Ram Dayal Munda
Encyclopedia
Dr.R.D.Munda, an Indian
scholar and regional music exponent, was awarded the Padma Shri
of the year 2010 for his contribution to the field of art.
Munda, a former vice-chancellor of Ranchi University
was a Member of the Upper House of the Indian Parliament. In 2007, he received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
. He died in Ranchi
on 30th of September, 2011.
in 1939. He was also member of Mrs.Sonia Gandhi
's NAC.
Born in 1939 in the tribal village Diuri in Ranchi district of Jharkhand (then Bihar), Munda went through his primary schooling at the nearby Luther Mission School at Amlesa where he had the first glimpse of the outside world as foreign guests frequently visited his school. His secondary schooling at the sub divisional town of Khunti, 40 km away from home, further expanded his experiential horizon to other tribal and ethnic communities and their cultural activities. Through these he came in close proximity to the state's dignitaries like the Governors and Ministers. As the heartland of the historic Birsa Movement for autonomy in the British Empire, the Khunti area attracted scholars from all over the world, particularly from the discipline of anthropology. Dr. Munda, along with his other friends, often acted as guide to the distinguished visitors this formed the basis for sprouting of his experiential world. Opting for anthropology as his subject for higher education with a focus on linguistics opened an altogether new world.
in 1985. This led to him becoming a medium of political dialogue between the state and the movement of the people. As a result, the Committee on Jharkhand Matters was formed based on whose report the door to formation of the new state of Jharkhand was initiated.
Another video showcasing Dr. Munda's music ability can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlqHnxlh6-U&feature=related (accessed Oct. 18, 2011, created by Sarjomsamvad) in which he describes a Sadhani song in Hindi language, and then plays it on his flute.
Dr. Munda authored several books and was a consultant and participant in important issues of the adivasi
people of the country. He represented his country in the Festival of India in the USSR, and other cultural events in China, Japan and the South East, besides participating at the World Social Forum conferences in India.
(for the year 2007) in recognition of his contributions. President of India, Pratibha Patil
, has nominated five prominent citizens to the Rajya Sabha, based on recommendations made by the Union cabinet and tribal welfare activist, among them Ram Dayal Munda.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
scholar and regional music exponent, was awarded the Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
of the year 2010 for his contribution to the field of art.
Munda, a former vice-chancellor of Ranchi University
Ranchi University
The Ranchi University is a university in Jharkhand state of India. It was established on 12th July 1960 as a teaching-cum-affiliating university, and its first vice chancellor was Sri Vishnudeo Narayan Singh...
was a Member of the Upper House of the Indian Parliament. In 2007, he received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. It is the highest Indian recognition given to practicing artists. The award consists since 2003 of Rs. 50,000, a citation, an angavastram , and a tamrapatra...
. He died in Ranchi
Ranchi
-Climate:Ranchi has a humid subtropical climate. However, due to its position and the forests around the city, it is known for its pleasant climate. Its climate is the primary reason why Ranchi was once the summer capital of the undivided State of Bihar...
on 30th of September, 2011.
Early life
He was born in Diudi of Tamad near RanchiRanchi
-Climate:Ranchi has a humid subtropical climate. However, due to its position and the forests around the city, it is known for its pleasant climate. Its climate is the primary reason why Ranchi was once the summer capital of the undivided State of Bihar...
in 1939. He was also member of Mrs.Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi is an Italian-born Indian politician and the President of the Indian National Congress, one of the major political parties of India. She is the widow of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi...
's NAC.
Born in 1939 in the tribal village Diuri in Ranchi district of Jharkhand (then Bihar), Munda went through his primary schooling at the nearby Luther Mission School at Amlesa where he had the first glimpse of the outside world as foreign guests frequently visited his school. His secondary schooling at the sub divisional town of Khunti, 40 km away from home, further expanded his experiential horizon to other tribal and ethnic communities and their cultural activities. Through these he came in close proximity to the state's dignitaries like the Governors and Ministers. As the heartland of the historic Birsa Movement for autonomy in the British Empire, the Khunti area attracted scholars from all over the world, particularly from the discipline of anthropology. Dr. Munda, along with his other friends, often acted as guide to the distinguished visitors this formed the basis for sprouting of his experiential world. Opting for anthropology as his subject for higher education with a focus on linguistics opened an altogether new world.
Higher education and career
Munda got an opportunity for getting higher education in linguistics in an interdisciplinary atmosphere, from an ambitious research project of the University of Chicago, on the Indic group (Santali, Mundari and others) of the Austro-Asiatic Languages under the directorship of Dr. Norman Zide. Munda obtained Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and was subsequently appointed in the faculty of Department of South Asian Studies. Later, he was offered a position by the-then Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Kumar Suresh Singh, to start a Department of Tribal and Regional Languages. The department became the rallying point for all social politico activists engaged in finding out ways to change the internal colonial situation the people of Jharkhand were faced with. A number of students, passed out from the department, formed a student body All Jharkhand Student’s Union (AJSU) pushing for formation of an intellectual base for the maintenance of the Jharkhand Movement already going at that time. This indirectly contributed to Dr. Munda’s appointment as Vice Chancellor of Ranchi UniversityRanchi University
The Ranchi University is a university in Jharkhand state of India. It was established on 12th July 1960 as a teaching-cum-affiliating university, and its first vice chancellor was Sri Vishnudeo Narayan Singh...
in 1985. This led to him becoming a medium of political dialogue between the state and the movement of the people. As a result, the Committee on Jharkhand Matters was formed based on whose report the door to formation of the new state of Jharkhand was initiated.
Another video showcasing Dr. Munda's music ability can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlqHnxlh6-U&feature=related (accessed Oct. 18, 2011, created by Sarjomsamvad) in which he describes a Sadhani song in Hindi language, and then plays it on his flute.
Retirement and later work
Dr. Munda retired from active teaching in 1999 but his involvement with the cultural mobilization of the people continued which also included his active policy making at the UN Working Group on Indigenous People at Geneva and the UN Forum of Indigenous Issues in New York, in the capacity of a senior official of the ICITP, an all India tribal led and managed movement.Dr. Munda authored several books and was a consultant and participant in important issues of the adivasi
Adivasi
Adivasi is an umbrella term for a heterogeneous set of ethnic and tribal groups claimed to be the aboriginal population of India. They comprise a substantial indigenous minority of the population of India...
people of the country. He represented his country in the Festival of India in the USSR, and other cultural events in China, Japan and the South East, besides participating at the World Social Forum conferences in India.
Honours
Dr. Munda was honoured by the Sangeet Natak AkademiSangeet Natak Akademi
Sangeet Natak Akademi is the national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India.-History:...
(for the year 2007) in recognition of his contributions. President of India, Pratibha Patil
Pratibha Patil
Pratibha Devisingh Patil is the 12th President of the Republic of India and first woman to hold the office. She was sworn in as President of India on 25 July 2007, succeeding Dr. A.P.J...
, has nominated five prominent citizens to the Rajya Sabha, based on recommendations made by the Union cabinet and tribal welfare activist, among them Ram Dayal Munda.
References
- List of Padma Awardees The Hindu, full list of Padma awardees (PDF - 92.5 Kb)