Marang Buru Bachao Morcha Calls Site Santhal Religious Land
Key Points:
- Forum Says Parasnath Is Santhal’s Marang Buru, Not Just Jain Site
- Body Cites Articles 14, 25, Warns of Statewide Agitation
- Group Questions Use of ‘Sammed Shikhar’ Name for the Hill
GIRIDISH – The Marang Buru Bachao Sangharsh Morcha has strongly opposed a claim made by the World Jain Organisation seeking special arrangements in favour of the Jain community over Parasnath hill.
The organisation said the hill, referred to as Marang Buru by the Santhal Adivasi community, has been a centre of religious faith, tradition and identity for the tribe since ancient times. It said the site is not merely a tourist destination or a Jain religious centre.
According to the forum, World Jain Organisation president Sanjay Jain had sought special central and state arrangements in favour of the Jain community concerning Parasnath hill. In response, the Morcha said the Santhal community has for centuries worshipped in and around the hill according to its own traditional customs.
The organisation claimed the wider Marang Buru-Parasnath area comprises more than 24 hamlets, where a traditional social system led by a “Majhi”, or headman, continues to function. It said the Santhal community has historically conducted its social and religious activities in these areas based on customary practices.
However, the Morcha said the customary and ancestral rights of the Santhal community have also received recognition at the judicial level. It argued that imposing a one-sided arrangement favouring a single community’s religious interests would not be appropriate.
Citing Articles 14 and 25 of the Constitution, the organisation said the rights and religious freedom of all communities must be protected equally. It said any special arrangement favouring one community, while overlooking the traditional rights of the tribal community, would undermine the spirit of the Constitution.
The Morcha demanded that the central and state governments consult the local tribal community, traditional leadership and other stakeholders before taking any decision on the sensitive matter.
Meanwhile, the organisation also questioned the use of the name “Sammed Shikhar” in reference to Parasnath hill. It claimed the name does not find clear mention in historical documents, while the name Marang Buru does appear in government records and historical accounts.
The forum said any historical or religious claim regarding Parasnath hill should be evaluated on the basis of documents, local traditions and historical facts. In addition, it alleged that certain members of the Jain community were attempting to mislead the government and the courts through the use of financial influence.
The Morcha claimed this was being done to deprive the Santhal Adivasi community of its fundamental, traditional and customary rights. However, these allegations have been made solely by the Morcha, and a response from the Jain community or the World Jain Organisation is awaited.
The organisation has demanded that the central and state governments review and revoke any one-sided order or arrangement issued in favour of the Jain community regarding Parasnath hill. It has also sought that the protected Parasnath Marang Buru area be declared the ancient and principal religious site of the Santhal Adivasi community, in line with court orders and customary tribal rights.
The Morcha said it is the government’s responsibility to protect the religious and cultural rights of the tribal community. It called for the government to seek a resolution through dialogue, taking into account the religious significance of the hill for the various communities associated with it.
The organisation warned that if the central and state governments do not take positive steps soon, and if the traditional rights of the Santhal community continue to be overlooked, the tribal community will be compelled to launch a large-scale agitation. It said the movement to protect the religious and traditional rights linked to Parasnath hill would be carried to villages across the region.
The Morcha maintained that the dispute over Parasnath Marang Buru should be resolved not on the basis of one side’s claim alone, but by taking into account historical documents, constitutional provisions, court orders and the ancient traditions of the local tribal community.
Political and student unrest has also been reported in Giridih in recent weeks, with opposition leader Babulal Marandi separately targeting the state government over a clash involving students in the district. Meanwhile, tribal rights over land and resources have featured prominently in other recent disputes in the state, including the ongoing protest against the MMDR Amendment Bill.
