mesbah Kamal, Rabindranath Soren, Komol Kisku, Freedom Fighter Abul Jalil and Victor Lakra were other discussants at the event. Moazzem Hossain, president of CNA delivered the welcome speech while development worker Santosh Soren presided over the discussion.

Sultana Kamal, Selina Hossain and Santosh Soren honoured the Freedom Fighters with crests and flags.

Singer Zannat-e-Ferdousi rendered Ek nodi rokto periye as a tribute to the unsung heroes. A cultural programme featuring traditional songs and dances of indigenous peoples of the region followed the discussion. Nabarupi, Dinajpur staged the play Hool Hool, depicting the struggles of the indigenous people of North Bengal. The play is written by Shahjahan Shah. Hool Hool stresses on the lack of initiative by the concerned authority to preserve the culture and language of the Santals, leading towards a steady decline of their age-old heritage.