The Two-Day National Seminar on “Echoes of Resilience: Celebrating the Tea Tribes of Assam and Birsa Munda’s Enduring Legacy” was successfully organized by the Department of Assamese and English, Bir Raghab Moran Government Model College, Doomdooma, on 22nd and 23rd August, 2025. The seminar was conducted in observance of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Veer Birsa Munda, a seminal figure in India’s tribal resistance movement. The programme was held in collaboration with the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR).

The seminar aimed to provide an interdisciplinary academic platform to critically engage with the histories, identities, and cultural expressions of the tea tribes of Assam, while also revisiting the enduring legacy of Birsa Munda. It sought to foreground marginalized narratives and promote scholarly discourse on issues of indigeneity, resistance, and socio-cultural resilience.

The inaugural session set the tone for the seminar with insightful addresses by distinguished speakers, who emphasized the historical and contemporary relevance of tribal studies. Birsa Munda was remembered not only as a freedom fighter but also as a symbol of indigenous assertion and resistance against colonial and feudal oppression. The speakers highlighted the importance of recognizing and integrating tribal histories into mainstream academic and policy frameworks.

The technical sessions featured paper presentations by academicians and researchers from diverse institutions. The presentations covered a wide range of themes, including migration and labour histories of tea tribes, oral traditions, cultural identity, marginalization, and contemporary socio-political challenges. Several papers adopted theoretical approaches such as postcolonialism and subaltern studies to analyze the structural inequalities faced by these communities.

A key focus of the seminar was the historical experience of the tea tribes of Assam, whose origins trace back to colonial-era indentured labour systems. Discussions underscored their contributions to Assam’s socio-economic fabric, alongside the persistent challenges of marginalization and identity negotiation. Scholars also stressed the urgent need to document oral histories and preserve indigenous knowledge systems.

The legacy of Birsa Munda was critically examined in multiple sessions, particularly his leadership in the Ulgulan and his vision of socio-religious reform and tribal autonomy. His continued relevance in contemporary discourses on indigenous rights, environmental justice, and cultural preservation was widely acknowledged.

The seminar facilitated meaningful academic exchange through interactive discussions following each session, enabling participants to engage critically with presented ideas. This contributed to a rigorous and collaborative intellectual environment.

The valedictory session encapsulated the key deliberations and reaffirmed the necessity of sustained research and academic engagement in tribal studies. The organizers expressed their appreciation to ICSSR, resource persons, participants, and all contributors for ensuring the success of the seminar.

Overall, the seminar served as a significant academic initiative that highlighted the resilience and cultural richness of the tea tribes of Assam while reaffirming the enduring legacy of Birsa Munda. It reinforced the importance of inclusive scholarship and provided a strong foundation for future research and dialogue in the field.