Fresh tensions over Parasnath hills: Tribals urge Jharkhand CM to protect Marang Buru

THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK

Ranchi, June 9: A 51-member delegation from the Marang Buru Bachao Sangharsh Samiti (Santhal Samaj) met Chief Minister Hemant Soren at his residence today, pressing for the protection of Marang Buru—a sacred hill revered by the Santhal tribal community and also known as Parasnath, the holiest pilgrimage site for the Jain community.

During the meeting, the delegation submitted a detailed memorandum outlining a series of demands aimed at securing tribal rights over the site and protesting what they called “unconstitutional and one-sided decisions” that favour the Jain community.

“Marang Buru is our God”

The delegation reminded the Chief Minister that the Santhal community has, for centuries, worshipped Marang Buru (Parasnath Hill, located in Pirtand, Giridih) as their supreme deity. Citing protections under the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act of 1908 and historic court rulings—including those from the Privy Council and Patna High Court—they demanded that the site be officially declared a Santhal religious pilgrimage.

They also called for the Gram Sabha to be granted control over the protection, management, monitoring, and supervision of the hill under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and in line with a Supreme Court precedent (Case No. 180/2011).

Conflict Over Sacred Ground

The demands come amid rising tensions between the Santhal and Jain communities over Parasnath Hill. While Jains regard the site as Sammed Shikharji, where 20 of their 24 Tirthankaras attained liberation, Santhals consider it the abode of Marang Buru and conduct annual rituals and festivals there.

Tribal leaders have accused the government of neglecting their religious rights in favour of Jain religious interests, pointing to central and state directives that refer to the hill solely as a Jain pilgrimage site. They also objected to the enforcement of restrictions on traditional tribal practices, including the consumption of meat and local liquor, under eco-sensitive regulations imposed by the Ministry of Environment in 2019.

Demands for Legislative Action

Among other key demands were:

• Enactment of a Tribal Religious Places Protection Act to safeguard sacred tribal sites, including Marang Buru, Lugu Buru, Jaher Than, and others.
• Revocation of the Eco Sensitive Zone notification issued without Gram Sabha consent.
• Declaration of the Marang Buru Yug Jaher, Waha-Bonga Puja as a State Festival on Falgun Shukla Tritiya.
• Removal of what they termed “illegal encroachments” by the Jain community on forest land, including temples, monasteries, and rest houses.

Government Response

Chief Minister Hemant Soren assured the delegation that the state government would examine their demands seriously and take appropriate legal steps. Fagu Besra, Santhal leader Ramlal Murmu, and tribal writer Bhogla Soren were also present at the meeting.

The delegation included Santhal intellectuals and activists from Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh, signalling growing tribal solidarity around the issue.

A Delicate Balancing Act

As pressure mounts from both communities, the Parasnath Hills continue to be a flashpoint for legal, cultural, and religious contestation. With the tribal community demanding recognition of their ancestral rights and the Jain community calling for preservation of their spiritual sanctity, the state finds itself navigating a deeply sensitive and historically complex conflict.