Thane, May 2 (PTI) The life and contributions of Krantiveer Raghoji Ramji Bhangre, one of earliest tribal freedom fighters from Maharashtra, should find mention in school textbooks across India, said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha MP Hemant Vishnu Savra on Friday.
He emphasised that future generations should learn about the sacrifices made by early revolutionaries like Bhangre, who was executed by British authorities on May 2, 1848.
The Member of Parliament from Palghar was speaking at an event in Thane where rich tributes were paid to Bhangre on his 177th death anniversary.
The occasion became a platform for renewed calls to honour Bhangre's legacy through national educational reform.
Leading the appeal was Savra, who called for the inclusion of the freedom fighter's contributions in school textbooks across India.
"It is imperative that future generations learn about the sacrifices of early revolutionaries like Krantiveer Bhangre, whose fight laid the foundation for India's freedom movement," he noted.
The event was organized by the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad, Mumbai/Konkan Division, and drew a host of dignitaries and community leaders. Notable attendees included state Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike, Thane MLA Sanjay Kelkar and MLC Niranjan Davkhare.
Speaking on the occasion, minister Uike affirmed that the freedom fighter's legacy deserves institutional recognition and public respect."
"We will ensure that schemes in the Tribal Development Department bear the name of Krantiveer Raghoji Ramji Bhangre," he said.
A revolutionary from the Koli Mahadev tribal community, Bhangre led a series of armed uprisings in Western Maharashtra and the Konkan region, long before the Indian National Congress took shape in 1885.
He fought to uphold the rights of raiyats (peasants) and to awaken political awareness among tribal populations suffering under British land and revenue policies.