Odisha CM Patnaik inaugurates Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium
In preparation for the Men`s Hockey World Cup 2023, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday officially opened one of the country`s largest hockey stadiums in Rourkela. The stadium, which is in the Sundargarh district and was constructed at an estimated cost of 261 crore, has been given the name Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium Complex. It has a seating capacity of 20,000 and was constructed on 50 acres in a record-breaking 15 months. Along with practise facilities, the stadium boasts certified turfs and lighting. In addition, the State constructed a World Cup village with 225 rooms in under nine months to host the athletes and officials.
ABOUT BIRSA MUNDA
- Born on November 15, 1875, in Ulihatu in the then Bengal Presidency, now in the Khunti district of Jharkhand, Birsa Munda led a tribal movement against British colonial rule.
- Also known as Dharti Aaba (Father of Earth)
- Having gained awareness of the British colonial ruler and the efforts of the missionaries to convert tribals to Christianity, Birsa started the faith of ‘Birsait’.
- Munda Rebellion led by Birsa Munda in the south of Ranchi in 1899-1900.The ‘Ulgulan’ or the ‘Great Tumult’ as the movement came to be called, aimed at establishing Munda Raj by driving out the British.
- On 3rd March, 1900, Birsa Munda was arrested by the British police while he was sleeping with his tribal guerilla army at Jamkopai forest in Chakradharpur (Jharkhand).Birsa died of cholera in the jail and the movement faded out.
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