Did you know that the Hindi heartland of the country, i.e. the state of Uttar Pradesh, consists of 15 scheduled tribes which are nearly 0.6 per cent of the total population of the state? Or do you know what makes these tribes different from the mainstream population? Well, one can get answers to many such questions and get to know numerous other interesting facts regarding the STs of UP in the to-be-constructed Tribal Museum in the capital city of the state.
The museum is being constructed on a vast land of 6.8 acres at the Chandrika Devi Marg near Gomti river in Lucknow, and is expected to get completed by the year 2025. It will showcase the unique culture, traditions, and lesser-known history of the tribals of Uttar Pradesh.
Apart from boosting the tourism sector via this museum, the state government also aims to educate people about the lives and culture of various ethnic tribes and their contribution to the state. The museum has been designed by Vandana Sehgal, Principal of the College of Architecture.
According to the news reports, the museum will be divided in to three galleries for the visitors, and will give brief insights about the various tribes belonging not just to UP, but around the world.
The museum will throw light on the lifestyle, traditional, cultural, and spiritual aspects of the tribal life of UP STs. It will also exhibit popular art, craft, literature, music, and folk dances amongst the tribals of the state.
Principal Secretary for Tourism and Culture, Mukesh Meshram stated to the media, "Every evening, some tribal members will be hired to perform traditional dance and music as well as live demonstrations of their art and trade. Additionally, a restaurant providing tribal cuisine in a traditional setting will be built ".
UP's First Tribal Museum
Uttar Pradesh received its first tribal museum in March 2022, and it primarily focuses on showcasing the rich and varied culture of the endangered Tharu tribe.
The Tharu Janjati Museum, one of Yogi Adityanath's pet projects, is built in the Tharu-populated community of Imilia Koder hamlet in the neighbouring Balrampur district. The Tharu tribe's evolution, culture, religion, tradition, lifestyle, social life, and current way of life are all covered in the museum.
The project was launched by the UP CM in January 2020, however it was postponed because of the pandemic outbreak's difficulties. Officials expect the project to increase tourism in the region.
Earlier this month, CM Yogi Adityanath while speaking at a government function to mark the birth anniversary of freedom fighter and tribal leader Birsa Munda in Sonbhadra, said that the BJP governments at the state and federal levels were working for the uplift of the tribals as he laid foundation stones and inaugurated 233 projects totalling Rs 575 crore in Sonbhadra to commemorate the birth anniversary of freedom fighter and tribal leader Birsa Munda.
