Chennai: The Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at IIT Madras is hosting a two-day international conference on 'Tribal Resistance, Resilience and Reimagining Future: Celebrating 150 Years of Bhagwan Birsa Munda' on June 21 and 22, 2025.

Experts, researchers, and community leaders are taking part in discussions on tribal history, struggles, identity, and future opportunities for tribal communities.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Shri Indrasena Reddy Nallu, Governor of Tripura, said that India's tribal communities must be developed and their traditional knowledge should be combined with modern science and technology. He also spoke about government schemes that help protect tribal heritage and support their progress.

Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, said this is the first tribal conference organised by the Institute. He praised Bhagwan Birsa Munda for his fight for tribal rights during the freedom struggle and his service to his people. He called for more research on the lives and issues faced by tribal communities.

As part of the 'Janjatiya Gaurav' (Tribal Pride) celebrations, a cultural programme featuring tribal art and performances by groups from the Nilgiris and Northeast India will be held on campus.

Prof. Rajesh Kumar, Head of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Prof. Sathyanarayan N. Gummadi, Dean (Students), said that tribal movements in India's history show great courage and strength against colonial rule. They added that the conference will cover various topics about Bhagwan Birsa Munda's life and work, with around eighty speakers from India and abroad taking part.

The department welcomed all participants and hoped for fruitful discussions to support the tribal communities' future.