Ranchi: Clad in traditional attire and wielding bows and arrows, over 1.2 lakh children of 2,238 govt schools in the city transformed into the legendary martyred siblings, Sidho-Kanhu and Phulo-Jhano Murmu, on Monday to observe Hul Diwas, marking the 1855 Santhal rebellion against British colonial rule.Turning their campuses into vibrant hubs of tribal history, the students paid rich tributes to the martyrs through spirited role-plays, speeches, and awareness processions that highlighted how the historic uprising shaped modern-day Jharkhand and India.Nirmala Sinha, the principal of Rajkiya Madhya Vidyalaya, Jagganathpur said, “Active participation helps students to connect with their heritage and take pride in their rich history. Else, Hul Diwas risks being dismissed as just another holiday.”“The programme plays a strategic role in boosting the confidence of students by providing them with an accessible stage to express their talent, overcome stage fear, and improve communication skills, enhancing their holistic learning experience,” Badal Raj, the Ranchi district superintendent of education (DSE), said.The programme was held under the ‘Cultural Connect’ initiative of the district education department. “This concept, in alignment with the New Education Policy, stresses on co-curricular and extracurricular activities. This step has augmented attendance and retention in govt schools as it goes beyond routine classroom studies and engages children through entertainment,” the DSE explained.“Days of importance at local, national and international level are observed as part of the initiative to help students connect to their roots, while making them future-ready, universal citizens,” he added.Roshni Kumari, a Class VI student who dressed up as Phulo Murmu, said, “Preparing an essay on the martyred sisters Phulo and Jhano made me realise their contribution to the nation’s freedom struggle.”Class 4 student Ankit Kujur took pride in dressing up as Sidho Murmu. “Maybe I will do this again,” he said.
