Chhattisgarh Unveils New Museum Honouring Tribal Freedom Fighters

The stories of India’s famed freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, and Subhas Chandra Bose are well known, but the equally significant contributions of tribal revolutionaries often remain overlooked. To bring these untold stories into the national spotlight, Chhattisgarh has established a unique and expansive museum in New Raipur — the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Memorial & Tribal Freedom Fighter Museum. The museum aims to honour the courage, sacrifices, and resistance movements led by tribal communities during India’s long struggle for Independence.

Located in Sector 24 and spread across 9.75 acres, the museum was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 1. It offers visitors a rich, immersive experience through life-sized sculptures, historical documents such as execution orders, weapons used during uprisings, and films portraying the lives of tribal heroes. The exhibits bring to life the lesser-known stories of resistance that shaped the region’s history between 1774 and 1939.

According to Sonmoni Borah, Principal Secretary of the Tribal Development Department, the museum provides multiple digital and visual experiences that make it an “unmissable” attraction. These include the sword used by Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh against the British and a digital recreation of the revered Maa Danteshwari Temple of Dantewada. The project, constructed at a cost of ₹53.13 crore, showcases historical atrocities faced by tribal communities and the bravery with which they resisted colonial and feudal oppression.

Visitors begin their journey at the grand entrance, adorned with traditional wooden carvings from the Sarguja region. The façade prominently displays the names of 200 tribal freedom fighters. Inside the courtyard stands a life-size statue of Birsa Munda, one of India’s most iconic tribal revolutionaries. His birth anniversary on November 15 is celebrated nationally as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (Tribal Pride Day).

The reception hall is equipped with over a dozen digital screens showing animated historical narratives. A mini-theatre plays a short film highlighting the lives of influential tribal leaders such as Veer Narayan Singh, Gaind Singh, Gundadhur, and Ramadhin Gond.

The museum’s 16 galleries, dimly lit to heighten the dramatic effect, feature realistic statues of tribal people, representing their customs, beliefs, art, and daily life. These include representations of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) such as the Kamar, Baiga, Abujhmadia, Pahathi Korwa, and Birhor communities. Their tools, artworks, and cultural artefacts are also displayed.

One of the major highlights is the series of sculptures depicting pivotal revolutionary events. Exhibits narrate episodes from the Maratha rule and even showcase Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to Dhamtari. Another gripping display recounts the 1795 incident involving Captain Blunt of the East India Company, who was forced to retreat by the Gond, Koya, Dorla, and Madia tribes armed with traditional weapons.

The museum also features a dedicated gallery telling the story of Veer Narayan Singh, who launched a rebellion when the British refused to release grain to starving tribal communities.

To make the experience more inclusive, the Tribal Research and Training Institute (TRTI) has developed an app called Adi Vani, which provides translations in Gondi and Halbi. Short films and local-language videos in Chhattisgarhi, Gondi, and Halbi are projected through immersive digital platforms, ensuring deeper engagement for visitors from diverse backgrounds.

Overall, the museum stands as a powerful tribute to the courage, cultural richness, and historical contributions of India’s tribal freedom fighters, preserving their legacy for generations to come.